3 Ingredient Cookies

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5 from 951 votes
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My 3 ingredient cookies are your instant fix when you need a cookie! No flour, eggs, butter, or milk is needed; they are thick, soft, and oozing with chocolate! 

Love simple cookie recipes? Try my almond butter cookies, no bake oatmeal cookies, healthy oatmeal raisin cookies, and peanut butter oatmeal cookies next.

3 ingredient cookies with flaky salt on top.

I love a good dessert with just a few ingredients, and my 3 ingredient cookie recipe is one of me and my family’s favorites. It’s perfect when we have cookie cravings and need to whip something up with minimal prep time.

These taste like a cross between a peanut butter cookie and a classic sugar cookie, but personally, so much more delicious. They have a soft and chewy texture that everyone adores.

Table of Contents
  1. Why I love this recipe
  2. Ingredients needed
  3. How to make 3 ingredient cookies
  4. Arman’s recipe tips
  5. Storage instructions
  6. Frequently asked questions
  7. More 3 ingredient desserts to try
  8. 3 Ingredient Cookies (Recipe Card)

Why I love this recipe

  • 3 Ingredients. This isn’t a joke, it’s literally three ingredients- Peanut butter, maple syrup, and chocolate chips. Yes, there is no milk or butter!
  • Diet friendly. Not only are these cookies completely flourless and gluten-free, but they also have no grains either.
  • One bowl. My recipe also provides the easiest clean-up ever- Just one bowl and one spoon needed to whip them up!
  • Quick and easy. Whether you are a beginner baker or a seasoned chef, anyone can make them (yes, even you little Kewpie!).
3 ingredient cookies.

Ingredients needed

  • Peanut butter. Any smooth peanut butter can be used. Avoid using crunchy or all-natural peanut butter, as it will be harder to form a smooth dough. If you have a peanut allergy or want to keep this peanut-free, I’ve tested them with almond butter, cashew butter, and tahini.
  • Maple syrup. Adds sweetness and helps thicken the peanut butter to make a dough. Golden syrup or agave will work. While you technically can use white sugar or brown sugar, I don’t recommend it as the cookies will turn out super soft and crumbly.
  • Chocolate chips. I use semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips but use whichever chocolate chips you like (my niece LOVES white chocolate chips).
  • Flavor boosters. Optional, but feel free to add vanilla extract and/or salt.

How to make 3 ingredient cookies

I’ve included step-by-step photos below to make this recipe easy to follow at home. For the full printable recipe instructions and ingredient quantities, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

3 ingredient cookie dough in a mixing bowl.

Step 1- Make the cookie dough. Combine the peanut butter and maple syrup in a mixing bowl and whisk until combined. Fold through the chocolate chips. our.

shaped 3 ingredient cookies unbaked.

Step 2- Bake. Using your hands, roll balls of dough and place them on a lined cookie sheet. Press down on each cookie into a cookie shape and top with extra chocolate chips. Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until golden brown around the edges.

Arman’s recipe tips

  • For thicker and chewier cookies, refrigerate or freeze the dough for an hour before baking.
  • Reserve a handful of chocolate chips to press into the top of the baked cookies. This is both for aesthetic purposes and to ensure pools of chocolate with every bite.
  • Press down on the cookies before baking, as the shape will remain the same during the baking process. You can also form a criss-cross pattern on top of the cookies using a fork.
  • Drizzle the cookies with melted chocolate or add some sprinkles.

Storage instructions

To store: Place cookies onto a plate, cover them in plastic or saran wrap, and keep them at room temperature for up to 5 days. You can also store them in the refrigerator and they will keep for up to 2 weeks. 

To freeze: Leftover cookies can be stored in an airtight container in the freezer. The cookies will keep well for up to 6 months. 

3 ingredient cookies with chocolate chips.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use a stand mixer?

No, I don’t recommend using a stand mixer or electric mixer to make the dough. Because there is no flour, overmixing will yield a more rubbery dough, which in turn yields dense cookies.

Can I eat this raw?

Yes! This cookie dough has no raw eggs and no raw flour, so enjoy it as a quick edible cookie dough.

More 3 ingredient desserts to try

3 ingredient cookies recipe.

3 Ingredient Cookies

5 from 951 votes
My 3 ingredient cookies are your instant fix when you need a cookie! No flour, no eggs, no butter, and no milk needed, they are soft and oozing with chocolate! Watch the video below to see how I make it in my kitchen!
Servings: 12 servings
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 10 minutes
Total: 15 minutes

Video

Ingredients  

Instructions 

  • In a large mixing bowl, add the peanut butter and maple syrup and mix until combined. Fold through the chocolate chips. For thicker cookies, cover the bowl and freeze for an hour or refrigerate for two hours.
  • Preheat the oven to 180C/350F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
  • Remove the mixing bowl from the freezer. Using your hands, form 12 balls of dough and place them onto the lined sheet. Bake the cookies for 10-12 minutes, or until they are firm around the edges.
  • Remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool completely.

Notes

TO STORE: Place cookies onto a plate and cover them in plastic or saran wrap, and keep them at room temperature for up to 5 days. You can also store them in the refrigerator and they will keep for up to 2 weeks. 
TO FREEZE: Leftover cookies can be stored in the freezer in a sealable container. The cookies will keep well for up to 6 months. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 192kcalCarbohydrates: 13gProtein: 6gFat: 16gSodium: 99mgPotassium: 140mgFiber: 2gCalcium: 29mgIron: 1mgNET CARBS: 11g
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Author: Arman Liew
Tried this recipe?Give us a shout at @thebigmansworld or tag #thebigmansworld!

Originally published August 2021, updated and republished August 2024

Arman Liew

I’m a two time cookbook author, photographer, and writer, and passionate about creating easy and healthier recipes. I believe you don’t need to be experienced in the kitchen to make good food using simple ingredients that most importantly, taste delicious.

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Comments

  1. Really easy to make and a quick little snack to have when you are in a rush.Or you need to make it when you are bored and want to make something to eat. I like that you can use any toppings you like. They are soooooooooooooooooooo good rate them a 10/10

  2. Made these using SunButter, since I am allergic to peanut butter. My son really got a kick out of making cookies without flour, butter, or eggs. We didn’t think they would turn out, but they did! You can’t eat them straight out of the oven, but once cooled, they set nicely, and were definitely a cookie. Thanks for the fun lil recipe! 🙂

  3. Hi! I’m so excited to try these. If I want to add the sea salt at what point do I sprinkle that on the cookies?

  4. Hello. Allergic to dairy and wheat and peanuts amongst other thinks. Any questions for substitutions. Thanks. Looks delicious.

      1. 5 stars
        I can not live with out these delicious 3 ingredient chocolate chip cookies! No flour no sugar cookies. (ChocZero CC) I use sunbutter yummy!
        @thebigmansworld.com genius!!