No flour? No problem, you can still make cookies with this easy 3 ingredient peanut butter cookies recipe!
I call these cookies Mother Hubbard Cookies because they are what I make when the cupboards are bare. These peanut butter cookies are fast, easy, and only use 3 ingredients: peanut butter, sugar, and an egg. They are perfect for when you want to make a quick treat for unexpected company.
We like to roll our peanut butter cookie dough balls in sugar before flattening them with a fork. If you roll them in sugar, you don’t have to grease the pan. If you don’t want to take the time to do this extra step, then you can grease the baking sheet instead.
This recipe can be doubled or tripled easily. If you choose to make a large batch, you can freeze the extra cookies in an air-tight freezer bag for up to 6 months.
This flourless peanut butter cookie recipe originated in the great depression when staples were sometimes scarce. Two more cookie recipes that can be made without flour are Chocolate Peanut Butter No-Bake Cookies and Flourless Chocolate Cookies.
Because this recipe doesn’t use flour or butter, these peanut butter cookies are naturally gluten-free and dairy-free making them a frugal treat for those who have to avoid gluten and dairy.
3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies Recipe
This makes 2 dozen peanut butter cookies.
Ingredients:
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup sugar + extra sugar for rolling cookie dough balls
- 1 cup peanut butter (smooth or chunky)
Directions:
-
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and grease the cookie sheets if not rolling the cookies in sugar.
- In a mixing bowl, combine all the ingredients together until they are well blended.
- If you like smaller, softer cookies, refrigerate the dough for an hour before moving on to step 4. If you like larger, crunchier cookies, proceed immediately to step 4.
- Drop Tablespoon size balls onto the cookie sheet into a bowl of sugar, and roll to coat.
- Place the cookie dough on a baking sheet. Flatten the cookie dough with a fork.
- Bake for 12 – 14 minutes or until golden brown.
- Place the cookie sheet on a cooling rack for several minutes, then remove the cookies and let them finish cooling on the cookie rack.
Variations on 3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies:
- Add 1/2 – 1 cup of nuts
- Add 1/2 – 1 cup of chocolate chips
- Substitute another nut butter for the peanut butter
- Substitute sunflower seed butter for peanut butter
- Melt 1 cup of chocolate chips and coat the baked (and cooled) cookies in the melted chocolate covering one-half of each cookie.
Printable Recipe for 3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies
3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup peanut butter smooth or chunky
- extra sugar for rolling cookie dough balls
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and grease the cookie sheets if not rolling the cookies in sugar.
- In a mixing bowl, combine all the ingredients together until they are well blended.
- If you like smaller, softer cookies, refrigerate the dough for an hour before moving on to step 4. If you like larger, crunchier cookies, proceed immediately to step 4.
- Drop Tablespoon size balls on to the cookie sheet into a bowl of sugar, roll to coat.
- Place the cookie dough on a baking sheet. Flatten the cookie dough with a fork.
- Bake for 12 – 14 minutes or until golden brown.
- Place cookie sheet on a cooling rack for several minutes, then remove the cookies and let them finish cooling on the cookie rack.
More Easy Cookie Recipes:
Chocolate Peanut Butter No-Bake Cookies
What are your favorite desserts to make when your cupboards are bare?
Would you like to save this article?
We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!
Elizabeth says
I made these cookies today and my family Loved them! I used crunchy peanut butter and made sure to whisk my egg first. They are Delicious! Yum!
Mary Jones says
Quick, easy & absolutely delicious… mixed easily with a fork, didn’t have to chill, came out perfect. Very soft dough – rolling in sugar before marking with fork really helps. I had my doubts because the dough was SO soft, so don’t tough cookies until they have cooled on the pan & they will retain their shape. I’ll be making these OFTEN!
Vicki says
These cookies are amazingly easy to make, and delicious!! Also, very cheap to make?
Lorelai @ Life With Lorelai says
LOVE peanut butter cookies! Thanks for sharing at the #HomeMattersParty – we love partying with you! Hope to see you next Friday. 🙂
~Lorelai
Life With Lorelai
~Taylor-Made Ranch Homestead~ says
Love this quick & easy peanut butter cookie recipe – and what fun it will be to make them with my grandbabies. Thanks for sharing! (visiting from Idea Box Thursday hop)
~Taylor-Made Ranch Homestead~
Texas
Kati says
These look delicious and I love that the kids can easily help without me being afraid they’ll mess them up! Pinning!
Alison says
These look so good! Can’t wait to try the recipe!
marley says
These actually turned out great there really good but mine made two dozen mmmm so good
Tammy says
I’m getting ready to make the 3 ingredient peanut butter cookies. I cannot wait to see how they turn out!!!
HAPPY HOLIDAYS everyone.
Tyra says
Excited to try!
chris yeah a cool gluten free cookie I'm excited says
Thanks a new gluten free recipe my grandaughter will love.
Heidi says
I wonder if they would turn out okay if I used Splenda instead of sugar? Has anyone tried it?
Alea says
I haven’t tried it, but I would also love to hear from someone who has.
Porch Days says
Can a recipe really be this simple? Have to try it!
gnee says
1,2,3, what a snap! I've got to try these…never seen such a simple recipe before and your cookies look delicious!
Dave says
Great recipe, I think I need to buy some more peanut butter!
Melinda says
These do looks incredibly easy! I have 4 extra girls here for the weekend – sounds like a fun baking project!
Alea says
Mama Eva, Great advice on reducing the sugar when using PB that contains sugar. Thanks for the suggestion to use other nut butters. I think this recipe would be delicious with almond butter!
ButterYum says
What could be easier?!! Going onto my baking list for the week. Thanks for posting such a cool recipe.
Happy Foodie Friday!
🙂
ButterYum
Struggler says
Awesome! Who knew just 3 ingredients could make cookies? Love this!
Mama Eva says
WOW! This is the recipe I use! It is so easy, the kids can help and they are done so quick! I have used peanut butter that is just ground nuts (like from the deli at my grocery store), and I have used stuff like Peter Pan peanut butter and both are great. Though I would suggest if it is a brand with lots of additives (like sugar or molasses), then use less than 1 cup of sugar in the recipe. I think it also works with stuff like Sunbutter or almond butter, for those with peanut allergies 😉
Alea says
Melodie, The recipe actually makes a crunchy cookie. I always bake with organic (no sugar added) peanut butter.
Melodie says
I've never heard of these easy-peasy cookies. I will have to give them a go! Are they soft? I am going to assume so since there is no flour. Can I use all natural PB? I hope so….. I invite you to come and link up at my Vegetarian Foodie Fridays carnival if you'd like too. I'd love to have you. Thanks! I'm at http://www.breastfeedingmomsunite.com
Alea says
That sounds delicious! I will give it a try this weekend.
Anonymous says
Our favorite recipe is very similar: 1 cup pb, 1 cup sugar, 2 eggs, 12 oz bag chocolate chips. I bake them in a pan like brownies.
Alea says
Melissa and Elizabeth – I am so glad that you liked this recipe! Melissa, I like your idea of using a cookie stamp. I bet your cookies look great!
Elizabeth says
I made this for dessert tonight. Quick and easy to make. They taste great.
Rebecca says
If it wasn't 91° here right now, I might be tempted to make these tonight. I can hardly believe they would turn out, so I am motivated by Melissa's comment that they were great. Of course, not that I don't trust you, Alea… 🙂
Angela says
Wow. That is awesome- I can't wait to try the recipe- thanks!
Melissa says
These cookies turned out great! Thanks!
Alea says
Angela- Ground nuts are often used as a flour substitue in gluten free baking. You do not need to add oils because the ground nuts already contain it and they nut flours do not require much if any baking soda.
Angela says
I'm definitely going to make these for my husband this weekend- I'm just wondering why they don't need any flour, baking soda, or baking powder.
Sheila says
I love peanut butter cookies but had no idea they could be that simple to make. I will definitely try these!! Thanks for sharing.
Annie Jones says
I've seen them called Depression Cookies, too. Good recipe!
Melissa says
Ooh, I hope to try these today! My husband gave me a set of cookie stamps for Mother's Day, and I'm looking for a non-shortbread recipe that I can use with them. Thanks for the easy recipe!