Name: 3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 1 cup peanut butter; 1 cup sugar; 1 large egg

My 3 ingredient peanut butter cookies are a great quick dessert for your family. They take 30 minutes to make and use a handful of ingredients to make bakery-level tasting treats!

Baked peanut butter cookies on a cooling rack with a spoon holding a bite of peanut butter.

Baking is a great way to get your family in the kitchen for some bonding (and learning)! But, overcomplicated recipes can stress everyone out, making family bonding time into family fighting time. This recipe for 3 ingredient cookies is simple enough for you to make with the kids, and they’re a great recipe for your little beginner bakers!

3 ingredient pb cookies help you avoid the stress that can come with baking. They are simple to make, using only eggs, sugar, and peanut butter. Even more, you only need one bowl for this recipe! Forget about the piles of dishes after baking.

Have fun and get creative with toppings! Three ingredient peanut butter cookies can be decorated any way you’d like– sprinkles, sugar, frosting, whatever floats your boat! Add fun colors, textures, and sweets to your 3 ingredient cookies for a super kid-friendly recipe!

Ingredients needed to prepare peanut butter cookies.

How to Make 3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies

A full printable version of this recipe with ingredient measurements is available at the bottom of this post.

Combining the three ingredients for peanut butter cookies in a clear mixing bowl.

STEP ONE: Heat your oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with a protective layer, like parchment paper or a silicone cooking mat.

Peanut Butter Cookie batter in a clear mixing bowl.

STEP TWO: Combine your egg, sugar, and peanut butter in a bowl, mixing with either a fork or a whisk until you have a smooth mixture. Your three ingredient pb cookie dough will be thick, so be careful not to overmix — that will lead to tough cookies.

A measuring spoon holding a ball of peanut butter cookie dough over the mixing bowl of additional dough.

STEP THREE: Scoop out 1 tablespoon-sized portions of the dough, then roll each into a ball and place it on the lined baking sheet. Flatten slightly with the palm of your hand, or use a fork to create that traditional crisscross pattern across the top.

Scoops of peanut butter cookie dough on a parchment lined baking sheet.

STEP FOUR: Bake each cookie tray for 10-15 minutes, or until the edges are golden-brown. Let 3 ingredient peanut butter cookies cool on the baking tray for 5 minutes, then transfer them to a wire cooling rack.

Using a fork to flatten peanut butter cookie dough and make criss cross pattern on the top.

STEP FIVE: Allow them to fully cool, which usually takes about 45 minutes. Then, decorate as you please! Try powdered sugar, frosting, or colored sprinkles for a fun twist!

Baked peanut butter cookies on a parchment lined baking sheet.

Tips for the Best Three Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies

Chill your dough. This can help your 3 ingredient peanut butter cookies come out thicker and chewier. Cover the bowl and place it in the refrigerator for about an hour for the best result.
Don’t overbake. 3 ingredient pb cookies can go from perfect to burnt in no time. Keep a close eye on them, and remove from the oven as soon as the edges are set and the center no longer appears wet. They will finish baking as they cool.
Bake one batch at a time. This recipe can easily be doubled, which is great! However, avoid loading up your baking sheets with dough balls, as overcrowding will lead to uneven results.

baked peanut butter cookies on parchment paper with a spoon holding a bite of peanut butter.

Variations for 3 Ingredient Cookies

Try adding chocolate chips. Add in a few chocolate chips to your dough before you roll it into balls. Now you have peanut butter chocolate chip cookies!
Add some vanilla extract. Include 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract for a floral, sweet touch to your 3 ingredient peanut butter cookies. This will also enhance the peanut butter flavor in your cookies!
Make cookie sandwiches. Once your three ingredient peanut butter cookies are cooled, put a layer of frosting in between two cookies for a fun cookie sandwich. Or, try ice cream for a refreshing treat!

Close up view of a baked peanut butter cookie.

More Peanut Butter Recipes

Why Are My 3 Ingredient PB Cookies Falling Apart?

This is most likely a result of the dough being too dry. While you are rolling your dough, if you notice it is flaky or drier than typical cookie dough should be, add one tablespoon of butter to your mix.

Do 3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies Need to Be Refrigerated?

They don’t need to be kept in the refrigerator, but it will help your leftovers last longer.

Store your leftover cookies in an airtight container. They will keep for up to one week!

How Do You Fix Too Much Oil in Cookie Dough?

Peanut butter makes great-tasting cookies, but it is also an ingredient that is high in fat and oil — which can lead to an oily dough.

If you notice the dough is too oily, try adding 1 tablespoon of flour at a time to the mix, which should help soak up that extra fat.

A vertical stack of seven peanut butter cookies.

More 3 Ingredient Recipes

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