Description
Discover the magic of simplicity with these 4-Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies! Incredibly easy to make, this recipe delivers perfectly soft, chewy cookies bursting with rich peanut butter flavor. Naturally flourless, they are a fantastic gluten-free treat that proves you don’t need a long list of ingredients to create something truly delicious. This is the ultimate go-to recipe for a quick and satisfying dessert craving.
Ingredients
1 cup peanut butter (creamy or chunky commercial brands like Jif or Skippy work best)
1 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)
Instructions
Preheat Your Oven and Prepare the Dough
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, large egg, and optional vanilla extract. Mix with a spoon or spatula until the ingredients are fully combined and form a smooth, thick dough.
Shape Your Peanut Butter Cookies
Scoop out rounded tablespoons of dough and roll them between your palms to form 1-inch balls. Place the dough balls about two inches apart on the prepared baking sheet to allow for slight spreading.
Create the Classic Criss-Cross Pattern
Using the tines of a fork, gently press down on the top of each dough ball. Rotate the fork 90 degrees and press down again to create the iconic criss-cross pattern. This also helps flatten the cookies for more even baking.
Bake to Golden Perfection
Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden and the centers still appear soft. For the best texture, it is crucial not to overbake. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes to set before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
Peanut Butter Choice: For best results, use a standard commercial peanut butter like Jif or Skippy. Natural peanut butters where the oil separates can result in a drier, more crumbly cookie.
Prevent Sticking: If the fork sticks to the dough when making the criss-cross pattern, dip it in a small bowl of granulated sugar before pressing. This adds a nice sparkly finish, too!
Perfectly Chewy Texture: The key to a soft and chewy cookie is to pull them from the oven when they look slightly underdone. They will continue to cook and firm up on the hot baking sheet.
Easy Variations: Feel free to fold in a half-cup of chocolate chips, roll the dough balls in coarse sugar before baking, or sprinkle a pinch of flaky sea salt on top before they go in the oven.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 131
- Sugar: 12
- Sodium: 75
- Fat: 7
- Saturated Fat: 2
- Unsaturated Fat: 5
- Carbohydrates: 14
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 4
- Cholesterol: 10
Keywords: peanut butter cookies, 4 ingredient cookies, easy cookies, gluten-free cookies, flourless cookies, simple dessert, quick cookies