Fast, easy, and totally delicious, my 3 ingredient peanut butter cookies are a perfect treat for any day of the week! This classic peanut butter cookie recipe is a favorite of home bakers everywhere because they take less than 15 minutes to make!
Soft, melt-in-your-mouth peanut butter cookies easy enough for a weeknight!
I love peanut butter so much, I often eat it straight out of the jar. This recipe is a product of trying to find ways to channel my peanut butter obsession into creating actual food vs. eating a topping directly with a spoon.
These cookies are rich, creamy, and ridiculously satisfying. They’re the perfect treat for a work or school lunch during a busy week.
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Given that they’re mostly peanut butter, they highlight one of the best flavors in the world, ground roasted peanuts. I’m drooling just thinking about them.
My family always waits by the oven when I make these. After all, cookies are always best right out of the oven. When they’re cool enough, of course, though we often learn the hard way.
❤️ Why You'll Love This Recipe!
Super Easy! There are only 3 ingredients and 5 minutes of prep time involved!
Kid-Friendly! For all the young, PBJ-lovers out there learning to cook, these cookies are a great beginner recipe!
They’re Unique! Chocolate chip cookies are usually the go-to. Feed your peanut butter cravings instead!
🥘 Ingredients
You’ll only need 3 ingredients for these delicious cookies. All of them are pantry staples.
- 1 cup Peanut Butter - Use your favorite creamy peanut butter for dynamite flavor.
- 1 cup Granulated White Sugar - You might need to adjust this if using natural, unsweetened peanut butter.
- 1 large Egg - This is what holds it all together.
*Be sure to see the recipe card below for ingredients, amounts & instructions!*
📖 Additions
Can’t help yourself and feel the need for more ingredients? Try adding some of these great goodies!
Chocolate Chips - Chocolate and peanut butter is one of–if not the best–flavor combinations ever. Period.
Honey Roasted Peanuts - Adding peanuts won’t change the taste of the cookies, but it will give it some extra crunch!
M+Ms - These are pretty much the same as chocolate chips, but they make a colorful cookie.
Reeses’s Pieces - What better way to enhance peanut butter cookies than with more peanut butter?
Honey - Substitute honey for part or all of the sugar in this recipe for a delicious alternative.
🔪 Step-By-Step Instructions
There’s no special equipment required for this. All you’ll need is a cookie sheet, a silicone spatula, and a mixing bowl.
- Prepare. First, use a sheet of parchment paper to line a cookie sheet. Preheat your oven to 350℉ (175℃).
- Combine the ingredients. Next, pour 1 cup granulated sugar, 1 cup smooth peanut butter, and 1 large egg into a mixing bowl. Mix thoroughly. The batter should be smooth, and all the ingredients should be well-integrated.
- Scoop your cookies. Then, scoop the cookies into approximately 1 tablespoon round balls. A cookie scoop or a spoon works best for this. Drop each dough ball on the prepared cookie sheet. Then, use a fork (*See note) to delicately press and slightly flatten each one. Do this first in one direction and then the other, like a tic-tac-toe board.
- Bake. Lastly, put the filled pan in the oven and bake for 6 to 8 minutes. When the bottoms of the cookies are just beginning to brown, they are done.
- Remove and enjoy. Take the pan out of the oven and let them cool off for about 5 minutes without touching them. Then, serve them or transfer them to a wire cooling rack to cool completely.
Bake these to finish off a wonderful lunch or dinner, or eat them as a sweet snack any time of day. Be sure to have plenty of milk on hand, that’s our favorite way to serve up these delightfully tasty peanut butter cookies! Enjoy!
💭 Angela's Tips & Recipe Notes
- Use a coated fork to press cookies. To keep the fork from sticking to the raw dough, dip it in cool water or granulated sugar before pressing them down. Alternatively, you can use the bottom of a glass (damp with water or a light coating of sugar as well) to press the cookies down.
- Cookies will be soft. Don’t overcook them thinking they will harden. Cooking too long will simply spoil the taste. This kind of cookie is better soft.
- Make a pattern on your cookies. If you have a cut glass cup with an interesting design on the bottom, use it to press the cookies down. It will turn out beautifully and add a special flair for parties.
- Try a chia egg. If you run out of eggs or don’t eat them, use a chia egg. For each egg replaced, mix 1 tablespoon chia seeds with 2 ½ tablespoons water and wait for it to gel up. This works wonderfully as a binder in cookies, pancakes, and burgers. And it adds an interesting texture without changing the flavor.
🥡 Storing & Reheating
If you manage to have leftovers, store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks.
Freezing
In order to keep them longer, freeze cookies on parchment-lined baking sheets before transferring them to freezer bags or airtight containers to prevent sticking. They’ll last for up to 6 months.
Reheating 3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies
If you’re looking for that just-out-of-the-oven texture, put thawed cookies in the microwave for about 15 seconds. You can also accomplish this by putting them is a 300℉ (150℃) oven for 5 minutes.
🍪 More Easy Cookie Recipes
- Chocolate Oatmeal No Bake Cookies
- Fork Biscuits
- Almond Butter Cookies
- Russian Tea Cakes
- Oatmeal Craisin Cookies
❓ FAQ
Try putting the dough in the fridge for a few hours before you’re ready to cook. This will help the dough set and keep their structure in the oven.
The main thing is to avoid overcooking. Cooking them too long leads to dry cookies that will fall apart. They are done as soon as they aren’t raw and the wet look has disappeared. No longer.
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📋 Recipe
3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup peanut butter (creamy)
- 1 cup granulated white sugar
- 1 large egg
Instructions
- Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
- In a medium-sized mixing bowl combine the peanut butter, granulated sugar, and egg. Mix until smooth and all ingredients are well integrated.1 cup peanut butter, 1 cup granulated white sugar, 1 large egg
- Use a cookie scoop or a spoon, scoop the dough into round balls, about 1 tablespoon, and drop them onto the prepared cookie sheet. Delicately press the cookie with the prongs of a fork (*see note) to slightly flatten them. First one way, then the other like tic-tac-to.
- Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 6-8 minutes. The cookies are done when the bottoms barely begin to brown.
- Remove them from the oven and allow them to cool for 5 minutes on the baking sheet before serving or transferring to a wire cooling rack to cool completely.
Equipment You May Need
Notes
- Dip your fork into a bowl of granulated sugar or cool water before pressing the cookies to keep it from sticking.
- Be cautious not to overcook these 3 ingredient peanut butter cookies as they taste better soft.
- Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks.
- Freeze baked cookies and store for up to 6 months.
Nutrition
Angela is an at home chef that developed a passion for all things cooking and baking at a young age in her Grandma's kitchen. After many years in the food service industry, she now enjoys sharing all of her family favorite recipes and creating tasty dinner and amazing dessert recipes here at Bake It With Love!
Ruthie Huston says
Love your recipes, can't wait to try them all. Thank you