Easy 3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies Recipe

Meet your new favorite last-minute treat: Easy 3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies. Imagine warm, chewy cookies with crispy edges and an insanely rich peanut butter flavor — and guess what? You don’t need a pantry full of supplies or an hour to spare. This recipe is simple, foolproof, and an absolute lifesaver for late-night cravings or quick after-school snacks. The charm is in the name itself: just three familiar ingredients, a quick stir, and a short bake bring you a batch of cookies that are both nostalgic and incredibly satisfying. Whether you’re new to baking or just searching for a classic to wow your family, these cookies promise big rewards with almost no fuss.

Ingredients You’ll Need

The magic of these cookies is how only a few classic ingredients, thoughtfully chosen, combine to give you a perfect bite — every time. Each one is essential, with its own role in creating the taste, texture, and color you know and love.

• Peanut Butter: Go for creamy for the softest texture, but natural or crunchy peanut butters work too for a twist — just know it changes the cookie a bit.
• Granulated Sugar: This sweetens and crisps the cookie edges, plus helps bind everything together.
• Large Egg: Your classic binder, the egg brings everything together and adds just enough richness for that melt-in-your-mouth softness.

How to Make Easy 3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies

Step 1: Prep Your Baking Sheet

Start by preheating your oven to 350ºF. Meanwhile, line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat to stop any sticking and to make cleanup a breeze later on. This little step means your cookies slide off perfectly — every single time.

Step 2: Mix the Dough

Grab a medium mixing bowl and toss in your peanut butter, granulated sugar, and the egg. Blend it all together using an electric mixer for extra smoothness, or just a sturdy spatula if you want to keep it simple. Mix until it’s creamy, thick, and everything is totally combined — no streaks, just gorgeous peanut butter dough. You’ll notice it starts to look glossy, which is when you’ll know it’s ready.

Step 3: Shape and Decorate the Cookies

Scoop out dough by the tablespoon and gently roll into balls. Arrange the balls on your lined baking sheet, leaving at least two inches of space between each for a little room to spread. Here’s the fun part: Use the back of a fork to flatten each ball, pressing down in one direction, then again in the other, creating that signature criss-cross pattern. If you’re feeling extra, roll each dough ball in sugar before the fork step — it adds a delicate sparkle and a sweet crunch on the outside.

Step 4: Bake to Perfection

Slide your cookies into the preheated oven and bake for 8–10 minutes. You’re looking for edges that are slightly golden and centers that have puffed a touch. The secret? Don’t overbake — pull them out while they still look a bit soft in the center. Let them cool right on the baking sheet; they’ll set perfectly as they cool and be just the right combination of chewy and crisp.

How to Serve Easy 3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies

Garnishes

If you want to dress up your Easy 3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies, a sprinkle of flaky sea salt just as they come out of the oven makes the peanut flavor pop. Or, drizzle with a little melted chocolate for a peanut butter cup vibe. Even pressing a few chocolate chips or chopped nuts onto the tops before baking gives a playful touch and added texture.

Side Dishes

Classic never goes out of style: enjoy these cookies warm with a tall glass of ice-cold milk, or make things extra cozy by serving with hot cocoa or coffee. They’re perfect alongside fresh berries, too, bringing a bit of brightness that cuts through the cookie’s richness.

Creative Ways to Present

Stack the cookies in a mason jar, tie with ribbon, and you’ve got a thoughtful homemade gift. Or, sandwich a scoop of vanilla ice cream between two cookies for an instant (and utterly irresistible) peanut butter ice cream sandwich. If you’re feeling fancy, serve on a platter with a little bowl of melted chocolate or caramel sauce for dipping.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Easy 3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies stay fresh at room temperature when stored in an airtight container. They’ll keep their chewy middle and crisp edges for up to five days — if you don’t eat them all first! Just make sure they’re completely cooled before packing away to prevent any stickiness.

Freezing

For long-term cookie happiness, freeze baked cookies in a single layer on a tray first, then transfer to a resealable freezer bag. If you want to freeze the dough, shape into balls and freeze raw so you can bake fresh cookies straight from the freezer whenever the craving hits. Either way, they’ll keep their flavor and texture for up to three months.

Reheating

If your cookies have gotten a little too firm, pop them in the microwave for 5–8 seconds, and they’ll taste freshly baked all over again. For that just-baked crispness, you can also reheat for a minute or two in a 300ºF oven. Serve warm, and you’ll be in cookie heaven.

FAQs

Can I use crunchy peanut butter instead of creamy?

Absolutely! Crunchy peanut butter adds little bits of peanuts throughout your cookies, giving them an extra nutty bite. Just know the texture will be a bit different, but they’re still just as delicious.

Can I use a sugar substitute or another sweetener?

Yes, you can swap white sugar for coconut sugar or even a sugar alternative designed for baking. Just keep in mind that different sweeteners might change the cookie’s texture and sweetness ever so slightly.

Do Easy 3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies spread very much?

These cookies spread just a bit, but they mostly hold the shape you give them with the fork. For the best results, stick to the recommended spacing and don’t press them paper thin.

Can I double or halve the recipe?

Definitely! This recipe is super flexible. Just double all the ingredients if you want more cookies, or halve them if you only need a few. The method and baking time stay the same.

What can I do if my cookie dough feels too sticky?

If your dough is tricky to handle, try chilling it for 15–30 minutes. It’ll firm up and make rolling much easier — plus, it’s a handy trick for prepping ahead.

Final Thoughts

There’s something so comforting about a recipe you can count on, and Easy 3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies deliver joy with every bite and every batch. Whether you’re a baking pro or diving in for the first time, these cookies have a way of making everyone happy. Give them a try — you might just find yourself making them on repeat!

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