Diving into the world of baking can feel intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be. We believe that everyone can create delicious homemade treats, and our collection of easy baking recipes is the perfect place to start. Forget complicated steps and long ingredient lists. We’re kicking things off with a recipe so simple, you’ll wonder why you didn’t try it sooner: magical 3-ingredient peanut butter cookies!
These cookies are the ultimate entry point into the joy of baking. They are soft, chewy, and packed with nutty flavor, proving that you don’t need a pantry full of ingredients to achieve baking greatness. Get ready to preheat your oven and impress yourself, your family, and your friends.
Why You’ll Love These Easy Baking Recipes
This recipe is a game-changer for anyone new to baking or just short on time. It’s designed to be foolproof and fun, making it one of the best easy baking recipes for beginners.
Incredibly Simple: With just three common ingredients, there’s no room for error.
Quick to Make: You can have a batch of warm, delicious cookies ready in under 20 minutes from start to finish.
Gluten-Free Naturally: This recipe uses no flour, making it a perfect treat for those with gluten sensitivities.
Endlessly Adaptable: Use this base recipe as a canvas for your creativity. We’ll share some fun variations below!
The Only 3 Ingredients You’ll Need
You read that right. Only three simple ingredients stand between you and cookie perfection. This is the heart of what makes our approach to easy baking recipes so special.
Golden and perfect, right out of the oven!
Peanut Butter: Creamy, conventional peanut butter like Jif or Skippy works best. Natural peanut butters can be a bit oily and may affect the texture.
Granulated Sugar: This provides the sweetness and contributes to the classic chewy cookie texture.
A Large Egg: The egg acts as the binder, holding everything together to create the perfect cookie dough.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Ready to see how easy this is? Follow these simple steps, and you’ll be enjoying fresh-baked cookies in no time.
Preheat and Prep: Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
Mix the Dough: In a medium bowl, combine the peanut butter, granulated sugar, and the large egg. Mix with a spoon or spatula until everything is well combined and a smooth dough forms.
Roll the Cookies: Scoop out about one tablespoon of dough at a time and roll it into a ball. Place the balls about 2 inches apart on your prepared baking sheet.
Create the Criss-Cross Pattern: Use the tines of a fork to gently press down on each ball of dough, once horizontally and once vertically, to create the classic peanut butter cookie criss-cross pattern.
Bake to Perfection: Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden. The centers may still look a little soft, but they’ll set as they cool.
Cool and Enjoy: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Pro Tips for Perfect Peanut Butter Cookies
Even the most straightforward recipes have a few secrets to success. Here are some tips to ensure your cookies turn out perfectly every single time.
It only takes three simple ingredients to create this perfect cookie dough.
Don’t Overbake: The key to a soft, chewy cookie is to pull it from the oven when it’s just set. Overbaking will result in a dry, crumbly cookie.
Room Temperature Egg: Using an egg that’s at room temperature will help it mix more evenly into the other ingredients.
Consistent Sizing: Use a cookie scoop or a tablespoon to ensure all your cookies are the same size. This helps them bake evenly for a consistent texture throughout the batch. For other desserts, you might like these no-bake Oreo truffles.
Fun Variations to Try
Once you’ve mastered the basic recipe, feel free to get creative! This dough is incredibly versatile. It’s one of those easy baking recipes you can truly make your own.
Add Chocolate Chips: Gently fold in a half cup of chocolate chips into the dough before rolling.
Get Nutty: For a bit of crunch, mix in some chopped peanuts. This is a great alternative to our pecan dessert bites.
A Touch of Salt: Sprinkle a tiny pinch of flaky sea salt on top of the cookies before baking to enhance the flavor.
More Easy Baking Recipes to Explore
After conquering these cookies, you’ll be ready for more baking adventures! If you’re looking for another simple yet impressive dessert, try our easy bread pudding recipe. It’s a comforting classic that’s surprisingly easy to whip up. Or, for a quick chocolate fix, you can’t go wrong with this 5-ingredient chocolate mug cake.
Recipes with few ingredients and simple steps are the best for beginners. These 3-ingredient peanut butter cookies are a perfect example, as are no-bake desserts, simple brownies, or quick breads.
While this recipe works best with conventional creamy peanut butter, you could experiment with almond butter or sun butter. Be aware that different nut butters have varying oil content, which may alter the final texture of the cookie.
The cookies are done when the edges are set and appear lightly golden brown. The centers might still look a bit soft, but they will firm up as they cool on the baking sheet. It’s better to slightly underbake them to keep them soft and chewy.
There are many fantastic baking recipes with minimal ingredients! Some popular options include 2-ingredient pumpkin muffins (pumpkin puree and spice cake mix), 3-ingredient Nutella brownies, and no-bake energy bites which often use just oats, honey, and peanut butter.
Yes, you can prepare this cookie dough and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Let it sit at room temperature for about 15-20 minutes to soften slightly before rolling and baking.
Get Baking!
Now you have a go-to recipe that proves baking can be simple, fast, and incredibly rewarding. These 3-ingredient peanut butter cookies are just the beginning of your journey with easy baking recipes. We hope you love making them as much as we do. Share your creations and find more inspiration on our Pinterest page!
Discover the joy of baking with our simple and delicious recipes. Pin this for later!
3-Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies Recipe
FL Recipes
Easy Baking Recipes: 3-Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies to Start!
The ultimate easy baking recipe for beginners! These delicious, chewy, and flourless peanut butter cookies are made with just 3 simple ingredients and are ready in under 20 minutes.
1cupcreamy peanut butterConventional brand like Jif or Skippy works best.
1cupgranulated sugar
1large eggPreferably at room temperature.
Equipment
1 Baking Sheet
1 Mixing Bowl
1 Fork
Method
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a medium bowl, combine the peanut butter, granulated sugar, and the large egg. Mix until well combined and a smooth dough forms.
Scoop and roll the dough into 1-inch balls and place them on the prepared baking sheet.
Use a fork to gently press a criss-cross pattern onto each cookie.
Bake for 10-12 minutes, until the edges are lightly golden.
Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Nutrition
Calories: 140kcalProtein: 4gFat: 8gFiber: 1g
Notes
Do Not Overbake: For a soft and chewy texture, remove the cookies from the oven when the edges are just set. They will firm up as they cool. Storage: Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.
Keyword 3 ingredient cookies,easy baking recipes,peanut butter cookies
Hi, I’m Emily Carter, and welcome to FL Recipes! I share simple, healthy recipes that make cooking easy, fun, and delicious for everyone. more about me »
