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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
Three Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookie Recipe
- 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.
- 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.)
- Press down with the back of a fork and then press again from the opposite direction, to form the criss-cross pattern on top.
- 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.
Check out all of the Gluten Free Dessert Recipes on this website!
Cookie Baking Tips
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.
Old Fashioned 3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies
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
Nutrition
{originally published 08/14/2013 – photos and recipe notes updated 07/20/21}
Jeanette Taylor says
4:45am just removing from oven & house smells Amaizing
Mary Younkin says
I hope you love the cookies, Jeanette.
Angie says
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!!
Mary Younkin says
I’m thrilled that you are enjoying the cookies and that’s great to know about the Costco peanut butter, Angie. Thanks!
hayleigh says
hello, I’m planning on making these for my family but I was wondering if I could substitute half of the sugar for flour?
Mary Younkin says
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.
hayleigh says
okay, thank you so much. by the way, I think that you’re so cool for the easy recipes you create! God bless you!
jan says
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.
bairbre says
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
Mary Younkin says
I love this! Enjoy the cookies.
Juliet says
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!
Mary Younkin says
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.
Jo Wright says
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!!
Mary Younkin says
I’m happy to hear that you’re enjoying the cookies, Jo!
Gail says
The three ingredient peanut butter cookie recipe, can you use soft light brown sugar?
Mary Younkin says
That should work fine, Gail.
Norma Bramblett says
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!
Mary Younkin says
I hope that you love them, Norma.
Anonymous says
Are the degrees in Fahrenheit or Celsius?
Mary Younkin says
350°F
hazel says
Wow that was the easiest recipe l have ever done
Mary Younkin says
I’m glad you like them, Hazel.
Beatrice says
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?
Mary Younkin says
I’m so glad that you like the cookies, Beatrice. I don’t know of any others quite like this recipe.
Dion says
Can I put butter in the mixture
Mary Younkin says
It is unnecessary, Dion.
Angel Rivero says
I love these angel cookies 😇🍪
Mary Younkin says
That’s lovely.
Samantha says
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!!
Mary Younkin says
I’m thrilled that you love them, Samantha.
Brad Karraker says
Added chocolate chips to some & boy were they good!
Mary Younkin says
Sounds delicious, Brad.
Beverly DRomero says
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!
Mary Younkin says
I’m thrilled to hear that you love the cookies so much, Beverly.
MissJane says
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!
Mary Younkin says
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.
Emily Weybright says
They were really good but they had a weird aftertaste
Mary Younkin says
I’m glad you like the cookies, Emily. Not sure what might have caused an aftertaste.
Cyd Hay says
Might be the brand of peanut Butter
Check the expiration date
I used Jiff
No aftertaste
Nancy says
Hi
Could brown sugar be used instead of regular ??
Mary Younkin says
Sure, that’ll work fine, Nancy.
Jopie says
het is heel lekker!! Wij hebben het ook gemaakt maar dan in plaats van pindakaas hebben we chocoladepasta gebruikt!
Mary Younkin says
Ik ben zo blij dat je de koekjes lekker vindt! Ik wed dat het ook heerlijk was met chocopasta.