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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.
This is an awesome recipe but you should be careful which peanut butter you are using. First time I used Great Value. The dough and cookies came out just perfect! No mess. Today I tried Kraft. What a mess! The dough was sticky, I had to wet my hands to form cookies, still I couldn’t make balls. Now that thing is in the owen but I’m not exited at all after all that messy preparation.
Thank you for the recipe.
Thanks for the tips, Larysa.
These cookies turned out nicely, unlike this bickering thread of reviewers. I miss the days when everyone did not feel the need to school each other…mistakenly thinking they need to play ‘Internet Expert’ and tell everyone how to live. Our forefathers had the humility to accept that no one really cared about their opinion on most things. We are on a cookie site folks. You are ALL already discussing and making a food that is not the star of a healthy lifestyle. Tell everyone if you liked the recipe, how it turned out, what unique modifications you made, the failures…but keep your ideas on what others should ingest in your own homes. Ridiculous…
I’m happy to hear that you enjoyed the cookies, Wendy!
SPEAK, WENDY!!!!!!!
Thumbs up on your comment!
Well put Wendy!! 😁
I love this recipe! I substitute some of the white sugar with brown sugar, and add 1tsp of vanilla. So perfect!
I’m so glad you like the cookies, Angela!
I’ve never seen this recipe before and I was skeptical which of course meant I HAD to try them! They just came out of the oven and I have to say, the flavor is exquisite. My cookies came out a bit dry and crumbly, probably because I use natural peanut butter (just peanuts and salt with no added oil). I might try reducing the sugar a bit next time, and/or adding some sort of oil or perhaps the extra egg to make them stickier. I did add a splash of vanilla as some other bakers had done.
I’m so glad you like them, Lynne.
Love this recipe! Just made them tonight for the first time and they will definitely be a favorite in this household from now on. Thanks! Kellye
So glad you like it, Kellye!
Very good, but I found them to be very sweet. I used Publix brand crunchy peanut butter and that worked great! When I make them again i will be cutting the suger by a quarter. The only thing I bake is fruitcake, I didn’t know my favorite cookie was this easy! Thank you for this recipe. Can this be made with substitute sweetener for my diabetic friends?
I’m glad you’re enjoying the cookies, Lee! Many people have left comments here regarding using alternate sweeteners. That isn’t something I’ve personally done, but depending on the sweetener it should work fine.
Mine literally crumbled in my mouth, but in an “I’m choking on sand” kind of way. They tasted fine and weren’t burnt, so I’m wondering if it was the type of sugar (Stevia) I used. Not sure, but I’m just going to crumble them over some ice cream and call it a day.
I’m guessing that the Stevia changed the texture of the cookies. I’m glad they worked for the ice cream!
So easy ANDD Delicio’!!So!xoxo
I’m so glad you like the cookies, Julia.
The best peanut butter cookies recipe I ever had
I’m so glad you like them, Rosemarie. They look perfect!
Amazing! Just made them and they are to die for!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Supe Yum! Thank you!!!!
I’m glad you like the cookies!
I LOVE these cookies and so does my family. They’re so easy and delicious. I’ve been making them for about 2 years now and they always come out amazing. Well, yesterday my daughter asked me to make them and since she just started Weight Watchers I thought it would be a good idea to use xylitol instead of regular sugar. What a big mistake. They came out so weird and the texture was similar to a protein bar from the grocery store. Big mistake on my part. So, I threw them away when no one was looking. Lol
LOL Better stick with the original next time. I’m glad you like the cookies, Heidi!
Dear Wendy, your comment is a breather. I’m taking notes so I can give similar ones to other recipe reviews being given unwarranted negative comments. Thank you again. This recipe is good and I followed other people’s tweaks.
Too sugary by far. Tastes more like candy than like cookie. Recipes with (alt)flour are better
Sorry to hear it wasn’t a hit with you, Erin.
LOVED THIS I will start making this like every day! I just wanted to say when they came out of the oven they looked like pancakes. WHat should I do to make them crispier?
I’m glad you like the cookies, Patrick! Did you make them with one egg or two? It sounds like there is a little more liquid in the mix.
Don’t waste your peanut butter. People giving 5 stars must be paid.
Sorry to hear the cookies weren’t a hit. As you can tell, they’re a pretty popular classic cookie.
My go to recipe for a quick dessert when I don’t feel like making a mess! The only thing I change is the sugar. I use Sucralose (1:1) for a, eh, “healthier” option and they come out splendid! Even my husband loves them, and he’s not a huge peanut butter fan. Thank you Mary!
I’m so glad you like the cookies, Liz.
This recipe is so simple and the cookies tasted great. Kids loved them. I will definitely make them again.
I’m so glad you like the cookies, Mike!
I might add.. do not use Reduced Fat Peanut Butter. Dough comes out oily. Baking them now.. not baking well either. Just a heads up! Thank you Larysa for your comment.
i really love these cookies, the first time i made them i made them with a friend. they turned out great. however this time when i made them they turned out more brittle like then a cookie 😬 but i still love them!
I’m happy to hear you are enjoying the cookies, Carlie!
My first time making the 3 ingredients peanut butter cookies they came out flat,and too sweet. So I tried again this time with powder sugar,the first time was regular white sugar the second time is a 5 star rating my grandchildren love making these cookies by themself doing the whole mixing,shaping fork prints.iput the cookies into the oven, my helpers are only four years old.
I’m glad you like the cookies, Sonya!