These quick and easy peanut butter cookies are perfect for sharing and with only 3 ingredients you can whip them up in no time!
Several years ago I got involved with an amazing organization called Adopt a US Soldier. This organization connected civilians with deployed soldiers in order to provide them support through letters and care packages. They even called their letters little “hugs from home”. Isn’t that sweet?
I adopted several soldiers, but through letters and Skype got really close with the first soldier I ever adopted and he had a unhealthy obsession with peanut butter cookies. That’s the only thing he ever requested I send him besides socks and good razors! Over the following 9 months I became an expert in mailing cookies and came up with a quick and easy peanut butter cookie recipe that allowed me to churn out dozens in no time flat! Which was a blessing when men in his unit started requesting peanut butter cookies, too.
When I first started making these I scooped them out using my 1 Tbs cookie scoop (aff) and gave them the standard crisscross pattern using a fork dipped in water but that made them really crumbly and they arrived in pieces. Delicious pieces, he assured me, but in pieces nonetheless. Next I tried rolling them into balls but since they don’t have any baking powder in them they don’t rise or change shape much so they basically went in as they came out. The size of bouncy balls. Still yummy to eat. Fairly hard to ship.
I started just flattening the cookies with the palm of my hand but leaving off the crisscross pattern. This helped keep them from crumbling and I made them this way for a long while. It helped the cookies hold their shape during shipping and they arrived in fewer pieces.
But since I no longer make these to mail to soldiers I kinda missed the traditional crisscross pattern. I still had to find a way to keep them from falling apart after the first bite, though. Enter my medium or 2 Tbs cookie scoop (aff). It works perfectly! The cookies are large enough that I can flatten them with my hand, press the pretty pattern into them with a damp fork and voila. Beautiful and delicious cookies each and every time!
In the last care package I ever sent to my soldier before his deployment ended I also included the recipe and he couldn’t believe how easy it is! I still hear from him from time to time and I’m so happy to know he uses my recipe to make these cookies for his kids.
If you ever want to mail cookies here is my tried and true method for fresh, unbroken cookies every time! Stack your cookies sideways at the bottom of a Ziploc bag and roll the bag up around the cookies into a cylindrical shape. Then push the cylinder of cookies down into a clean, empty Pringles can, making sure to get out all the air from the bag and sealing it before putting the lid on. Ship in your favorite flat rate box with some other yummy treats and you’re good to go!
Have you ever supported a soldier serving overseas? Let me know some of your tried and true methods for mailing goodies!
3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup peanut butter
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 egg, beaten
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Combine beaten egg, sugar, and peanut butter and mix until completely combined.
- Drop onto a greased cookie sheet about 1 inch apart and flatten with the palm of your hand. Add a crisscross patterned using a damp fork if desired.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 12 minutes.
- Remove immediately to a cooling rack.
Toni @ Debt Free Divas
Tuesday 3rd of February 2015
No flour. Hmmm...interesting. Have you seen this recipe for the 3 ingredient pancake floating around. No flour there too. You may be on to something.
Meaghan
Tuesday 3rd of February 2015
I've seen pancakes made with mashed bananas and applesauce that don't require any flour. I'll have to check them out!
~Meaghan
Vicki @ Five Spot Green Living
Monday 26th of January 2015
Wow! Great easy recipe! I looooove peanut butter! Sorry healthier almond butter, peanut butter has my heart.
Meaghan
Monday 26th of January 2015
Isn't that the truth? I'm constantly apologizing to almond butter for not being as passionate as I am about peanut butter!
~Meaghan
Ashley @irishred02
Sunday 25th of January 2015
these look tasty and easy to make. thanks for sharing!
Meaghan
Monday 26th of January 2015
They are so fast and definitely the easiest peanut butter cookie you'll ever make. Thanks for stopping by!
~Meaghan
Jill
Saturday 24th of January 2015
Who doesn't love a great peanut butter recipe?! What a lovely story as well as how and why this recipe was created. My daughter is over the moon about any peanut butter cookie, it's her favorite treat, so I will most definitely be giving your recipe a try. I always make a criss cross pattern and never thought to use a glass. Great tip!
Meaghan
Saturday 24th of January 2015
I'm so happy to hear it! Finding the glass trick was such a blessing for good non-crumbly peanut butter cookies. I hope your daughter loves these!
~Meaghan
Danielle @ Where's the Mama
Thursday 22nd of January 2015
That is such a beautiful story! I love the reason for how you came up with this recipe. It's genius. As a mom, I am always looking for minimal time and ingredients when it comes to cooking!
Meaghan
Friday 23rd of January 2015
Thank you, Danielle :) I thoroughly enjoyed my time volunteering with Adopt a Soldier so much! And this recipe is my new go to for peanut butter cookies!
~Meaghan