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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.
My cookies were burning on the bottom at 12 min., even though I used parchment paper. I reduced the time to 8 min. And they were better. Pretty good recipie , over all. The dough, of course is the best part!
Hi Michael, it sounds like your oven might be heating unevenly. It is unusual for cookies to burn like that.
Love these cookies…quick n easy
So happy you like the cookies.
I made these cookies using natural peanut butter which as you know has a bit of oil in it but I mixed it pretty thoroughly. However, I could not make a ball out of the batter. So I put it in the fridge to chill for a bit. Still unable to form a ball so I added about 2 tablespoons of flour and that helped hold the ball together. Not sure if it was because I was using the natural peanut butter which has all the oil in it. I definitely think the natural peanut butter is thinner than regular peanut butter so the flour helped with that issue. Cookies are delicious.
Different natural peanut butters will affect the recipe that way. Temperature also affects it. As long as you can scoop the dough, they should bake nicely though.
BS that you can roll them out, just put a spoonful our they will sag
The size of the egg, as well as the temperature of the dough will affect whether you are able to roll these cookies out, Patrick. Often, I just drop them onto the tray as well, and that works fine. (Bonus points for tasting the same and being easier!) However, as you can see, it isn’t “BS” to roll them out, since I’ve provided a handy video illustrating that particular technique.
There taste amazing! When I went over at my friends grandmas house we made cookies but I couldnt remember the recipe. When I found this and tried it out they tasted the same and are really good!
I’m thrilled that you like the cookies, Samantha!
I can’t believe how well these cookies turned out with only three ingredients!!! These cookies definitely exceeded my expectations! This is a great recipe 😊
I’m glad you like the cookies, Lakeisha!
My daughter and I are making them as we speak can’t wait so see how they turned out thank you for the easy recipe
I hope that you love the cookies, Mariza.
Eager to try these, but can you tell me the issue when using natural peanut butter? I make my own and would love to be able to figure out a simple way to combine homemade PB with this recipe.
I’ve found commercial peanut butter delivers the most consistent results, Gigi. However, it’s worth trying with homemade peanut butter if that’s what you have in the house. If you read through the comments, some people have had great results with alternative peanut butters.
Love these cookies! My brother & I used to make these growing up and I had forgotten the exact ingredients. Thank you for the recipe, I made some last night. The only downside is now I cannot stop eating them! 😊
I love that you have such fun memories with these cookies too, Liz!
Easy and delicious! I used Skippy creamy peanut butter. Next time I’m going to experiment with the amount of sugar since this pb does have lots in it already. Look forward to trying your other cookie recipes. Thank you.
I’m glad you enjoyed the cookies, Phyllis!
Hi! I’ve made these cookies a few times, and they always taste amazing, but they never harden enough. I’ve followed the recipe exactly, but they are always far too soft and fall apart in my hand.
Hi Ryan, I’m glad you like the cookies. I’m not sure why they wouldn’t be hardening though. Are you adding the second egg? or changing any other ingredients? maybe using a natural peanut butter?
Just made these! They taste great but are very crumbly. Didnt change anything in recipe.
The cookies will typically firm up as they cool, Alycia.
Hi, I’m Renata from Brazil. I love cookies and I’ve Just made them. They’re delicious! Thank you so much!!
I’m glad that you are enjoying the cookies, Renata.
Interesting…. I only got 6 cookies out of this recipe….
Those must have been pretty big cookies, Chris. The yield will vary depending on size.
I’ve just made these three minute peanut butter cookies,first time that I’ve never used flour when baking cookies,they turned out great! Thank you;
I’m glad you like the cookies, Cathy.
Thank you so much for the recipe. I’m a stay at home Grammy, and need simple treats for the kids. The first time I made these I had crunchy natural peanut butter. The second time I had creamy natural peanut butter. Both times they turned out yummy. Next time I’m going to try to not use as much sugar . The kid loved them, and that’s what matters.
I’m thrilled that you like the cookies, Sherri.
I am so pleasantly pleased at how well these cookies turned out with only 3 ingredients!! They taste as delicious as grandmas did when I was child!! My grandsons and I love making and eating these cookies together!! We have officially found another DELICIOUS cookie to make at Christmas together and they are so easy to make!! Thank you for sharing!!!!
I’m so glad to hear that you’re enjoying the cookies, Tracy!
I tried to move them to the wire rack two minutes after taking out of the oven, as instructed but they just cracked and look like they want to fall apart.
I used regular (not natural) peanut butter, added the pinch of salt, a little vanilla, and handful of chips.
They may have needed another minute or two to cool, Lindsay. They should firm up when they cool.
These are awesome cookies!! The first time I made them I was skeptical but boy was I wrong! Talk about fast and easy (and good)!!
I’m going to go make some right now!!!
I’m so glad that you’re enjoying the cookies, Lynne.
I absolutely don’t know how this has 4.6 stars. It takes nothing like ANY peanut butter cookie Ive ever had, and I absolutely love peanut butter, even as pies. Never again thats for sure. Even a store package tastes better than this.
I was so craving these.
We LOVE these cookies. It’s more that they are the easiest cookie in the world, the kids can make them, and they’re richly peanut butter-y in flavor. Are they “legit” peanut butter cookies? I don’t know, they’re dense cookies unlike any others I’ve tried. My favorites are still the more traditional peanut butter cookies with flour in them. But these have a place in our recipe books too. And for anyone who doesn’t do a lot of baking, they are a godsend.
I’m so glad that you like the cookies, Amanda. That’s exactly how we feel about them too. They aren’t for everyone, but plenty of people do love them.
Great recipe. Nice and simple, perfect for when you’re having a craving and need something NOW! I would recommend adding a hefty spoonful of honey for flavor, and sprinkling some flour on the parchment paper beforehand to offset some of the oils that collect from the peanut butter. Haven’t tried this yet, but this recipe looks like it will mix well with a cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips!
Hi Sara, for what it’s worth (since you haven’t actually tried the recipe yet) I’ve never noticed any oils collecting on the baking sheet. I have no idea how adding “a hefty spoonful” of liquid honey might affect the results either. If you do try that, let us know how it works out.