Description
These World’s Best Easy Peanut Butter Cookies are quick to prepare and require only three simple ingredients. With a perfect balance of sweet and nutty flavors, these soft and chewy cookies are ideal for any occasion. The recipe uses commercial peanut butter, brown sugar, and an egg, making it straightforward and fuss-free.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry and Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup / 265 g peanut butter (smooth or crunchy – commercial spread, NOT pure peanut butter, e.g., Bega)
- 200 g / 1 cup packed brown sugar
- 1 large egg
Instructions
- Combine Ingredients: Place the peanut butter, brown sugar, and egg in a bowl and mix until fully combined. The dough will be very soft, too soft to scoop immediately. Refrigerate the dough for 10 minutes to firm it up.
- Preheat Oven: While the dough chills, preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F) for a conventional oven or 160°C (320°F) if using a fan/convection oven.
- Prepare Baking Trays: Line two baking trays with parchment paper to prevent sticking and for easy cleanup.
- Shape Cookies: Using a tablespoon or cookie scoop, portion the dough onto the prepared trays, placing each scoop about 5 cm (2 inches) apart to allow for spreading.
- Flatten Cookies: Dip a large fork in hot tap water to prevent sticking. Press down on each cookie dough scoop with the fork, then rotate the fork 90 degrees and press again to create a crisscross pattern and flatten them to about 1 cm (2/5 inch) thickness. Re-dip the fork in water as needed.
- Bake: Place both trays in the oven and bake for 10 minutes, swapping the trays halfway through baking. Cookies should be light golden on the top and golden at the edges. Bake longer if you prefer crisper cookies.
- Cool and Store: Allow cookies to cool on the baking trays before transferring them. Store cooled cookies in an airtight container for up to 4 to 5 days.
Notes
- Use commercial peanut butter spreads rather than pure or natural peanut butter for the best texture and sweetness.
- Brown sugar provides moisture and depth of flavor; do not substitute with white sugar for similar results.
- Refrigerating the dough is essential to get the proper consistency for shaping.
- Using a fork dipped in hot water helps create the signature crisscross peanut butter cookie pattern without sticking.
- If you prefer your cookies crispier, baking a few minutes longer is recommended.
