These truly are the BEST Peanut Butter Cookies you will ever make! So soft, chewy and thick they are a cross between a peanut butter cookie and a sugar cookie! These peanut butter cookies will be your new favorite Christmas Cookie!
Love cookies as much as I do? Then give my Peanut Butter Blossoms or my Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies a try!
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Peanut Butter Cookies
This Peanut Butter Cookie Recipe is my go to cookie to make during the holidays. It’s super easy to make, I always have all of the ingredients on hand and it’s always a crowd favorite! These are the Best Peanut Butter Cookies you will ever have.
They remind me of a cross between a sugar cookie and a peanut butter cookie. They still get crisp along the edges but are perfectly soft and chewy in the center. After I portion out the cookie dough the cookies are then rolled in granulated sugar then pressed down with a fork for the criss cross pattern.
Best of all these easy peanut butter cookies can be made in less than 20 minutes! If you are a fan of peanut butter like myself you will love these cookies. Here’s what you’ll need to make this peanut butter cookie recipe:
Ingredients
- Butter: I use 1 whole stick of unsalted butter in these cookies.
- Brown Sugar and Granulated Sugar: I replaced some of the granulated sugar with light brown sugar to get a chewier cookie. I also love the flavor the brown sugar adds.
- Creamy Peanut Butter: I recommend using regular peanut butter. I have not tried this recipe with any other nut butters.
- Egg + Vanilla: 1 large egg is added to create a chewier cookie.
- Flour: I use all purpose flour in these cookies.
- Baking Soda: Adds the perfect lift to the brownies and keeps them from being too flat and crispy.
- Salt: You can omit the salt if you are using salted butter.
- Extra Granulated Sugar: For rolling.
How to make Peanut Butter Cookies
- Preheat oven: To 350 degrees. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
- Make cookie dough: In a stand mixer with the paddle attachment cream butter and both sugars until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add in peanut butter and mix for 1-2 minutes. Add in egg and vanilla. Mix until combined and clump free. Combine flour, salt and baking soda in a small bowl. Add the dry ingredients to the batter in two parts with the stand mixer on the lowest speed. Mix for a little less than a minute. Do not over mix.
- Roll in sugar: Scoop out 16 cookies. Add granulated sugar to a small bowl. Roll each cookie in the sugar and place on a silicone baking mat on top of a baking sheet.
- Bake: Cookies for 10 minutes until lightly golden brown and firm on the edges.
- Cool: Remove from the oven and let set for 3-4 minutes. Transfer to cooling rack to cool completely.
- Store: Cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for 3-5 days (if they last that long). You can always freeze the cookies for up to 3-4 months.
Tips for making The Best Peanut Butter Cookies
- Light Brown Sugar: I also substitute the granulated sugar with light brown sugar. This produces a chewier cookie with lots of flavor.
- Room temperature Ingredients: I also like to wait until the butter is completely softened and the egg is at room temperature before mixing everything up. This ensures a smooth batter and an awesome cookie!
- Shorter cooking time: I always like to slightly under bake my cookies. Once they look set around the edges I take them out of the oven and let them continue to cook for 5 minutes longer on the baking sheet. Then I transfer them to a cooling rack to cool completely. This gives you a soft and chewy cookie!
- Overnight Chill: These cookies can be made a day or two in advance. The longer the cookie dough sits the more the flavors develop.
Variations
- Add some semi sweet or dark chocolate chips for peanut butter chocolate chip cookies.
- Add peanut butter chips to the batter.
- Dip cooled peanut butter cookies in melted chocolate and sprinkle with coarse kosher salt or crushed nuts for Chocolate Dipped Peanut Butter Cookies.
- These cookies make a great base for ice cream sandwiches.
- Add your favorite preserves and peanut butter buttercream to make my Peanut Butter and Jelly Cookies!
Here are more delicious cookie recipes to try!
- Chewy Double Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Coconut Oil Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Chewy Monster M & M Cookies
- Skillet Cookie
- Brookies
- Brown Butter Salted Chocolate Chip Cookies
Chewy Peanut Butter Cookies
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter,, softened
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
- 1 large egg
- 3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 1/3 cups all purpose flour
- pinch of salt
- 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 cup sugar for rolling
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper, set aside. In a stand mixer with the paddle attachment cream butter and both sugars until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
- Add in peanut butter and mix for 1-2 minutes. Add in egg and vanilla. Mix until combined and clump free.
- Add in flour, salt and baking soda and mix just until combined. Make sure not to overmix.
- Scoop out dough and portion into 16 cookie dough balls. Add sugar to a small bowl and roll each cookie in the sugar and place onto the prepared baking sheet.
- Using a fork flatten cookies slightly then turn and do the opposite direction to get a crisscross pattern.
- Bake cookies for 10 minutes until lightly golden brown and firm on the edges. Remove from the oven and let set for 3-4 minutes. Transfer to cooling rack to cool completely.
Notes
Nutrition Information
Did you make this?
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Louann White
Great recipe…they turned out perfect.Did not have silicone mat for baking sheet but used parchment paper instead.
Rob Vanhoose
Would you recommend light or brown sugar?
Rob Vanhoose
Sorry….light or dark brown sugar
Kelley
Hi Rob,
I would recommend using light brown sugar for these cookies.
Thanks & Enjoy!
Kelley
Kathy
I made these today and followed the recipe to the tee including the time suggested for mixing. I was uncertain what speed I should mix the butter and sugar at because it didn’t say but medium speed worked. After baking for 10 mins, they looked undone but through experience, the way to keep it soft and chewy is not to bake it too long so I took it out anyways as the recipe says. After it cooled, it was still soft so success! Yey! Thanks for this recipe.
Doris
These are the best peanut butter cookies I’ve ever had and so easy to make. . I have made them several times & they never fail. Thank you so much for posting your recipe
Leese
Great recipe…exactly what I was looking for–easy, soft, chewy, vast peanut butter taste, perfect!!! Thank you & God Bless!!
ChefCid
Awesome thanks for the reminder about putting the score marks with a fork. Everyone loves them.
Tracey Israel
What do you think about using natural PB? I haven’t used reg PB in years! Don’t like all the oil and sugar in reg!
Kelley
Hi Tracey!
I think this should work fine! I would just make sure the natural peanut butter is not too liquidy.
Thanks!
Kelley
Bill
Will this recipe work with almond butter, soy butter, cashew butter or sunflower seed butter?
Kelley
Hi Bill,
I have not tried this recipe with natural peanut butter so it is hard to say for sure. Let me know how you make out!
Thanks!!
Kelley
Jerry Shirley
Hello Kelley,
I tried out this recipe for something quick. Turned out great:)
Thank you
Kelley
So glad you enjoyed this!! Thanks for sharing!
Elena
What size cookie scoop to use and hand mixer to make the cookies?
Kelley
Hi Elena,
I usually make rounded tablespoons of these cookies. I use a regular kitchen aid mixer with the regular sized bowl.
Thanks & Enjoy!
Kelley