Three-Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies

Sometimes the simplest recipes are the ones you come back to again and again.

These Three-Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies are soft, chewy and filled with plenty of peanut butter flavor. There’s no flour, no butter and no complicated preparation—just three everyday ingredients and approximately 10 minutes in the oven.

They’re a great option when you need a quick dessert, want something sweet without making a trip to the store or simply don’t feel like spending all afternoon baking.

Why You’ll Love These Peanut Butter Cookies

These cookies are:

Made with only three ingredients
Naturally flourless
Quick and easy to prepare
Ready in approximately 20 minutes
Soft, chewy and full of peanut butter flavor
Easy to make with ingredients you may already have

Because the recipe doesn’t require flour, these cookies can also be a simple gluten-free treat. If you need them to be strictly gluten-free, check the labels on your peanut butter and other ingredients to make sure they were processed without gluten or cross-contamination.

Three-Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Bake Time: 10 minutes
Makes: Approximately 18 cookies

Ingredients

1 cup peanut butter
¾ cup granulated sugar
1 egg

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
Add the peanut butter, sugar and egg to a medium mixing bowl.
Stir until all three ingredients are completely combined and a soft dough forms.
Roll the dough into small balls and arrange them on the prepared baking sheet, leaving a little space between each cookie.
Gently press each ball with a fork in one direction and then the other to create the classic crisscross pattern.
Bake for 9–11 minutes. The cookies may still look slightly soft in the center when they come out of the oven.
Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet before moving them. They will become firmer as they cool.

Tips for the Best Cookies

Don’t overbake these cookies. They may appear soft when you first remove them from the oven, but they will continue to set as they cool.

Regular creamy peanut butter generally creates the most consistent texture. Natural peanut butter can also work, but make sure it is stirred thoroughly before measuring so the oil is evenly incorporated.

Try to keep the dough balls similar in size so all the cookies finish baking at approximately the same time.

Easy Variations

The basic three-ingredient recipe is delicious on its own, but you can also add a little something extra.

Try mixing in chocolate chips, pressing a chocolate candy into the center of each warm cookie or sprinkling the tops with a small amount of sugar before baking.

A pinch of salt can also help balance the sweetness, especially if you are using unsalted peanut butter.

How to Store Peanut Butter Cookies

Once completely cooled, place the cookies in an airtight container. They can be kept at room temperature for approximately four to five days.

You can also freeze the baked cookies in a freezer-safe container for up to three months. Separate the layers with parchment paper to keep them from sticking together.

A Simple Treat for Any Day

You don’t need a long ingredient list to make a delicious homemade dessert.

With peanut butter, sugar and one egg, you can have a warm batch of soft, chewy cookies ready in about 20 minutes. They’re perfect for an after-school snack, Sunday dessert, last-minute gathering or any time a peanut butter craving strikes.

Simple really can be delicious.