3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies

2,258 Comments 4.6

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

Jump to Recipe

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.

Save The Recipe

Want to save this recipe?

Enter your email and I’ll send this recipe right to your inbox! Plus, I’ll send you new recipes every week!

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.

Get New Recipessent to your inbox!
We never share your information with third parties and will protect it in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

Old Fashioned 3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies

4.61 from 564 votes
Chewy, dense, peanut buttery cookies are an unforgettable memory from childhood.
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

Filed under: , , ,

Tagged with:

Share this Article

PinYummly

Related Posts

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.

Reader Interactions

2,258 Comments Leave a comment or review

    Rate & Comment

    Rating




  1. Maria Hockett says

    I used stevia cup for cup swap. They were soft and brittle such that they fell apart if I picked it up. They were not very sweet either. I threw them out.

  2. Jay says

    I was looking at this recipe and another that wa the same thing. Oddly enough the times where different. I saved the other one and this one. I ended up following the other recipe and the cookies were raw! Definitely will be following this recipe next time!

  3. Gwen says

    We don’t have butter and I am doing a baking competition with my sister today . Do you think that these would be good with chocolate chip??????

  4. DVSeattle says

    Wow, wow, wow, wow, wow. These were DELICIOUS. I used natural peanut butter (I don’t like all that extra stuff they put in regular peanut butter). These were absolutely delicious. I don’t eat sweet treats a lot but ever so often I get a craving for something sweet and these were PERFECT. Simple and perfect. I had to let them cook for 15 minutes as my fancy stove is weird sometimes. These cookies would be delicious paired with a scoop of high quality vanilla ice cream. Perfect summer dessert. Yum!5 stars

  5. Jean says

    I wasn’t expecting the cookies to taste so GOOD! I like the easy recipe—right up my alley. I will be making them again.

  6. Kathleen Hosey says

    The easiest, tastiest recipe ever! Absolutely love it. I changed it up slightly added 1/2 tsp of vanilla and a handful of chocolate chips to half the batter and a handful of unsalted peanuts to the other half. Amazing results!

    • Mary Younkin says

      Oh. My. Goodness. Thank you for that laugh, Kajol. I don’t know when a simple comment on the website has provided so much amusement, but wow. Just the thought that bare feet in the kitchen are capable of being either sexist or misogynistic is enough to crack me up all over again. Is it just the thought of bare feet that are offensive and sexist? or is it the thought that bare feet might be on a kitchen floor? The blog name isn’t “Go make my dinner, bring me a beer, and be sure you’re barefoot while you’re doing that, Woman” – it was simply a name that came to mind one day while I watched all my kids running around the kitchen barefoot while we were baking something. Thanks again for the laugh. I wish you all the best.

    • Shannon says

      OMG!!! Your reply to this person is 5 stars!!!!! Made me laugh!!!! Oh and your cookies are 5 stars also!! It is 11:00 pm and im going to the kitchen with my barefeet to make some of these!!5 stars

  7. Linda Knox says

    So easy and comes out perfect I added a tblsp of flour tsp vanilla half tsp salt And let sit on cookie sheet till almost cool or it crumbles Made a second batch an hr later5 stars

  8. Ad Boyer says

    I added 1 tsp vanilla, did 1/2 cup white sugar, 1/2 cup brown sugar, and a drizzle of chocolate syrup on top. Tasty and chewy.5 stars