Super Simple Peanut Butter Cookies

When you get to be my age you start to wonder how you’ve made it through life reliant on Pillsbury or Betty Crocker for as long as you have. And you start imagining the things you could create “from scratch” – because wouldn’t they be glorious? Delicious? Delightful? All of the above! And crafted with your very own hands.

No mixes. No boxes. Nothing random or confusing.

And then you look at amazing recipes.

Brownies and truffles. Meringues and macarons. Oatmeal bars and fudge.

And you look at the Kitchen Aid mixer you have that you’ve used maybe two or three times in the decade or so that you’ve owned it.  And you look back at the recipes.

And you decide that you’re tired. You’re just too tired to make several parts of a recipe that will turn into about 2-3 dozen cookies – and who are we kidding? They’re always about eight or ten shy! You’re too tired to lug that old mixer out and create the counter space for it.

At least if you’re me you are.

And that’s why I have the perfect recipe for you. These Super Simple Peanut Butter Cookies are made from only 3 or 4 ingredients.

They are completely “from scratch” and so easy. It takes one bowl and one cookie sheet. Maybe a few spoons or spatulas for mixing. And they’re good. So very good.

All you need? Three ingredients. With one extra for good measure.

• 1 cup Peanut Butter
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 egg
• Vanilla Extract (optional)

Mix your first three ingredients together in a mixing bowl. If you’re so inclined, add a splash of vanilla extract. They’ll be just as delicious without it, though.

Drop spoonfuls of the dough on your cookie sheet. Be sure to space according to your sheet. You may need to bake two sets of cookies, depending on how many you fit on.

Once on the sheet I have an important final tip for you. The classic looking peanut butter cookie has a marking on it. Take a fork and press it gently onto the top of the cookie. Remove and do the same thing across the initial marking, creating a bit of an “X” but in a crosshatch pattern.

Bake at 350 degrees for about 6-8 minutes. Keep an eye on them to make sure they don’t burn.

Ta da! You’re done.

These might be the easiest cookies I’ve ever made. So much so that I can decide I want them at around 9 o’clock at night and still have time to make, bake and eat a few before bed.

Enjoy!