3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

These 3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies may be the easiest cookie recipe you’ll ever make! Soft and chewy, with no fuss. Ready in less than 20 minutes! Plus, they’re gluten-free too.

Peanut butter cookies on a yellow and white table cloth

3-Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies

Ready to make the easiest peanut butter cookie recipe ever? With less than 5 minutes of prep and 10 minutes in the oven, it just doesn’t get easier than this. Plus, they’re soft and chewy – just like you’d expect from any peanut butter cookie. This uses less ingredients than our popular bakery style peanut butter cookies, but still delicious!

My boys always beg for these cookies and I’m always happy to oblige. Not only are they almost effortless to make, they’re just so darn good. I recommend enjoying them warm with a glass of milk. Absolute perfection!

These are great for Christmas too. Every cookie platter needs a good peanut butter cookie and this one certainly fits the bill. It’s a great one to leave out for Santa too. The kids can even help make them.

A stack of peanut butter cookies

What You’ll Need

So what are the 3 ingredients you’ll need to make these soft and chewy cookies? Be sure to check the recipe card for the measurements.

  • Granulated sugar
  • Peanut butter – See notes below for the best peanut butter to use.
  • Egg – Gives the shape of the cookie and helps create the soft texture.

What is the best peanut butter to use for cookies?

You will want to use the basic creamy peanut butter that we all grew up on, like Jif and Skippy. I would not recommend using natural peanut butter that has the oil to mix in. The newer peanut butters will make the cookies too crumbly, so stick with the basics.

Cookie Dough on a Baking Sheet

How To Make 3-ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies

This is truly the easiest cookie recipe you will ever make! You can whip this up so quickly and they taste delicious. This is also a easy recipe to remember – 1 cup of peanut butter, 1 cup of sugar, and 1 egg.

  • Combine the ingredients. Mix all three ingredients with a wooden spoon until smooth.
  • Form the cookies. Roll heaping tablespoons into a ball. Roll in sugar if desired. Place on a baking sheet and flatten with a fork.
  • Bake. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes, until just slightly browned on the bottom. Transfer to a wire rack after 1 minute. Enjoy.
Freshly Baked Peanut Butter Cookies on a baking sheet

Tips for Success

Here are a few tips to making the softest, chewiest cookies.

  • Avoid natural peanut butter. As noted above, for the best cookies you’ll want to use regular creamy peanut butter, not natural.
  • Roll the dough in sugar. Though it’s not necessary, I like to roll the balls of dough in a bit of sugar before placing them on the cookie sheet. It just adds an extra bit of texture.
  • Flatten the cookies. These cookies do need to be flattened with a fork in a cross pattern, as they won’t spread properly or cook fully otherwise.
  • Do not overbake. Keep an eye on the cookies after 10 minutes, to prevent overbaking. They should be firm to the touch and beginning to brown on the edges.
  • Customize the peanut butter cookies. Add some chocolate or white chocolate chips, ½ teaspoon of vanilla extract, an additional egg (for a softer cookie), or a sprinkle of sea salt on top.
A pile of peanut butter cookies

How to Store

Peanut butter cookies will stay soft and fresh for up to 5 days. Just keep them stored on the container in an airtight container.

Can You Freeze 3 ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies?

YES! After you bake them, let them cool completely. Place them in an airtight container with a piece of parchment paper in between the layers. You can also place them in freezer bags.  Freeze for up to 3 months. When ready to serve, thaw overnight on the counter or in the fridge.

More Peanut Butter Desserts:

Peanut Butter Cookies made with 3-ingredients
5 from 54 votes

3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies

These 3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies may be the easiest cookie recipe you'll ever make! Soft and chewy, with no fuss. Ready in less than 20 minutes! Plus, they're gluten-free too.
Servings: 24
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 10 minutes
Total: 15 minutes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 cup peanut butter
  • 1 egg

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with a baking mat or parchment paper.
  • Using a wooden spoon, mix together the peanut butter, white sugar and egg until smooth.
  • Form dough into heaping tablespoons (about 3/4 inch). Then roll the dough ball in a small bowl of sugar, if desired, to coat the outside. Place on the baking sheet at least 2 inches apart, and then use a fork to flatten and form a cross pattern.
  • Bake for 10-15 minutes, until the cookies are just slightly browned on the bottom. Be careful not to over-bake. Remove and let cool on the baking sheet for 1 minute, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
  • Serve and enjoy!

Last Step:

Please leave a rating and comment letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business to thrive and continue providing free, high-quality recipes for you.

Nutrition

Serving: 24g | Calories: 98kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 7mg | Sodium: 52mg | Potassium: 72mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 10IU | Calcium: 6mg | Iron: 1mg

Categories:

3-ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies

Leave a Review!

We LOVE hearing from you! Submit your question or comment here.

Your email address will not be published.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating:




I accept the Privacy Policy

53 comments on “3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies”

  1. Çhristie Goodman

    5 stars
    My kids, grandkids & husband loved the Peanut butter cookies. They were certainly easy to make. Thank you!

  2. Jonnita treppard

    5 stars
    I just wanted to say thank you.been looking for a simple recipe for cookies.do you have any simple banana bread or muffins?

  3. 5 stars
    This has become my favorite recipe! I took some to a Celebrate Recovery meeting one night. A young man came to me with one in his mouth and four in his hand. He told me they were the absolute best he’d ever eaten. He ask for the recipe. I’ve made batches for many others as a gift. Everyone tells me the same thing. I use RAW sugar instead of white and make for myself often. Going to bake some right now for our group tonight. Thank you for sharing this recipe!!!!!!!

  4. I love making these delicious peanut butter cookies.
    They’re so easy to make and makes my husband happy, cause he loves them!

  5. 5 stars
    I baked 3 dozen of these cookies last week for my Celebrate Recovery Group at my church. They’re so easy to make! I’ve always loved chewing soft cookies. I had a young man from our group run up to me with 3in his hand as he’s chewing on th fourth one saying Ms Pam these are the most delicious peanut butter cookies I’ve ever eaten. He ask for the recipe. I’m baking him a small batch to take to him tonight at group. Along with a recipe card. 5+ stars from my CR family. Thank you for sharing this recipe ❤️

  6. Susan Ballain

    I made these around Christmas time and they were delicious! I’m just wondering if I can replace sugar with stevia?

  7. 5 stars
    excellent, but don’t use NN peanut butter and i like crunchy for added texture. leave on baking sheet for 5 min to cool before removing

  8. 5 stars
    Made these with three grandsons. Doubled the recipe. Used two bowls. One prepared the cookie sheets. Kept having each kid do a part and moved everyone around. They really loved the rolling dough into balls part. They were anxious to do their parts, had fun and after eating several, with milk, said ” We need to make these again.” It was a great time! Made about 3 dozen. They were different shapes and thicknesses, fork imprints were a little wonky (who cares?) but they were delicious!

  9. 5 stars
    I’ve been making these cookies for decades. They’re the only peanut butter cookies I like! I have a 5-year-old Celiac granddaughter who loves to bake them (and eat them) with me. I love that she can bake and eat something “normal” with her sister and cousin.❤️

  10. The 3 ingredient peanut butter cookies are you sure it’s sugar not flour I don’t see how you can make a dough to roll in balls with just sugar and peanut butter

  11. Can you place cookies on aluminum foil instead of parchment paper? Or spray pan with cooking spray? Thanks these look great!!:)