3-Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies Everyone Is Baking Right Now
These 3-Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies are soft, chewy, rich, and unbelievably easy to make with just a few pantry staples.
Perfect for busy days, quick desserts, or late-night cravings, these flourless cookies come together in minutes and taste just like classic homemade peanut butter cookies.
Soft homemade 3-ingredient peanut butter cookies stacked on a plate with a golden crisscross pattern and chewy texture.
With only peanut butter, sugar, and an egg, you can make a simple cookie recipe that’s naturally flour-free and incredibly delicious.
Easy 3-Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies Recipe
This easy cookie recipe combines creamy peanut butter, sugar, and eggs into a soft cookie dough that bakes into perfectly chewy cookies.
The texture is rich and buttery with crispy edges and soft centers that melt in your mouth.
This recipe makes about 14 cookies.
Cook and Prep Times
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Bake Time: 12–15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
Ingredients
- Peanut butter: 1 cup – 240 g
- Granulated sugar: 1 cup – 200 g
- Egg: 1 large
Optional additions:
- Vanilla extract
- Chocolate chips
- Sea salt flakes
- Crushed peanuts
- Cinnamon
Instructions
1. Preheat the Oven
Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F).
Line a baking tray with parchment paper.
Baking tray lined with parchment paper beside a bowl of peanut butter cookie dough ingredients on a clean kitchen counter.
2. Mix the Ingredients
Add peanut butter, sugar, and egg to a large mixing bowl.
Mix until a thick and smooth dough forms.
Step-by-step collage showing peanut butter, sugar, and egg being mixed together into thick cookie dough in a glass bowl.
The dough will look soft and slightly sticky.
Thick peanut butter cookie dough being stirred with a spatula in a clear mixing bowl.
3. Shape the Cookies
Scoop small portions of dough and roll into balls using slightly damp hands.
Place them on the prepared baking tray with space between each cookie.
Peanut butter cookie dough rolled into smooth balls and arranged on a lined baking tray.
Flatten each cookie slightly using a fork to create the classic crisscross pattern.
Peanut butter cookies pressed with a fork into classic crisscross patterns before baking.
4. Bake
Bake for 12–15 minutes or until the edges are lightly golden.
The centers may still look soft, but the cookies will continue to firm up while cooling.
Freshly baked peanut butter cookies with golden edges cooling on a baking tray.
5. Cool and Serve
Let the cookies cool on the tray for 10 minutes before transferring them to a serving plate.
Serve warm or store for later.
Stack of soft and chewy peanut butter cookies on a plate with one cookie broken open to show the soft center.
More Easy Cookie Recipes to Try Next
- Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies — thick, bakery-style cookies loaded with chocolate chips.
- Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies — naturally gluten-free and extra chewy.
- Peanut Butter Blossom Cookies — classic cookies topped with chocolate kisses.
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Brownies — rich fudgy brownies with peanut butter swirl.
- No-Bake Peanut Butter Bars — easy dessert bars with chocolate topping.
- Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies — soft cookies with hearty oat texture.
Tips for Perfect Peanut Butter Cookies
These simple cookies are easy to make, but a few small tips make them even better.
- Don’t overbake the cookies or they may turn dry.
- Slightly underbaked cookies stay softer after cooling.
- Use creamy peanut butter for smoother dough.
- Chill the dough for 10 minutes if it feels sticky.
- Press the cookies thinner for crispier texture.
- Add vanilla extract for extra flavor depth.
- Sprinkle sea salt on top for a sweet-and-salty finish.
- Let the cookies cool fully before stacking.
- Store in an airtight container to keep them soft.
- Add chocolate chips for a bakery-style version.
Close-up of soft peanut butter cookies with golden cracked tops and chewy texture on a white plate.
Serving Suggestions
These 3-ingredient peanut butter cookies are delicious on their own or paired with your favorite drinks and desserts.
- Served with cold milk or coffee
- Crumbled over vanilla ice cream
- Drizzled with melted chocolate
- Paired with banana slices
- Served alongside hot chocolate
- Sandwiched with peanut butter frosting
- Packed into lunch boxes or snack trays
- Enjoyed warm straight from the oven
Whether you’re making a quick dessert for family or satisfying a cookie craving, these easy peanut butter cookies always hit the spot.
Nutrition per cookie (approx.)
Servings: 14 cookies
- Calories: 165 kcal
- Fat: 9 g
- Carbs: 16 g
- Protein: 5 g
FAQs
Can I make 3-ingredient peanut butter cookies without flour?
Yes, this recipe is naturally flourless and only uses peanut butter, sugar, and egg.
Why are my peanut butter cookies falling apart?
They may need a few extra minutes to cool because the cookies firm up as they rest.
Can I use natural peanut butter?
Yes, but the dough may be softer. Stir the peanut butter well before using.
How do I keep peanut butter cookies soft?
Store them in an airtight container and avoid overbaking.
Can I freeze peanut butter cookie dough?
Yes, you can freeze the dough balls and bake them later.
Conclusion
These 3-Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies are one of the easiest homemade desserts you can make. They’re soft, chewy, rich in peanut butter flavor, and require almost no prep work at all. Perfect for quick baking days, easy snacks, or simple family desserts, these cookies prove that delicious treats don’t need complicated ingredients. Once you try them, they’ll quickly become a go-to recipe in your kitchen.
