3-Ingredient Peanut Butter Blondies
These 3-Ingredient Peanut Butter Blondies are the kind of simple dessert that comes together before you’ve had time to talk yourself out of baking. With creamy peanut butter, sugar, and an egg, you get soft, chewy blondies with lightly crisp edges and plenty of peanut butter flavor.
The texture sits somewhere between a traditional blondie and a soft peanut butter cookie. The centers stay tender and chewy, while the edges develop a little more color and firmness as they bake.
There’s no flour, butter, baking powder, or mixer involved, which makes this recipe especially handy when the pantry is looking a little bare. It’s also a great one to keep in mind when you need a quick homemade dessert for an afternoon treat, casual dinner, or last-minute sweet craving.
Why It Works
The simplicity here is intentional. Peanut butter provides the fat and structure, the sugar adds sweetness and helps create those chewy edges, and the egg binds everything together while giving the blondies enough structure to hold their shape.
Because there are so few ingredients, the peanut butter you use makes a noticeable difference. A regular creamy peanut butter gives the most consistent texture. Natural peanut butter can work, but make sure it’s thoroughly stirred so the oil and solids are evenly combined.
The biggest trick is not to overbake them. They’ll continue to firm up as they cool, so the center should look set but still be soft when you take the pan from the oven.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Creamy Peanut Butter
Use a conventional creamy peanut butter for the most reliable results. Avoid using peanut butter that has separated heavily unless you’ve mixed it extremely well.
Granulated Sugar
Regular white sugar keeps the recipe simple and gives the blondies their lightly crisp edges and chewy middle.
Large Egg
The egg binds the three ingredients together and provides enough structure for the blondies to hold together once cooled. Let it come close to room temperature if you have time.
How To Make 3-Ingredient Peanut Butter Blondies
1. Prepare The Pan
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper, leaving a little overhang on two sides so the blondies are easy to lift out later.
Lightly grease the parchment if desired.
2. Mix The Batter
Add 1 cup creamy peanut butter, 1/2 cup granulated sugar, and 1 large egg to a mixing bowl.
Stir until everything is completely combined and the batter looks thick, smooth, and glossy. You don’t need a mixer; a sturdy spatula or wooden spoon is all you need.
3. Spread And Bake
Transfer the batter to the prepared pan and spread it evenly into the corners. The mixture will be thick, so take a minute to smooth the surface.
Bake for 18–22 minutes, watching closely toward the end. The edges should look set and lightly golden, while the center should still have a soft appearance rather than looking completely dry.
A toothpick inserted near the center should come out with a few moist crumbs rather than wet batter.
4. Cool Before Slicing
Let the blondies cool completely in the pan before cutting. This is important because they’re quite soft when they first come out of the oven and become much easier to slice as they cool.
For neat squares, lift them out using the parchment and cut with a sharp knife.
FAQs
Can I Use Crunchy Peanut Butter?
Yes. Crunchy peanut butter works well if you like little pieces of peanuts throughout the blondies. The texture will be slightly different, but the recipe itself doesn’t need to be adjusted.
Can I Use Natural Peanut Butter?
You can, but use a well-stirred natural peanut butter with a relatively thick consistency. If there’s a large amount of oil sitting on top, the finished blondies may turn out more oily or soft.
Why Are My Blondies Crumbly?
They may have been baked a little too long. These blondies are supposed to be soft and chewy, so removing them when the center is just set helps prevent a dry texture.
Do I Need To Add Vanilla?
Not for this recipe. Vanilla is a nice addition to many blondies, but these are deliberately made with just three ingredients. The peanut butter provides plenty of flavor on its own.
Can I Double The Recipe?
Yes. For a larger batch, double the ingredients and bake in a 9×13-inch pan. Start checking around the same time, but expect the exact baking time to vary slightly depending on your oven and the thickness of the batter.
How Do I Get Clean Slices?
Let the blondies cool completely before cutting. For especially tidy edges, chill them briefly after cooling, then use a sharp knife and wipe it clean between cuts.
Recipe Variations
Add Chocolate Chips
Fold about 1/2 cup chocolate chips into the batter before baking for a classic peanut butter-and-chocolate combination.
Use Crunchy Peanut Butter
Swap the creamy peanut butter for crunchy peanut butter to add a little texture without changing the method.
Add A Chocolate Drizzle
Once the blondies have cooled, drizzle melted chocolate over the top and let it set before slicing.
Sprinkle With Flaky Salt
A small pinch of flaky salt over the surface before baking can balance the sweetness and bring out the peanut butter flavor.
Make Them Extra Chocolatey
Stir chocolate chips into the batter and add a little melted chocolate drizzle once the blondies have cooled. It turns this simple three-ingredient base into a much richer dessert.
Storage
Store cooled blondies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days. They can also be refrigerated if you prefer a firmer, denser texture.
To soften refrigerated blondies, let them sit at room temperature for a few minutes before serving, or warm an individual piece briefly in the microwave.
What To Serve With 3-Ingredient Peanut Butter Blondies
These are lovely on their own with coffee or a glass of cold milk, but they’re even better served slightly warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. For a simple dessert plate, add fresh strawberries or banana slices, or drizzle the blondies with a little melted chocolate. A spoonful of whipped cream works nicely, too, especially when the blondies are served warm.
The easiest way to get the texture right is to watch the center rather than relying only on the clock. Pull them from the oven as soon as the edges are set and lightly golden and the middle still looks a touch soft.
Give them time to cool before slicing. That short wait makes a big difference, turning the soft baked mixture into sturdy, chewy peanut butter blondies that hold together beautifully.
This 3-Ingredient Peanut Butter Blondies recipe is rich, chewy, and packed with peanut butter flavor. Made with just three simple ingredients, these easy blondies come together in no time for a quick homemade treat everyone will love.
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Prep Time:
5 minutes
Cook Time:
20 minutes
Total Time:
25 minutes
Servings:
9
Ingredients
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter
- 1 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1 large egg
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8×8-inch baking pan with parchment paper or lightly grease it.
Mix the batter: In a medium bowl, stir together the peanut butter, brown sugar, and egg until smooth and well combined.
Transfer to the pan: Spread the thick batter evenly into the prepared pan and smooth the top with a spatula.
Bake for 20–25 minutes, until the edges are lightly golden and the center looks set. Be careful not to overbake, since the blondies will continue to firm up as they cool.
Cool completely in the pan before slicing into 9 squares.
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