5 Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies

These Easy Peanut Butter Cookies are full of flavor, take only 5 ingredients, and don’t require chilling! They’re deliciously crumbly, remarkably soft, and boast a dense flavor.

Did I mention you only need 5 ingredients?! Yes, they are THAT easy. But trust me, there is no skimping on the flavor. For some more delectable cookies try Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies, Brown Sugar Cookies, and Lemon Sugar Cookies.

A stack of easy peanut butter cookies on a white plate

Yummy, Easy Peanut Butter Cookies!

My hubby LOVES peanut butter flavored treats and desserts. Loves. He always votes for these perfectly delicious, soft peanut butter cookies.

One thing I love about these, they are SUPER easy to make! And they only require a handful of ingredients so I don’t need to make sure I have special ingredients on hand.

We can whip up these 5 Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies in no time and enjoy a nice cold glass of milk. It’s my go-to peanut butter cookie recipe that the whole family loves! It’s a must try cookie!

Cookie dough for 5 ingredient peanut butter cookies

How to Make 5 Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies

These 5 Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies can be made in minutes. All you have to do is mix the ingredients together, shape the dough, and bake!

DOUGH. In a medium bowl, add the peanut butter, sugars, vanilla and egg. Mix until combined.

BAKE. Portion dough into balls (using a standard size cookie scoop). Place on baking sheet and flatten in a crisscross pattern with a fork. Sprinkle with sea salt, if desired. Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes or until the edges begin to brown

COOL. Remove from the oven and allow to cool on the sheet for 5 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely

Balls of 5 Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookie Dough on a baking sheet

Recipe Tips + FAQ

What kind of peanut butter (smooth/crunchy/natural / etc.)? Most recipes use creamy peanut butter because it is the most common peanut butter that people have at home. Natural peanut butter and crunchy peanut butter are other good options. It will just end up changing the texture of the cookie.

  • Other nut butters: using different nut butters is definitely an option! It may change the texture but this is especially great for people with allergies. Just be aware that you might need to add more flour.
  • Is salt needed? Salt is not needed, but if you would like to incorporate a ¼-½ teaspoon of salt it would only accent the delicious flavors in the dough. Most peanut butters have salt already mixed into them, so you may not need to use salt, unless you’re using natural peanut butter.
  • OR make your own peanut butter with this recipe with our homemade honey roasted peanut butter

Variations/additions

  • Chocolate chips: totally feel free to add chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, dark chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, or even mini chocolate chips.
  • Chocolate peanut butter cookies: you could incorporate 2 tablespoons of cocoa powder to give the cookies a chocolate and pb taste.

Substitutions:

  • Substitutes for egg? If you don’t have an egg for this recipe there are plenty of substitutions you can try. Try a combo of 2 tablespoons of water and 1 tablespoon of oil, half a mashed banana, or a ¼ cup of applesauce.

Close of up peanut butter cookies

How to Store?

Store your cookies in an airtight container or a ziploc bag to keep them fresh. If you are worried about them becoming stale, you can store the cookies in a container with a piece of sandwich bread. The piece of bread will become stale, while the cookies will stay soft and fresh. Cookies should last about a week.

You can freeze baked cookies for about 6 months in an airtight container. 

The dough will last for 3-5 days in the fridge as long as it’s wrapped properly. After this point, it needs to be baked. You can freeze cookie dough for about 6 months. You can either freeze them in balls, or as one large log of dough.

Close up of Easy Peanut Butter Cookies stacked on a white plate

For more Peanut butter treats, check out:

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5 Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookie Recipe

These Easy Peanut Butter Cookies are full of flavor, take only 5 ingredients, and don't require chilling! They're deliciously crumbly, remarkably soft, and boast a dense flavor.
4.88 from 16 votes
Pin Rate
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 11 minutes
Total Time: 21 minutes
Servings: 18 cookies
Calories: 132kcal
Author: Andrea
Print Recipe

Ingredients

  • 1 c natural peanut butter
  • 3/4 c granulated sugar
  • 1/4 c brown sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 egg
  • pinch salt - for sprinkling on top; optional

Instructions

  • Preheat to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or silicone baking mats, set aside
  • Ina medium bowl, add the peanut butter, sugars, vanilla and egg. Mix until combined
  • Using a standard size cookie scoop, portion dough into balls. Place on baking sheet and flatten in a crisscross pattern with a fork. Sprinkle with sea salt, if desired
  • Place in the oven and bake for 10-12 minutes or until the edges begin to brown.Remove from the oven and allow to cool on the sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely

Nutrition

Serving: 1cookie | Calories: 132kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 9mg | Sodium: 70mg | Potassium: 101mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 13IU | Calcium: 10mg | Iron: 1mg

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About the Author

Andrea

Hi I'm Andrea!

Hotelier turned Food Blogger to help make your life simple, one recipe at a time.

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Comments:

  1. 5 stars
    I added 2 tablespoons of cocoa powder and sea salt on top as suggested, and let me tell you, they were a HIT. Everyone who tried one asked me for the recipe. They have a perfect texture and a surprisingly sophisticated flavor.

    1. What a great complement when someone loves what you make so much that they want to make it too. Great job!