These 3-ingredient peanut butter cookies are not just a quick treat. They’re a lifesaver for late-night cravings. Many of you know that I have my own bakery. I make wedding cakes, cupcakes, celebration cakes, and a plethora of other delicious treats. Because of this, I can’t tell you how many times my husband has snuggled up next to me late at night and asked, “Do you have any treats?” He knows I’m a big softy for his puppy dog green eyes and affectionate comments. I’ll smile, and he’ll say, “Just a cookie or two. It’s because they’re so good!”
In times like these, I lean on this 3-ingredient peanut butter cookie recipe because I know I will have all the ingredients on hand. I can have them in and out of the oven in less than 20 minutes and go back to snuggling with my main squeeze!
Why This 3-Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies Recipe Works Every Time
It really doesn’t get much easier than this 3 ingredient recipe. All you need to remember is 1+1+1!
Step 1: Gather Your Ingredients
To make these delicious 3-ingredient peanut butter cookies, you’ll need just three simple items that are likely already in your kitchen. No need to run to the store or spend hours prepping. Here’s what you’ll need:
- 1 egg
- 1 cup of creamy peanut butter
- 1 cup granulated sugar
Once you have these ingredients ready, simply combine them in a bowl. Mix thoroughly until the batter is smooth and well-blended, and you’ll have the perfect dough ready for shaping!
Step 2: Shape the Cookies
Now that your batter is ready, it’s time to shape your cookies. Start by scooping out a small portion of the dough, about the size of a golf ball, and rolling it gently between your palms until it forms a smooth ball. Place each dough ball on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper, making sure to leave about 1-2 inches of space between them. This gives the cookies room to spread as they bake.
Next, grab a fork to create that signature peanut butter cookie look. Gently press down on each dough ball with the back of the fork to leave horizontal lines. Then, rotate the fork 90 degrees and press down again to make a criss-cross pattern. This step make them look good and helps flatten the cookies so they bake evenly in the oven.
Don’t worry about perfection here; the charm of homemade cookies is in their uniqueness. If you’re baking with kids, this part can be a fun activity for them to help out with. Once all your cookies are shaped and patterned, you’re ready to move on to baking!
Step 3: Bake
Bake these at 350 degrees for about 12 minutes. Then let them cool for a few minutes before removing them from the cookie sheet.
Step 4: Kick Them Up a Notch
There are some fun things you can do to this recipe to kick it up a notch:
- Add some chocolate chips and a pinch of salt.
- Try crunchy peanut butter.
- Substitute the sugar with 1/2 cup of low-calorie sweetener (like Swerve) and 1 teaspoon of vanilla for keto-friendly peanut butter cookies.
- Add an extra egg for a gooey cookie.
- Add some M&Ms.
Really, the possibilities with this 3 ingredient peanut butter cookie recipe are endless! If you have a few extra ingredients in your pantry, you can even try these easy M&M peanut butter bars.
Step 5: Enjoy or Share
If your kids are just learning to bake, this is a great recipe to start them out on. And if you need dessert in a pinch for your Bible study group, or your spouse just has a late-night hankering for something sweet (like mine!), these peanut butter cookies are sure to do the trick. Save this pin so you can reference the recipe later!
