3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies

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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 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

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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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  1. Lesley says

    These are amazing! I played around with the recipe and found if you use 2 eggs, 1 cup of brown sugar an a cup of peanut butter they are perfect of you like soft chewy cookies! You cant roll them into balls but dropping them on to a cookie sheet taste the same!5 stars

  2. Gigi H says

    I make 4-ingredient cookies… just add chocolate chips! I admit to liking it with white not brown sugar. The brown sugar is too sweet for us. Probably because of all the added chocolate! Such a QUICK recipe too. I use a scale, to weigh out the ingredients, (270g PB, 200g white sugar and the egg), so I only get the spoon, bowl and silmat dirty for these.5 stars

  3. Kaloora Jenkins says

    Okay I wanted to do a vegan, sugar and chocolate free version, so I used stevia and carob chips, also instead of egg I used flax seed, added a tsp of vanilla and voila it is vegan; chocolate, egg, and sugar free cookies that taste amazing. Great for all! Thank you soo much.

  4. Kim Adrian says

    I was searching for a good peanut butter cookie recipe and ran across this one. Now, I’ve never heard of a cookie made without flour so I gave it a try but I tweaked it just a bit by using 1/2 cup brown sugar and 1/2 cup white sugar. They were fabulous! I’ll be making them again but I’ll double the recipe next time! Oh, and didn’t even have to drag out my mixer, added bonus! ☆☆☆☆☆5 stars

  5. Anita Rocha says

    These are wonderful and so easy. I did a double batch so 1 cup white and 1 cup brown sugar. Half with chocolate chips. PERFECT.
    THANKS 😘5 stars

    • Mary Younkin says

      Unfortunately, that sounds like an issue with the oven, Salem. With just these three ingredients, there’s no way it couldn’t be cooked through.

  6. Rachel says

    These are alright. I didn’t have a ton of ingredients, so it worked! But if I did have other ingredients, I think I’d want a recipe with flour. They definitely turn out really well and cookie-like considering they’re only three ingredients. But again, from all the peanut butter cookie recipes in the world, I’d pick another if you have all the ingredients at home.3 stars

  7. Phyllis Griffin says

    Found this recipe about an hour ago, it’s snowing so thought I would try! Oh so easy & delicious. I live at 7000′, so I made a slight adjustment. Oven at 360° & baked for 14 minutes.
    You won’t be disappointed! Yum…5 stars

  8. Roni Raulwing says

    Just found this recipe the other day and tried it for the first yesterday. Hands down, the best peanut butter cookie recipe! It was super easy and very tasty!5 stars

  9. Evelyn Mitchell says

    Thank you for the warning about the type of peanut butter, I was able to encourage a better consistency for my peanut butter cookies by adding a tablespoon of buckwheat flour. But I’m sure most flours will do the trick.

  10. Misty Jones says

    I like this recipe but i added a tsp of vanilla extract and 1/4 cup brown sugar. They are fresh out the oven and cooling. To be cont….4 stars

  11. Lily Hillard says

    Not a fan. Made them twice. They taste too bitter. The after taste never leaves your mouth either. Both regular and chocolate chip kinds were not good. From the toddler to my grandma no one enjoyed them. We will stick to other recipes. 🤢🤮1 star