3-Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookie with Sea Salt

You know that feeling when the house is quiet, and you just need something warm and comforting? I’ve been there so many times, staring at a half empty jar of peanut butter and wondering if I have enough energy to actually bake something.

This 3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookie with Sea Salt is my absolute go to for those moments because it's practically foolproof and hits every single flavor note I crave.

This article shares a simple recipe for a delightful 3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookie with Sea Salt. We are talking about a treat that smells like a warm hug and tastes like childhood, but with a grown up finish of flaky salt.

You don't need flour, you don't need butter, and you certainly don't need a pantry full of specialized equipment to make these happen.

Honestly, the first time I made these, I was skeptical. How can something with no flour actually hold its shape? But then the kitchen started smelling like toasted nuts and caramelizing sugar, and I knew I was onto something special.

We're going to walk through how to get that signature crackle and the velvety center that makes these cookies a family legend.

Science Behind This Flourless Wonder

Understanding how these ingredients interact makes you a better baker, even when the recipe is this simple. It's all about the balance of fats and proteins.

• Protein Coagulation: The egg protein denatures and creates a structural web that holds the peanut butter fats in place without needing gluten.
• Emulsification: Mixing the sugar and peanut butter creates a stable base where the sugar crystals are suspended in the nut oils.
• Thermal Transformation: As the sugar melts, it creates those slightly crisp, "shatter" edges while the center remains soft and dense.

This comparison highlights why this specific 3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookie with Sea Salt easy method is so popular. While the classic version is great, the flourless version yields a much more intense peanut flavor that isn't diluted by starches. It is the pure essence of the nut, transformed into a handheld treat.

Selecting Your Three Essential Ingredients

When you only have three main components, the quality of each one really matters for the final result. Using a 3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookie with Sea Salt quick approach means choosing the right textures from the start.

For the peanut butter, I always recommend 1 cup (250g) of a creamy, standard commercial brand. Why this? The added oils in "no stir" brands prevent the cookies from becoming too crumbly. While natural peanut butters are delicious, they can sometimes separate in the oven, leaving you with an oily mess.

For the sweetness, 1 cup (200g) of granulated white sugar is the standard. However, you can make 3 ingredient peanut butter cookies with brown sugar if you want a deeper, molasses like undertone. Why this? Brown sugar adds moisture, making the cookies slightly softer and chewier.

The egg (50g) is the glue. Why this? It provides the moisture needed to hydrate the sugar and the protein to bind the fats. Just like when preparing a Slow Cooker Beef recipe, where slow heat breaks down proteins, the quick heat of the oven sets these egg proteins instantly to hold the cookie's shape.

Simple Tools for Cookie Success

You don't need a high end stand mixer for this, though a KitchenAid can certainly speed things up if you're doubling the batch. I usually just use a sturdy wooden spoon and a glass bowl.

You will need a standard baking sheet and parchment paper. Please, do not skip the parchment! These cookies have a high sugar content, and they love to stick to the metal if given the chance. A cooling rack is also helpful to prevent the bottoms from getting soggy as they sit.

• Large Mixing Bowl: Plenty of room to whip the egg and sugar.
• Fork: Essential for that iconic crosshatch pattern on top.
• Measuring Cups: For 1 cup (250g) peanut butter and 1 cup (200g) sugar.
• Cookie Scoop: To ensure all 18 servings are exactly the same size.

Chef's Note: If you don't have a cookie scoop, a tablespoon works just fine. Just aim for rounds about the size of a golf ball so they bake evenly.

Steps for Baking Beautiful Cookies

Before you start, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). This is one of those 3 ingredient peanut butter cookies sea salt flakes recipes where the oven needs to be hot the second the tray goes in.

1. Measure 1 cup (250g) of peanut butter and place it in your bowl.
2. Add 1 cup (200g) of granulated white sugar. Note: Stir these together until you smell a sweet, nutty aroma.
3. Crack one large (50g) room temperature egg into the mixture.
4. Beat the mixture vigorously until the dough becomes smooth and pulls away from the sides.
5. Scoop the dough into 1 inch balls and place them 2 inches apart on the parchment.
6. Press a fork into each ball, then turn it 90 degrees and press again until the iconic crosshatch pattern appears.
7. Sprinkle 1 teaspoon of flaky sea salt across the tops of the 18 cookies.
8. Bake for 10 minutes until the edges are golden and the kitchen smells like toasted caramel.
9. Remove from the oven and let them rest on the tray for 5 minutes. Note: They will be too soft to move immediately.
10. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely for a firm, fudgy texture.

The most important numeric checkpoint here is the 10 minute bake time. Even if they look a little soft in the center, take them out! They carry over heat and will firm up as they cool. If you leave them in until they look "hard," you'll end up with a dry, sandy cookie that isn't pleasant to eat.

Fixes for Common Baking Mistakes

Even with only three ingredients, things can go sideways. I remember the first time I used a "natural" peanut butter that hadn't been stirred well the cookies basically melted into one giant, oily pancake. It was a mess, but I learned the hard way so you don't have to!

To Fix Crumbly, Dry Dough

If your dough feels like wet sand and won't hold a ball shape, it's usually because the peanut butter was too dry or the egg was too small. You can fix this by adding a teaspoon of water or a tiny bit more peanut butter to help bind it.

To Prevent Spreading and Greasiness

This happens most often if the kitchen is very warm or if you used a very oily peanut butter brand. If the dough feels too soft, pop the whole bowl in the fridge for 15 minutes. Chilling the fats helps them stay stable longer once they hit the heat of the oven.

Common Mistakes Checklist: ✓ Use a room temperature egg for better binding and emulsification. ✓ Don't skip the crosshatch pattern; it helps the cookie bake evenly through the center. ✓ Line your baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and burning.

✓ Let cookies cool on the tray for five minutes before moving them. ✓ Use "no stir" peanut butter for the most consistent, velvety results.

Diet and Allergy Friendly Swaps

I often get asked if this 3 ingredient peanut butter cookie with sea salt recipe can be adapted for different needs. While the 1:1:1 ratio is pretty classic, there are some clever ways to pivot if you need to.

If you are looking for 3 ingredient peanut butter cookies no sugar, you can use a granulated monk fruit sweetener. However, keep in mind that sugar provides structure here, not just sweetness. Without it, the cookies will be much softer.

For those looking for 3 ingredient peanut butter cookies no egg, a commercial egg replacer often works better than a flax egg in this specific flourless dough.

Storing Your Homemade Treats Properly

Because these are so moisture rich from the peanut butter, they stay fresh longer than your average flour based cookie. I find that they actually taste better on day two once the flavors have had time to settle.

Store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. If you live in a very humid climate, you might want to put a piece of parchment between the layers to keep them from sticking together. You can also freeze the baked cookies for up to 3 months.

Just pull one out whenever the craving hits; they thaw in about 20 minutes on the counter.

To use up leftovers or crumbs, I love crushing them over a bowl of Healthy Overnight Oats recipe. It adds a lovely salty sweet crunch to your morning breakfast. You can also fold broken pieces into vanilla ice cream for a DIY peanut butter swirl treat.

Delicious Drinks and Side Pairings

These cookies are incredibly rich, so you want something to cut through that density. A cold glass of milk is the traditional choice, but a hot cup of black coffee or a strong Earl Grey tea is also fantastic.

• For a Morning Power Pair: Serve a single cookie alongside a bowl of fruit and your Healthy Overnight Oats recipe for a balanced start.
• For the Ultimate Dessert Duo: Sandwich a scoop of chocolate gelato between two cookies for an instant ice cream sandwich.
• For a Brunch Spread: These fit perfectly next to a stack of Fluffy Pancakes From recipe if you're hosting a big family breakfast.

If you want a specific outcome, try these tweaks: If you want a saltier punch, double the flaky sea salt on top before baking. If you want a chocolate version, press a few dark chocolate chips into the top of each ball.

If you want a crunchier texture, use extra crunchy peanut butter instead of creamy.

Myths About Flourless Baking

One big misconception is that you need flour to make a "real" cookie. People think that without gluten, the cookie will just be a pile of melted sugar. The truth is that the egg protein and the natural proteins in the peanuts create a sturdy enough network to hold everything together perfectly.

Another myth is that you can't overbake these. Because there is no flour to turn brown in the traditional way, people wait for them to look "done." By the time they look hard, the sugar has likely burned on the bottom. Trust the timer and the sensory cue of that toasted aroma.

Once you smell that warm peanut scent, they are ready to come out.

Finally, some think you must use expensive sea salt. While flaky sea salt like Maldon is beautiful, even a pinch of regular kosher salt will help balance the sweetness. The key is that contrast between the rich, sweet dough and the sharp mineral hit of the salt.

It turns a simple 3 ingredient peanut butter cookies sea salt flakes snack into something that feels truly gourmet.