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These chewy, dense, peanut butter cookies are an unforgettable memory from my childhood. Made with just an egg, a cup of peanut butter, and a cup of sugar, 3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies are an old-fashioned cookie that everyone loves.
Peanut Butter Cookies
After you’ve tasted them, these old-fashioned chewy peanut butter cookies will be forever in your memory, too. And if you scan the comments at the bottom of this post, you’ll see a whole lot of people calling these the Best Peanut Butter Cookies Ever.
While the origin of these peanut butter cookies is sometimes debated, the recipe has certainly been around longer than I have. I can remember seeing the instructions on the side of Jif, Skippy, and Peter Pan peanut butter jars throughout my childhood.
So quick easy and delicious! Always have the ingredients so it is really perfect for a spur of the moment sweet tooth 😋 👍
Three Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies
I remember stirring a batch of these cookies together with a friend in the middle of the night when I was in junior high or high school. I was a bit skeptical that it would work, but I loved them from the first bite.
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 of peanut butter cookies on the internet and in countless cookbooks, and I’ve played with plenty of them in the past.
1 Cup Peanut Butter + 1 Cup Sugar + 1 Egg
In the end, I keep going back to the original peanut butter cookie. I love it for its simplicity. 1 cup of peanut butter, 1 cup of sugar, and 1 egg: there really isn’t anything easier that tastes this good.
Truly the BEST!
As much as I love the original recipe, I often change things up just a tiny bit when I make these cookies. 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 we love even more than the original. Happy baking!
One of my favorite things about this very easy peanut butter cookie recipe is that kids can usually make these cookies without any help at all. This was the first cookie recipe that each of my boys learned to make, and they were probably about 5 years old when they made them for the first time on their own.
Old Fashioned Peanut Butter Cookies
While the main ingredients for these 3 ingredient peanut butter cookies are simply peanut butter, sugar, and an egg, feel free to adapt the recipe however you like best! Add a teaspoon of vanilla, an additional egg (for a gooier cookie – see note below), a pinch of sea salt, or a handful of chocolate chips. The cookies are delicious both as written and with the extra ingredients.
As much as I love the original recipe, I often change things up just a tiny bit when I make these cookies. 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 we love even more than the original.
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. While some readers have commented that their all-natural peanut butter works well, that is not universally true with all natural peanut butters.
Recipe Tip
Many 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. I’ll admit that I’m not the biggest fan of this particular variation, as the cookies are a bit more delicate this way, and I really like the chewy texture of the original version.
3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies
It really doesn’t get any easier than these cookies. Stir together the peanut butter, sugar, and egg. Scoop the cookie dough onto a baking sheet and then use the back of a fork to press down on each cookie. Press again from the opposite direction to form the criss-cross pattern on top.
These cookies will not spread much at all. You can bake the full batch on a single tray if you like. Store the cooled cookies in an airtight container, either on the counter until they all disappear, or in the freezer, for up to 2 months.
Easy Cookie Recipes
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.
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!
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.
3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup sugar * see note below
- 1 cup peanut butter
- 1 egg
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Combine the peanut butter, sugar, and egg in a bowl. Stir together until well combined.
- Scoop onto a parchment-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 much at all. You can bake the full recipe on a single tray if you like. Bake for 12 minutes and then cool on the tray for 1-2 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to finish cooling. Store in an airtight container.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
{originally published 08/14/2013 – photos and recipe notes updated 09/25/25}
This has been a very popular recipe here on the website for almost as long as I’ve been sharing recipes online. I’m updating the photos and resharing the recipe today; however, I’m including the original photos here for those who may already be familiar with these cookies.
4:45am just removing from oven & house smells Amaizing
I hope you love the cookies, Jeanette.
These are amazingly simple and delicious. And I used natural peanut butter! The Costco brand, Kirkland. Have made several batches over the past several days, boy are they addicting!! No complaints, the family loved them!!
I’m thrilled that you are enjoying the cookies and that’s great to know about the Costco peanut butter, Angie. Thanks!
hello, I’m planning on making these for my family but I was wondering if I could substitute half of the sugar for flour?
I have no idea how that might work, Hayleigh. I’ve never tried that. If you want a more traditional cookie recipe, there are a few peanut butter cookie alternatives on the site. You can find them by searching for “peanut butter cookies” in the search bar at the top of the page.
okay, thank you so much. by the way, I think that you’re so cool for the easy recipes you create! God bless you!
ive made peanut butter cookies with flour before (by adapting a ‘chewy choc chip cookie’ type recipe, and only using a tablespoon of peanut butter) and they still taste great, the texture will be different though, cause with flour they turn out a little bit more like sponge cake drops- as i guess the flour rises in the cooking.
lmao, i’m literally 12 and i was able to silently make these cookies at 1 am without a mess or any help, and they’re super tasty! 100% would recommend
I love this! Enjoy the cookies.
They look like cookies but they taste like peanut butter flavored sugar. This is not a real cookie recipe, and my poor husband (who doesn’t know how to cook) was sucked in by the whole 3-ingredient thing. Real peanut butter cookies have flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in addition to these three ingredients. Shortbread is the only cookie that uses three ingredients and one of them is flour!
There are several other options on the site for peanut butter cookies, Juliet. This is a very simple recipe that many of us grew up making. Sorry to hear that you aren’t a fan.
My favorite is peanutbutter cookies. I liked these, Most people don’t have a lot of peanutbutter taste in their cookies. Now when my hubby gets up and try’s them (he’s a bigger fan then I am) that’ll be the test!!
I’m happy to hear that you’re enjoying the cookies, Jo!
The three ingredient peanut butter cookie recipe, can you use soft light brown sugar?
That should work fine, Gail.
I can’t wait to make these with only 3 ingredients. My boyfriend’s wants something he can eat with out his teeth in at late night. I recently made some with flour, turned out hard and crunchy!
I hope that you love them, Norma.
Are the degrees in Fahrenheit or Celsius?
350°F
Wow that was the easiest recipe l have ever done
I’m glad you like them, Hazel.
Mary, thank you for sharing. These are the best peanut butter cookies I’ve ever made. My whole family loves them. Do you have any other 3 ingredient cookie recipes?
I’m so glad that you like the cookies, Beatrice. I don’t know of any others quite like this recipe.
Can I put butter in the mixture
It is unnecessary, Dion.
I love these angel cookies 😇🍪
That’s lovely.
I was really skeptical just because I’ve never made peanut butter cookies before but these came out AMAZING! Especially considering it’s only 3 ingredients!!
I’m thrilled that you love them, Samantha.
Added chocolate chips to some & boy were they good!
Sounds delicious, Brad.
I have used this recipe for years, and I absolutely love these cookies. I cannot go back to a peanut butter cookie recipe with flour!! These are the best ever and the easiest! Just remember not to overbake! We love them frozen too!
I’m thrilled to hear that you love the cookies so much, Beverly.
I just made the 3 ingredient peanut butter cookies and we do not like these cookies! They are dry, not chewy, powdery tasting. I followed recipe to the tee, can’t go wrong with 3 ingredients right? Sorry to say but these will be tossed and I will make next batch with a different recipe. Made these twice thinking first batch will be cool enough to enjoy while second batch is cooking. So I have wasted 2 eggs, 2 C sugar, 2 C peanut butter and my time!
As you can tell from the reviews, most people love them, but there are plenty of people who prefer a classic chewy cookie made with flour. Sorry to hear that they weren’t your thing, Miss Jane.
They were really good but they had a weird aftertaste
I’m glad you like the cookies, Emily. Not sure what might have caused an aftertaste.
Might be the brand of peanut Butter
Check the expiration date
I used Jiff
No aftertaste
Hi
Could brown sugar be used instead of regular ??
Sure, that’ll work fine, Nancy.
het is heel lekker!! Wij hebben het ook gemaakt maar dan in plaats van pindakaas hebben we chocoladepasta gebruikt!
Ik ben zo blij dat je de koekjes lekker vindt! Ik wed dat het ook heerlijk was met chocopasta.