Soft and Chewy Peanut Butter Cookies – Just 3 Ingredients

These 3-ingredient soft and chewy peanut butter cookies are one of my favorites. They are so yummy that you would never believe how simple this cookie recipe actually is. I made them three times last week because they take no time at all. I love them fresh out of the oven when they are at their most chewy.

Watch the full video below to see how easy these 3-ingredient peanut butter cookies really are! Like and subscribe for more simple cookie recipes. New baking videos every week!

---

What Makes These Cookies Worth Trying

These peanut butter cookies taste really good and have a nice chewy texture. The brown sugar gives them a hint of caramel flavor that works well with the peanut butter.

Since there’s no flour, they’re naturally gluten-free and have a more intense flavor than regular cookies.

They’re super easy to make when you don’t feel like doing a big baking project but still want homemade cookies. They also stay soft for several days without getting dry or hard.

Did You Know? These cookies work without flour because peanut butter contains natural fats and proteins that bind ingredients together. The brown sugar creates moisture for chewiness, while the egg provides structure and helps the cookies rise slightly.

Ingredients for Soft and Chewy Peanut Butter Cookies

All you need for these cookies is:

• 1 cup of smooth peanut butter (265g)
• 1 cup of packed brown sugar (200g)
• 1 egg

Top Tip: Natural peanut butter makes healthier cookies with more authentic peanut flavor. Just stir it well before measuring, and if the dough seems too dry, add a teaspoon of coconut oil. Chill the dough for 30 minutes before baking to help the cookies hold their shape.

Kitchen Tools

You don’t need any fancy equipment for these cookies:

• A mixing bowl
• Measuring cups
• A fork
• Baking sheet
• Parchment paper
• Something to stir with

Top Tip: Definitely use parchment paper if you have it. Not only does it keep the cookies from sticking, but it also makes cleanup so much easier. You just throw it away when you’re done instead of scrubbing the pan.

Time and Yield

These cookies come together really quickly:

• Getting everything ready: 5 minutes
• Baking time: 10-12 minutes
• Cooling: 5-10 minutes
• Total time: About 25 minutes

One batch makes around 9-11 cookies, depending on how big you make them. My family of four usually demolishes them in about two hours! 🙂

Step-by-Step Instructions

Before You Start Mixing

Let’s get everything set up before we start making these peanut butter cookies.

Step 1: Turn your oven on to 350°F (180°C). I found this temperature gives the perfect balance of chewy centers and slightly crispy edges.

Step 2: Line your baking sheet with parchment paper. Trust me on this one – it makes a huge difference with cleanup.

Making the Cookie Dough

This is the easiest peanut butter cookie dough you’ll ever make.

Step 3: Put your peanut butter in a mixing bowl. Room temperature peanut butter mixes much easier than cold peanut butter straight from the fridge.

Step 4: Add your brown sugar to the bowl. Make sure you pack it when measuring – this adds moisture that helps make the cookies chewy.

Step 5: Crack your egg into the bowl.

Step 6: Mix everything together until it’s well combined. You don’t need a mixer – a spoon or spatula works just fine. The dough will be a bit sticky but thick enough to handle.

I remember the first time I made these, I kept checking the recipe, thinking I must have missed something. It just seemed too simple! But nope, that’s really all there is to it.

Top Tip: If your dough feels too soft to work with (which can happen in warm kitchens), just pop it in the fridge for about 10 minutes. It’ll firm up and be much easier to handle.

Shaping and Baking

Now let’s turn that dough into actual cookies.

Step 7: Scoop the dough and roll it into balls about the size of a golf ball. Place them on your baking sheet, leaving about 2 inches between each cookie.

Step 8: Take a fork and press down on each cookie to flatten it, then turn the fork 90 degrees and press again to create that classic peanut butter cookie criss-cross pattern. If the fork sticks to the dough, just dip it in a little water between cookies.

Step 9: Bake these peanut butter cookies for 10-12 minutes. They should look slightly browned at the edges but still soft in the middle when you take them out.

Step 10: Let them cool right on the baking sheet. They’ll be very soft when they first come out of the oven, but will firm up as they cool.

Did You Know? These cookies actually continue cooking a bit from the residual heat after you take them out of the oven. That’s why it’s better to slightly underbake them – they’ll end up perfectly chewy instead of crunchy.

Check Out Also: If you liked this easy peanut butter cookie recipe, then check out also this 140-year-old cookie recipe here that I found on Reddit.

Ways to Change It Up

Add Some Texture

While these cookies are delicious as is, here are some easy add-ins that work really well:

• Fold in about 1/4 cup of chocolate chips (mini ones distribute best)
• Mix in 1/4 cup of chopped peanuts for extra crunch
• Sprinkle a little sea salt on top before baking for that sweet-salty combo that’s so good

Try Different Flavors

A few simple additions can change the flavor profile:

• Add 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract to the dough
• Mix in 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon for warmth
• Drizzle melted chocolate over the cooled cookies

My kids go crazy when I add mini chocolate chips. My daughter once told me they were “the best cookies in the entire universe,” which is high praise from a picky 8-year-old!

Top Tip: Don’t go overboard with add-ins. The beauty of these cookies is their simplicity, and too many extras can mess with the texture.

Storing Your Cookies

These cookies keep surprisingly well:

• Counter: In an airtight container for about 5 days
• Freezer: Baked cookies freeze really well for up to 3 months
• Make-ahead: You can freeze balls of raw dough and bake them straight from frozen (just add 2 minutes to the baking time)

Did You Know? If your cookies start to get hard after a couple of days (though they rarely last that long at my house), put a slice of bread in the container with them. The cookies will steal moisture from the bread and soften right up. It’s like magic!

More Simple Cookie Recipes You Might Like

If you enjoyed these easy peanut butter cookies, check out my YouTube channel for more simple cookie recipes. I have several other recipes that use just a few ingredients but turn out really delicious. Most take under 30 minutes from start to finish and use basic pantry ingredients

• Brown Sugar Cookies with Maple – Even Better Than I Imagined! These have the most amazing caramel-like flavor.
• Simple Healthy Cookies I Make Every Week – Perfect for breakfast or guilt-free snacking!
• Sweet Potato Oatmeal Cookies (ONLY 2 Ingredients!) – You won’t believe how good these taste with just two ingredients.

Like and subscribe for more easy cookie recipes, gluten-free desserts, and quick baking ideas. Let me know which one you try next!