Why do these cookies only need three ingredients?

Peanut butter provides fat and protein, sugar adds sweetness and structure, and the egg binds it all together. No flour needed!

Do I have to use white sugar?

No, you can use brown sugar for chewier cookies or coconut sugar for a more natural option.

Can I use natural peanut butter?

Yes, but stir it thoroughly. If the dough feels too oily or loose, add an extra tablespoon of sugar.

Why do peanut butter cookies have fork marks?

The dough is dense and needs to be flattened before baking. The fork pattern helps them bake evenly and gives the classic peanut butter cookie look.

Do they spread in the oven?

Not much. That’s why pressing them with a fork is important.

3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies

Recipe by Liliya

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Total Time12 minutes
Yield18 cookies 1x
DietGluten Free

These 3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies are soft, chewy, and full of nutty flavor. Made with just peanut butter, sugar, and an egg, they’re a classic quick-bake recipe that’s naturally gluten free and ready in minutes.

Ingredients

Scale

1 cup peanut butter (smooth or crunchy)
1 cup white sugar (or brown sugar for chewy texture)
1 large egg

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Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a mixing bowl, stir peanut butter, sugar, and egg together until smooth.
Roll dough into 1-inch balls and place on the baking sheet, spaced 1 inch apart.
Press each ball down with a fork in a criss-cross pattern.
Bake 6–8 minutes, until bottoms are lightly golden. Do not overbake.
Let cookies cool on the baking sheet for 2–3 minutes before transferring to a wire rack.

Notes

Use creamy peanut butter for smooth cookies or crunchy for added texture.
Reduce sugar slightly for a less sweet cookie, or swap half with brown sugar.
Cookies will be very soft out of the oven; they firm up as they cool.
Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 2 months.

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 7 minutes
Category: Dessert
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 cookie
Calories: 120 kcal
Sugar: 10g
Sodium: 90mg
Fat: 8g
Saturated Fat: 2g
Unsaturated Fat: 5g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 12g
Fiber: 1g
Protein: 4g
Cholesterol: 10mg

Find it online: https://wearerecipes.com/3-ingredient-peanut-butter-cookies/