Scrumptious Peanut Butter Cookies Recipe Everyone Will Adore

Cookies fresh from the oven bring pure joy to any kitchen, especially when loaded with creamy peanut butter cookies that melt in your mouth.

The aroma of sweet, nutty goodness wafts through the house, promising delectable treats.

These simple yet magical cookies combine classic ingredients with minimal effort.

Butter, sugar, and peanut butter dance together to create a perfect balance of sweetness and richness.

Every bite delivers a comforting nostalgic flavor that connects us to childhood memories.

The recipe requires just a few pantry staples and less than an hour of your time.

Bake a batch and watch smiles spread across faces as friends and family savor each delightful morsel.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 12 minutes

Total Time: 27 minutes

Calories: 139 kcal

Servings: 24

What’s in Classic Peanut Butter Cookies

• Peanut Butter: Creamy, rich foundation providing intense nutty flavor and smooth texture; choose natural, unsweetened variety for best results.
• Sugar: Sweetens and helps create golden, crisp edges; opt for granulated white sugar for consistent texture.
• Egg: Binds ingredients together and adds richness; select fresh, room temperature eggs for optimal mixing.
• Vanilla Extract: Enhances overall flavor complexity; use pure extract for deeper aromatic notes.

• Baking Soda: Helps cookies rise and spread evenly; ensure it's fresh and not expired for proper chemical reaction.

• Salt: Balances sweetness and amplifies peanut butter flavor; use a small pinch of kosher or sea salt for subtle depth.

Tools for Baking Traditional Peanut Butter Cookies

• Large mixing bowl: Essential for combining all ingredients smoothly.
• Cookie scoop or hands: Perfect for creating uniform cookie balls.
• Baking sheet: Needed to hold and bake cookies evenly.
• Parchment paper: Prevents cookies from sticking and ensures easy cleanup.
• Fork: Used to create classic peanut butter cookie crosshatch pattern.
• Wire cooling rack: Helps cookies cool down and maintain crisp texture.

Bake Peanut Butter Cookies with That Signature Fork Mark

• Warm Up the Oven

Fire up your oven to 350 degrees, creating the perfect toasty environment for your soon-to-be delicious cookies.

• Create the Dough

In a big mixing bowl, blend peanut butter, sugar, egg, and vanilla until smooth. Mix in baking soda and a tiny salt pinch for extra flavor punch.

• Roll Cookie Balls

Grab chunks of dough and roll them into cute little spheres. Place these yummy balls onto a parchment-lined baking sheet, giving them some breathing room.

• Make the Classic Crosshatch

Take a fork and gently press down on each cookie ball, creating those iconic crisscross marks that make peanut butter cookies instantly recognizable.

• Bake to Golden Perfection

Slide the cookie sheet into the oven and bake for 8-10 minutes. Watch carefully – you want them golden but not burnt. Peanut butter cookies can go from delightful to overdone quickly.

• Cool and Enjoy

Let the cookies rest on the baking sheet for a few minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack. Once they’ve chilled out, grab a glass of milk and dive in!

Tips That Keep Peanut Butter Cookies Chewy

• Use room temperature ingredients to ensure smooth, easy blending and prevent lumpy cookie dough. Soft butter and egg will mix more seamlessly, creating a perfectly consistent texture.
• Swap all-purpose flour with almond flour or gluten-free flour blend to make these cookies celiac-friendly. These alternatives provide similar texture while keeping the classic peanut butter flavor intact.
• Experiment with different peanut butter types like natural, crunchy, or honey-roasted to add unique depth. Each variety brings its own subtle twist to the classic cookie recipe.
• Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. Place a slice of bread in the container to maintain moisture and prevent cookies from becoming dry or crumbly.
• Replace regular sugar with coconut sugar or monk fruit sweetener for a lower-glycemic alternative. These substitutions provide sweetness while reducing overall sugar content for health-conscious bakers.

Serve These Cookies with Cold Milk

• Dessert Pairing Paradise: Serve these warm peanut butter cookies alongside a tall glass of cold milk for the ultimate comfort treat.
• Cookie Sundae Spectacular: Crumble these cookies over vanilla ice cream and drizzle with chocolate sauce for a decadent dessert upgrade.
• Nutty Breakfast Twist: Crumble cookies over Greek yogurt with sliced bananas for a protein-packed morning indulgence that feels like a special treat.
• Gift-Worthy Packaging: Stack cookies between parchment paper in a cute mason jar or decorative tin for a homemade gift that shows you care.

Keep Peanut Butter Cookies Soft and Snack-Ready

• Keep cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days, maintaining their delicious soft texture.
• Wrap individual cookies or entire batches in plastic wrap, then place in freezer bags. Frozen cookies stay fresh for 3 months, perfect for sudden sweet cravings.
• Create cookie dough balls in advance and refrigerate for 24 hours or freeze uncooked dough for spontaneous baking. Simply thaw and bake when ready for warm, fresh treats.
• Add a small piece of bread to the storage container, which helps cookies retain softness and prevents them from becoming dry or crumbly during storage.

FAQs

• Can I use natural or crunchy peanut butter?

Yes, you can use either natural or crunchy peanut butter. Natural peanut butter might make the cookies slightly less sweet, while crunchy peanut butter will add extra texture to your cookies.

• Are these cookies gluten-free?

These cookies are naturally gluten-free since they don’t contain flour. However, always check your peanut butter and baking soda labels to ensure they are certified gluten-free if you have celiac disease.

• How do I know when the cookies are done baking?

The cookies are ready when the edges turn golden brown and the tops look set. They might seem soft when you first take them out, but they’ll firm up as they cool.

• Can I freeze the cookie dough?

Absolutely! You can freeze the cookie dough balls for up to 3 months. Just place them on a baking sheet, freeze until solid, then transfer to a freezer bag. Bake directly from frozen, adding 1-2 minutes to the baking time.

Irresistible Peanut Butter Cookies Recipe

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4.8 from 32 reviews

• Total Time: 27 minutes
• Yield: 25 1x

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Description

Homemade peanut butter cookies blend classic comfort with nostalgic sweetness from childhood kitchens. Rich, buttery dough creates irresistible treats perfect for sharing with friends and family.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• ½ cup (115 g / 4 oz) unsalted butter, softened
• ½ cup (120 g / 4.2 oz) peanut butter (creamy or chunky)
• 1 large egg
• ½ cup (100 g / 3.5 oz) granulated sugar
• ½ cup (100 g / 3.5 oz) brown sugar, packed
• 1 ¼ cups (155 g / 5.5 oz) all-purpose flour
• ½ tsp baking soda
• ½ tsp baking powder
• ¼ tsp salt
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

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Instructions

1. Preheat Preparation: Calibrate the oven to 350F (175C), establishing an optimal thermal environment for cookie transformation.
2. Mixture Fusion: Combine peanut butter, sweetener, egg, vanilla extract, baking soda, and salt in a mixing bowl. Integrate ingredients thoroughly until a smooth, cohesive batter emerges, ensuring no dry pockets remain.
3. Dough Shaping and Arrangement: Mold the mixture into uniform one-inch spheres, gently positioning them on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Space cookies adequately to allow natural expansion during baking.
4. Decorative Technique: Employ a fork’s tines to create distinctive crosshatch patterns across each dough ball, enhancing both aesthetic appeal and heat circulation.
5. Baking and Monitoring: Slide the prepared tray into the preheated oven, baking for 8-10 minutes. Watch carefully for a delicate golden edge, avoiding over-browning that could compromise the cookie’s delicate texture.
6. Cooling and Finishing: Allow cookies to rest momentarily on the baking sheet, then transfer to a wire rack. Permit complete cooling to achieve optimal flavor development and structural integrity.

Notes

• Prevent Sticky Dough: Chill the mixture for 30 minutes before shaping to make handling easier and prevent excessive spreading during baking.
• Check Peanut Butter Quality: Use natural, creamy peanut butter without added sugars for authentic flavor and optimal texture.
• Control Cookie Thickness: Press cookie dough gently to maintain consistent thickness, ensuring uniform baking and preventing dry edges.
• Gluten-Free Adaptation: Substitute wheat flour with almond or coconut flour for a gluten-free version, adding a tablespoon of cornstarch to maintain cookie structure.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 12 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 25
• Calories: 150
• Sugar: 8 g
• Sodium: 70 mg
• Fat: 7 g
• Saturated Fat: 3.5 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 3.5 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 20 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 3 g
• Cholesterol: 15 mg