These soft and chewy peanut butter cookies are packed with rich peanut butter flavor and have lightly crisp edges with soft centers. They use simple ingredients and make an easy homemade treat for your Cookies board.
Perfect for afternoon snacks, lunchboxes, weekend baking, or whenever you want a fresh batch of cookies.
Why You’ll Love These Cookies
- Soft and chewy texture
- Rich peanut butter flavor
- Simple ingredients
- Easy to prepare
- Ready in about 25 minutes
- Great for family baking
- Perfect with milk or coffee
- Freezer-friendly
Ingredients
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- ¾ cup creamy peanut butter
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1½ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Optional:
- ½ cup chocolate chips
- ½ cup chopped peanuts
- Flaky sea salt for topping
How to Make Peanut Butter Cookies
1. Prepare the Oven
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Mix the Wet Ingredients
Add softened butter, peanut butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar to a large bowl.
Beat until smooth and creamy.
Add the egg and vanilla extract.
Mix until fully combined.
3. Add the Dry Ingredients
In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the peanut butter mixture.
Mix until a soft cookie dough forms.
Avoid overmixing.
4. Shape the Cookies
Scoop the dough into small balls and place them on the prepared baking sheet.
Leave about 2 inches between each cookie.
Use a fork to gently press a crisscross pattern into the top of each cookie.
5. Bake
Bake for 9 to 11 minutes.
The edges should look lightly golden while the centers remain soft.
Do not overbake if you want chewy cookies.
6. Cool
Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes.
Transfer them to a wire rack to finish cooling.
Add a small pinch of flaky sea salt while they are still warm if desired.
Tips for Soft Peanut Butter Cookies
Use creamy peanut butter for a smooth texture.
Bring the butter to room temperature before mixing.
Measure flour carefully to avoid dry cookies.
Do not overbake the cookies.
Let them cool before moving them from the baking sheet.
For extra peanut butter flavor, add chopped roasted peanuts to the dough.
Easy Variations
Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Cookies
Fold ½ cup chocolate chips into the dough before baking.
Peanut Butter Cup Cookies
Add chopped chocolate peanut butter cups to the dough.
Double Peanut Butter Cookies
Add ½ cup chopped roasted peanuts for extra crunch.
Chocolate-Dipped Cookies
Dip cooled cookies halfway into melted chocolate and let them set.
How to Store Peanut Butter Cookies
Store cooled cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
For longer storage, freeze baked cookies for up to 3 months.
Freezing Cookie Dough
Shape the dough into individual balls and place them on a lined baking sheet.
Freeze until firm, then transfer the dough balls to a freezer-safe bag.
Bake from frozen and add a few extra minutes to the baking time.
What to Serve With Peanut Butter Cookies
These cookies pair well with:
- Cold milk
- Hot coffee
- Tea
- Hot chocolate
- Vanilla ice cream
Recipe Card
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Servings: About 20 cookies
Category: Dessert
Method: Baking
Final Thoughts
These soft and chewy peanut butter cookies are easy to make and full of classic peanut butter flavor.
The lightly crisp edges and soft centers make them a great homemade treat for any occasion.
Save this recipe to your Cookies board for your next baking day.