These 3 Ingredient peanut butter cookies are the ultimate quick treat! They’re sweet and nutty, with the classic criss cross top that everyone loves. Perfect when you need a cookie recipe with simple ingredients and simple instructions!
With these simple PB cookies you get soft, tender bites with rich peanut butter flavor, a simple mix and bake, and a cookie jar that fills fast. No fancy tools, no extra trips to the store, just pantry staples and smiles.
For more simple recipes try out 3 Ingredient Banana Bread, 3 Ingredient Sugar Cookies, and Easy Shortbread Cookies.
Why we think you’ll love it:
- Quick. It honestly only takes about 15 minutes from start to finish.
- Simple. Only 3 ingredients and is so easy the kids could do it by themselves.
- Delicious. Similar to regular Peanut Butter Cookies, they are packed with flavor.
3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookie Ingredients
- Creamy peanut butter (1 cup)- Peanut Butter adds rich, salty sweet nuttiness and the fat that keeps these cookies soft and tender. Natural peanut butter is not recommended as the texture is quite different, and the cookies don’t turn out as well. Stick with something smooth and creamy like JIF, Skippy, or even a generic store brand.
- Sugar (½ cup)- The sugar sweetens, helps the cookies spread a touch, and gives that classic lightly crisp edge. Substitute the white sugar with brown sugar to make them more chewy, or do half white and half brown.
- Egg (1 large)- The egg binds everything together, adds moisture, and helps the cookies set with a soft bite. For a lighter texture, add an extra egg. It will make the dough stickier so you won’t be able to roll it. Just use a spoon or cookie scoop to plop dough on a cookie sheet.
How to Make 3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies
PREP. Preheat oven to 350°F.
DOUGH. Using an electric mixer, beat together the peanut butter, sugar, and egg until smooth and creamy.
ROLL. Roll mixture into small balls and place on a baking sheet. Using a fork, flatten each ball, making a criss-cross pattern.
BAKE. Bake at 350°F for 10 minutes. Enjoy!
Kristyn’s Recipe Tips
- Natural peanut butter is not recommended as the texture is quite different, and the cookies don’t turn out as well. Stick with something smooth and creamy like JIF or Skippy.
- Chilling for 15-20 minutes before scooping and baking to help keep them from spreading as much.
- Top with chocolate chips or chocolate frosting. Make them into a sandwich with vanilla frosting or Vanilla Ice Cream in the middle.
- Higher elevations may require a different bake time. Watch carefully so they don’t burn.
3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 large egg
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Using an electric mixer, beat together the peanut butter, sugar, and egg until smooth and creamy. Roll mixture into small balls and place on a baking sheet. Using a fork, flatten each ball, making a criss-cross pattern.
- Bake at 350°F for 10 minutes. Enjoy!
Notes
- Natural peanut butter is not recommended as the texture is quite different, and the cookies don’t turn out as well. Stick with something smooth and creamy like JIF or Skippy.
- Chilling for 15-20 minutes before scooping and baking to help keep them from spreading as much.
- Top with chocolate chips or chocolate frosting. Make them into a sandwich with vanilla frosting or Vanilla Ice Cream in the middle.
- Higher elevations may require a different bake time. Watch carefully so they don’t burn.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Adapted from allrecipes.com
Recipe FAQ
Cover the bowl and store the dough in the fridge for about 2 days, or freeze cookie dough balls for 3-4 months. See How to Freeze Cookie Dough for tips.
Store baked cookies in an airtight container for about 3-5 days. To freeze, place cookies in an airtight freezer safe container, separating the layers with parchment paper. Freeze for up to 6 months
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This recipe was originally published February 2018.
my cookies were not done in ten minutes I left them in for 5 more minutes. still wet in middle so turned up side down to see if they will dry out
These are on a monthly rotation in our house.
My son in laws ask for them all the time!
LOVE LOVE LOVE
Oh I love to hear that!!! So glad the cookies are a hit!
Great recipe for an old classic. Soft and chewy just out of the oven! And only 3 ingredients!
Thank you! So glad you enjoyed the cookies. And yes, the three ingredients makes them so easy to just whip up when you have a craving for cookies. 😉
These were actually really terrible.
Took twice the time to bake and had a terrible texture
Thanks for the feedback and for giving the recipe a try!
I made these. I only had 1 egg. Lol!! They are soft and yummy!!
Yay! Glad to hear that you enjoyed the cookies!
Being a baker myself, I was quite skeptical about this 3 ingredient recipe. However, I have a sweet tooth and only have a few ingredients on hand where I am staying. I tried these cookies and much to my surprise they are delicious and quick to make!
I put a small chopped up piece of dark chocolate candy bar on each cookie and baked for 8 minutes at 350 degrees. The batch made 17 cookies ( I used a small cookie dough scooper). I also put in fridge for about 10 mins or so before I baked them. Thanks for sharing this simple recipe.
You are so welcome!! Adding the chocolate is a great day! Thank you!
I don’t have any eggs, can i substitute 1/4 of applesauce instead?
You sure could 🙂 Enjoy!!
Can I use raw cane sugar instead?
I personally haven’t, but I don’t see why not 🙂
could you add Oatmeal to this recipe??
You sure could 😉 Hope you like them!
So easy to make and so delicious! I love that they are naturally gluten free!
Well, it can’t get much easier than 3 ingredients. HOw great is that? This is a recipe I can hand my kiddos and not worry about them making it. Thanks!
Amazing and super easy to make!! 🙂
Dumb question, but can i mix by hand? will i get the right consistency?
I haven’t used my hands, but you sure could 🙂 Enjoy!!
Very easy to do. You can make several batches in no time at all.
That’s why I love it! Glad you did too. Thank you!
We made these tonight and they were YUMMY! I did one tray plain and one with chocolate chips and both were a hit. 🙂 Thanks!!
These would be great with chocolate chips!! Glad they were a hit!!
Haven’t tried yet … but wondered if these are Gluten Free. I have a friend I would like to make these for if they are GF.
None of these ingredients have gluten, so she should be able to eat them 🙂
Hi Kristyn! I live in Aurora , Co,and the atmosphere here is different. I just baked these cookies, they smell awesome, but they kind of scorched a little bit. what would be a good oven temperature to use? thanks, emma clark
Thank you for trying them. You could try shortening the time to maybe 7-8 minutes. I haven’t tried lessening the oven temp, but you could try 325 degrees.
Easiest cookie recipe I’ve ever tried! And they taste good 🙂 I love me a good peanut butter cookie and THis recipe is a keeper!
These cookies are so easy to make and yet they taste super delicious! My family and I love them!
My 11 year old has been interested in learning to bake. this was an easy recipe for her to try out. They turned out perfectly and her siblings ate them right up.
I can’t believe how easy & tasty these cookies are!! I love recipes with few ingredients! Peanut butter cookies are so yum!!
Tried the 3 ingredient p.b. Cookies ???? best p.b. Cookie. I have ever tried.me and my wife love them!!!
Yay!! Thank you so much for letting me know & I am so glad you both liked them!
hey girl- these cookies look oh so good!
They really are!! Hope you try them!
Love recipe. Different from my traditional but tasty. Will use BROWN sugar next time
Thank you so much for sharing that!