Get ready to experience peanut butter paradise with this irresistible peanut butter cookies recipe! Soft, chewy, and bursting with rich, nutty flavor, these cookies are a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. Get your milk ready, because you won’t be able to resist these cookies fresh out of the oven!
What’s in this Peanut Butter Cookie Recipe?
These classic peanut butter cookies are easy to make and full of peanut butter flavor. With easy-to-follow instructions and common ingredients, you’ll have a batch of these mouth-watering treats in no time.
- Unsalted Butter: Adds richness and flavor to the cookie dough while also helping to bind the ingredients together.
- Peanut Butter: Provides the signature nutty flavor and also helps to create a soft and chewy texture. Creamy peanut butter is the classic choice.
- Sugar: A combination of brown and granulated sugar add sweetness and help to create a crisp exterior and soft interior texture.
- Eggs: Bind the ingredients together and add structure to the cookies while also providing moisture and richness.
- All-Purpose Flour: Gives these cookies structure and texture.
- Leavening: Baking powder and baking soda create air pockets in the dough, causing the cookies to rise and become light and fluffy.
- Kosher Salt: Enhances the flavor of the other ingredients and helps balance the sweetness of these cookies.
Pro Tip: You can use chunky peanut butter to create cookies with more texture.
Variations on Easy Peanut Butter Cookies
There are so many ways to change up these peanut butter cookies. Try some of these suggestions:
- Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Cookies: Add a cup of chocolate chips to the cookie dough for a delicious and decadent twist on the classic peanut butter cookie.
- Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies: Add a cup of oats to the cookie dough for a heartier, more substantial cookie that is still soft and chewy.
- Peanut Butter and Jelly Thumbprint Cookies: After forming the dough into balls, press your thumb into the center of each one to create an indentation. Fill the indentation with your favorite flavor of jelly or jam for a fun and fruity twist.
- Peanut Butter and Banana Cookies: Mash a ripe banana and mix it into the cookie dough for a delicious and slightly healthier variation on the classic peanut butter cookie.
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Yes, you can use natural peanut butter, but keep in mind that the texture and consistency of the dough may be different.
You can use any nut, seed, or cookie butter you like! Almond, cashew, sunflower seed, speculoos, or Nutella are all great choices.
The fork marks serve two purposes – they are decorative and they also help the cookies bake evenly. Peanut butter cookies are dense so fork marks help them cook.
To keep your peanut butter cookies from spreading too much, chill the dough in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before baking. You can also use less sugar or add more flour to the recipe.
You can tell peanut butter cookies are done when the edges are slightly browned but the cookie is still soft. Peanut butter cookies tend to cook a bit after your take them out of the oven, so you don’t want to cook them until they are firm.
How to Store
Store leftover peanut butter cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
How to Freeze
Freeze peanut butter cookies in an airtight container or Ziplock bag for up to 1 month. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before enjoying.
Serving Suggestions
These peanut butter cookies pair perfectly with a tall glass of milk, a java chip frappuccino, or a warm mug of hot chocolate. Sandwich two cookies together with homemade peanut butter, marshmallow fluff, fruit jam, dulce de leche, chocolate buttercream, or vanilla ice cream!
Peanut Butter Cookies Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter room temperature (2 sticks)
- 1¼ cups creamy peanut butter
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1½ teaspoons baking soda
- ¼ cup granulated sugar for rolling
Equipment
- Kitchen Scale (optional)
- Baking Sheet
- Hand Mixer
- Cookie Portion Scoop (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, with a hand mixer, cream together the butter, peanut butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar. Mix in the eggs. Set aside.1 cup unsalted butter, 1¼ cups creamy peanut butter, ½ cup brown sugar, ½ cup granulated sugar, 2 large eggs
- In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, and baking soda. Pour the flour mixture into the peanut butter mixture and stir until well combined.2¾ cups all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon baking powder, ½ teaspoon kosher salt, 1½ teaspoons baking soda
- Using a medium cookie scoop or a heaping tablespoon, scoop a ball of cookie dough, lightly roll it into a ball, and toss it into a bowl of granulated sugar to coat. Place the cookie on the prepared baking sheet and use a fork to press the cookie in a criss-cross pattern. Repeat with remaining cookies.¼ cup granulated sugar
- Bake for 9-10 minutes, or until the edges are lightly browned. Cool on the baking sheet for 2-3 minutes before moving them onto a cooling rack.
Notes
- You can also press your cookies with the bottom of a drinking glass or a slotted spoon to create a different design.
- You can use chunky peanut butter to create cookies with more texture.
- Feel free to add your favorite chocolate chips or flavored baking chips. I love semisweet chips in my peanut butter cookies!
- You don’t have to roll the cookies in sugar. They are tasty with or without!
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