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3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies

July 20, 20212,260 Comments 4.6

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These chewy, dense, Peanut Butter Cookies are an unforgettable memory from my childhood.

3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies are a classic cookie; just an egg, a cup of peanut butter, and a cup of sugar.

3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies are a favorite with everyone! Get the recipe at barefeetinthekitchen.com

If you’re hanging out with me on Instagram, the odds are good that you’ve seen me make these at least a time or two.

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Peanut Butter Cookies

After you’ve made them once, this easy peanut butter cookie recipe will be forever in your memory too.

If you scan the comments on this post, you’ll see a whole lot of people calling these the Best Peanut Butter Cookies Ever.

When I was in high school, I remember stirring a batch of these cookies together with a girlfriend in the middle of the night. I was a bit skeptical that it would work, but I loved them from the first bite.

3 Ingredient PB Cookies - you'll love them from the first bite! get the EASY recipe at barefeetinthekitchen.com

There is nothing like being able to satisfy a sweet tooth craving at a moment’s notice! We sat and nibbled on the warm cookies and talked half the night.

In less time than it takes to preheat the oven, you can have these ready and waiting to bake on a tray. There are plenty of variations for these cookies and I’ve played with the recipe a bit in the past.

In the end, I keep going back to the original. I love it for its simplicity.

The best thing about this recipe is that the kids can make these cookies without any help at all. 1 cup of peanut butter, 1 cup of sugar, and 1 egg: there really isn’t anything easier that tastes this good.

This is all you need to make 3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies!

3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies

While the main ingredients for the three ingredient peanut butter cookies are simply peanut butter, sugar, and an egg, feel free to change it up.

Add a teaspoon of vanilla, an additional egg (for a gooier cookie – see note in recipe), a pinch of sea salt or a handful of chocolate chips.

3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies!

The cookies are delicious both written or with the extra ingredients.

Please note: I do not recommend using a natural peanut butter for this recipe. I’ve found that a commercial peanut butter, i.e. Jiff or Skippy will work best for these cookies.

Three Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies are so simple, you can make them in minutes! get the easy recipe at barefeetinthekitchen.com

Easy Cookies

For more easy dessert recipes, check out these easy cookie recipes! {5 Ingredient} Coconut Lovers Oatmeal Cookies and these {5 Ingredient} Almond Shortbread Thumbprint Cookies.

I’m always looking for more simple dessert recipes to try. These Easy Double Chocolate Nutella Cookies and these Easy Shortbread Cookies (made with a cookie press) are both on my to-bake list now.

For the easiest and most memorable cake you’ll ever make, try the {6 Ingredient} Cranberry Christmas Cake. You’re going to love it from the first bite. I’m willing to bet on that.

Do you have a favorite super easy cookie recipe? If so, I’d love to hear about it!

Old Fashioned 3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies recipe by Barefeet In The Kitchen
  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a large mixing bowl, stir together 1 cup creamy peanut butter, 1 cup sugar, and 1 egg until smooth.
  2. Scoop the dough onto a parchment or Silpat lined baking sheet. (Roll into 1″ balls with your hands, if you do not have a scoop.)
  3. Press down with the back of a fork and then press again from the opposite direction, to form the criss-cross pattern on top.
  4. Bake for 12 minutes and then let cool on the tray for 1-2 minutes before removing to a wire rack to finish cooling. Store in an airtight container.
Three Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies are so simple, the kids can make them in minutes! get the easy recipe at barefeetinthekitchen.com

Check out all of the Gluten Free Dessert Recipes on this website!

I like to remove about 2 tablespoons of peanut butter from the “cup” listed in this recipe. This results in a slightly less dense cookie that everyone loves even more than the original.

Alternatively, some readers have mentioned that they like to add an extra egg to this recipe. If you choose to add an extra egg, simply scoop the finished cookie dough onto the baking tray.

The dough will not be firm enough to roll into balls or press with a criss-cross pattern. The cookies will be puffier straight out of the oven and then will settle a bit as they cool.

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Old Fashioned 3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies

4.61 from 565 votes
Chewy, dense, peanut buttery cookies are an unforgettable memory from childhood.
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Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 12 minutes
Total Time: 17 minutes
Servings: 14 -18 cookies, depending on size

Ingredients 

  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 cup peanut butter
  • 1 egg

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Stir the ingredients together until smooth. Scoop onto a parchment or Silpat lined baking sheet. (Roll into 1″ balls with your hands, if you do not have a scoop.) Press down with the back of a fork and then press again from the opposite direction, to form the criss-cross pattern on top.
  • These cookies will not spread at all. You can bake the full recipe on a single tray if you would like. Bake for 12 minutes and then let cool on the tray for 1-2 minutes before removing to a wire rack to finish cooling. Store in an airtight container. Enjoy!

Notes

I like to remove about 2 tablespoons of peanut butter from the “cup” listed in this recipe. This results in a slightly less dense cookie that everyone loves even more than the original. Alternatively, some readers have mentioned that they like to add an extra egg to this recipe. If you choose to add an extra egg, simply scoop the finished cookie dough onto the baking tray. It will not be firm enough to roll into balls or press with a criss-cross pattern. The cookies will be puffier straight out of the oven and then will settle a bit as they cool.

Nutrition

Calories: 168kcal · Carbohydrates: 17g · Protein: 5g · Fat: 9g · Saturated Fat: 2g · Cholesterol: 11mg · Sodium: 89mg · Potassium: 123mg · Fiber: 1g · Sugar: 15g · Vitamin A: 15IU · Calcium: 10mg · Iron: 0.4mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @barefeetkitchen or tag #barefeetkitchen!

{originally published 08/14/2013 – photos and recipe notes updated 07/20/21}

3-Ingredient PB Cookies are the easiest, tastiest, most loved cookie ever! Get the recipe at barefeetinthekitchen.com

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Mary Younkin

Mary Younkin

Hi, I’m Mary. I’m the author, cook, photographer, and travel lover behind the scenes here at Barefeet In The Kitchen. I'm also the author of three cookbooks dedicated to making cooking from scratch as simple as possible.

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  2. Sandy says

    Absolutely perfect! I took out 2TBS of the peanut butter as suggested, and the result was a delicious, melt in your mouth, moist cookie – YUM! ❤️5 stars

    Reply

  4. LUVCAKE says

    Was craving something sweet but didn’t have much ingredients at home and then I found this lovely recipe. Tried this 3 ingredient peanut butter cookie recipe and OMG…..the bomb!! With this whole pandemic issue going on I’ve been in the kitchen trying all sorts of goodness. Stay safe all!! Thank you for the recipe,5 stars

    Reply

  5. Layla says

    I added a tiny bit of flour because my mixture was a little too liquid-y but otherwise my cookies turned out great! I cooked my cookies for about 9 minutes rather than twelve. Great recipe!4 stars

    Reply

  6. Michelle says

    I made these today and have to say I was not disappointed, they are soooooo moreish, even my partner likes them 🙂 I will certainly be making them again.5 stars

    Reply

  7. Jackson, N says

    Super easy to make. I am not a baker by any means but I enjoyed making these. I think I would do less sugar the next time I bake these. Highly recommend!4 stars

    Reply

  8. Traci Schuck says

    Just made 3 ingredients for the peanut butter cookies. I made sure I used parchment paper. Turned out delicious, so easy. Thanks for the recipe!5 stars

    Reply

    • Mary Younkin says

      You can bake these without parchment. I simply prefer it. You don’t need to grease the cookie sheet either, Jean. They’ll just be a little darker on the bottom.

  13. Laura Mckeown says

    So good! I used 2/3 c sugar and added 3 Tablespoons Bisquick. They have a little bit of that yummy crumbliness sooooooo good:) I also added a little cinnamon and sea salt to the top and chocolate chips

    Reply

  14. Sharon says

    I love this cookies! the only thing about this recipe is that the cookies DO spread and will end up touching if you aren’t careful – like me! But this recipe has been used by my family for generations and it’s really great!5 stars

    Reply

    • Leah says

      I made them yesterday and they turned out good but definitely spread a ton so I was a bit disappointed. I ended up refrigerating the dough for the rest of them and made a much bigger scoop and they turned out a lot better but still spread some. Still pretty impressive for only 3 ingredients!

    • Mary Younkin says

      Many people have reported success using natural peanut butter. It’s worth a try. That said, the results are not 100% reliable, so I don’t recommend it if commercial peanut butter is available.

  17. Elaine Toth says

    I used a little less sugar
    Dough was to soft, had trouble making fork criss cross.
    Think that using 1/4 cup less sugar was the mistake, anyone have the same outcome?

    Reply

    • Mary Younkin says

      I’m glad you’re enjoying the cookies, Janet. You can probably reduce the sugar to 3/4 cups without negatively impacting the results. Happy baking!

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