Crispy, rich, peanut buttery cookies with only FOUR ingredients. These easy peasy cookies are crazy good! The cookie lovers in your home will be snapping up these tasty treats.
Next time try the Peanut Butter Snowball Recipe, it's one of our favorites!
Jump to:
Why you'll love this recipe
✔️ 4 Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies are sweet and delicious.
✔️ This is an easy recipe for flourless peanut butter cookies.
✔️ They are easy to make - no hand mixer or stand mixer needed and clean up is a breeze!
Crispy, rich, peanut buttery cookies with only FOUR ingredients! You can even skip the vanilla and make them with just three! Crazy right? Crazy good is what they are!!
Ingredients
For the exact measurements, please refer to the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- I've used just regular peanut butter - you can use creamy peanut butter or crunchy peanut butter. I believe almond butter would also work, but I haven't experimented with it yet.
- one large egg
- sugar or sugar substitute like swerve or Splenda sweetener.
- pure vanilla extract
Instructions
This is an overview, for detailed instructions just scroll down to the bottom!
- Measure the peanut butter and add it to a large bowl.
- Combine peanut butter and remaining ingredients. Creaming together well.
- Using a small ice cream scoop (or two spoons), scoop the peanut butter cookie dough. And form into cookie dough ball. Place on a parchment lined baking sheet.
- Using the tines of a fork, make a criss-cross pattern in the top of the cookies.
- Bake for 10 minutes, allow to cool for 10 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack.
FAQ's
High moisture content makes cookies soft and chewy. These cookies bake up quite crispy, so if you are a soft, chewy kinda Cookie Monster, just tuck a cookie or two into the microwave. Reheating the cookies will make them soft!
Allow them to cool completely then transfer to a cookie jar or ziplock bag. Bonus? These cookies freeze beautifully!
Actually I never owned a wire rack until about 6 months ago when a brand gave me one. Seriously! I've always used a brown paper bag, which as a bonus will absorb any excess oil.
Yes! I've used Swerve and they baked up terrific and were just as good!
These cookies are a great sweet treat and terrific for school lunches! Honestly, I'd never make peanut butter cookies another way again!
Whip up a batch and let me know what you think of this yummy recipe by commenting below, I'd love to hear what you think!!
Tips
- Be sure to mix the batter thoroughly and ensure the egg is completely incorporated.
- If your cookies spread too much, refrigerate the cookie batter 30-60 minutes before baking.
- If your cookies are dry and crumbly it's probably because you baked them too long. Decrease the time for the next batch.
- Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for at least 10 minutes before transferring them to a cooling rack, otherwise they may fall apart.
Variations
I've made these several times. This is an excellent recipe!
- With real sugar.
- And using a sugar substitute (Swerve - I used a one for one substitute when I used Swerve). They baked up a darker brown and were more crispy using Swerve, but were just as good.
- Warm cookies in the air fryer or microwave if you prefer a chewy peanut butter cookies!
If you like peanut butter and chocolate (who doesn't?!!!) then add a cup of chocolate chips to the batter. It's the best combination!
Storage
Allow cookies to cool to room temperature. Store cookies in an airtight container on the countertop. They will last for several days.
Freezer - cookies can be frozen as well, wrap well and freeze up to two months.
Related recipes
- Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies - these cookies are super simple to make using a cake mix. They are puffy cookie perfection!
- Next time try this recipe for 3 Ingredient Oatmeal Cookies. Using instant oatmeal cookie mix - no kidding! They are delicious too. Great for a yummy snack in the afternoon and even healthy enough for a grab and go breakfast on a busy day.
- Fun, festive and delicious is the best way to describe Strawberry Funfetti Cake Mix Cookies - yum!
Don't forget to check out my Amazon storefront for some of my favorite products! 🛍️
If you love this recipe please leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating!
4 Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup peanut butter creamy or crunchy, use your favorite
- 1 cup swerve or sugar substitute I used
- 1 egg
- ½ teaspoon vanilla or almond extract optional
I earn a commission from Instacart from qualifying purchases.
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees
- Line your baking pan with parchment paper or silpat lined baking sheet
- In a large mixing bowl, add the ingredients. Stir together until smooth
- Using a small cookie scoop, portion the cookies or if using a spoon roll into 1" balls
- Place the cookie dough balls on the prepared baking sheet and press down lightly using a fork for a crisscross pattern.
- Bake for 10 to 12 minutes at 350 degrees. Allow to cool 10 minutes on parchment paper before transferring to a rack to cool completely.
Notes
- Be sure to mix the batter thoroughly and ensure the egg is completely incorporated.
- If your cookies are dry and crumbly it's probably because you baked them too long. Decrease the time for the next batch.
- Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for at least ten minutes before transferring them to a cooling rack, otherwise they may fall apart.
- If your cookies spread too much, refrigerate the dough for 30 minutes prior to baking.
Jess
Mine turned out really sticky and gloppy. Do think that is the after effect of adding maple syrup instead of a solid sugar?
Bowl Me Over
Absolutely Jess - There's just too much liquid in maple syrup. Were you trying to make a healthier version? Maybe next time use a ripe banana? I haven't tested that ingredient, but that would be my first choice if I was trying to eliminate processed sugar with a natural type sugar.
Deanna
I have to save this for Christmas, this cookie recipe sounds amazing!!!!!!!!
Bowl Me Over
Most definitely Dee - these are perfect for the peanut butter lovers out there!
Michaela Kenkel
I have made these!! They are really good!! I am so sorry you got freaked out about the date!! Wasn't it nice to be early?? 😉
Bowl Me Over
Aren't they just the best cookies? Love them! And yes - it was nice to be early!!! 🙂
Lori Vachon
Oh, I'm adding these to my holiday baking list. Easy and delicious...I'll be making a few dozen for sure!
Bowl Me Over
YOu'll love them Lori and so easy to make too perfect for a cookie exchange!
madi
4 ingredients? Count me in! I need to make a batch asap!
Bowl Me Over
Most definitely, enjoy Madi!!
Jennifer A Stewart
As soon as Connor saw these he wanted them for dinner! You only live once so guess what we are having for dinner?!?!
Bowl Me Over
My Mom let us have pie for breakfast so why not cookies for dinner? 🙂 Smart kid that Connor! Cookies are always a great choice!
Liza
These are SO simple - it's genius! I'm so excited to make them asap!
Bowl Me Over
You'll love them Liza - I'm sure you'll make them even healthier!!
michele
Im sitting here trying to talk myself out of whipping up a batch right now... they look so good! And I m totally loving that there is no flour in them!
Bowl Me Over
Ha!! That's a definite must bake! 🙂 These cookies are so quick and easy to make. You'll love them!!
Healing Tomato
This recipe is perfect for a baking challenged person like me. Easy instructions, ingredient and completely effortless! I am baking them this weekend. YUM!
Bowl Me Over
I know, right?!! I love easy baking recipes - Enjoy Rini!!!
Kathy
These cookies sound amazing! They are so easy to make which is a huge plus! Can't wait to make them!
Bowl Me Over
Thank you Kathy! It's such a great recipe, enjoy!
Angela
So easy and so yummy!!! Those guys are just fantastic in the kitchen and it looks like you picked a perfect recipe to share! I cant wait to make these with my boys!!
Bowl Me Over
I think so too! YOu'll really love these cookies Angela!
Lisa@Lisa's Dinnertime Dish
These cookies look so delicious and I love that they only have 4 ingredients! I also love that they're low in sugar! I need to make them ASAP!
Bowl Me Over
Most definitely, you'll love them Lisa!
Dan from Platter Talk
Deb, I love that you made this fun and easy peanut butter cookie recipe! Clearly, it is Packer-worthy, even coming all the way from California! Thanks for the kind words and doing such a great job of covering this fun and tasty recipe!
Bowl Me Over
Hey us Packer fans are everywhere right? And I'm thinking this year we better stick together, LOL! Seriously though this recipe is just so tasty! Easy and delicious, we love these cookies!