Homemade peanut butter cookies are a classic for a reason. These are super easy to make, soft and chewy, with full of peanut butter flavors. The hash marks on the top, created using a fork, give them their signature look. I bet this will be the only peanut butter cookie recipe you will ever use again!
I highly recommend preparing this cookie for Christmas and Easter. You can add peanut butter cookies to your holiday or easter gift basket or add them to your dessert platter during holiday parties. These classic cookies are total crowd-pleasers.
These are also great for your summer potlucks and picnics. My son loves to take this even for his snack box. If you are a peanut butter lover like us, try our popular no-bake peanut butter fudge, the fall-favorite pumpkin peanut butter cupcakes, and easy strawberry and peanut butter toast.
Why you'll love this recipe
- Soft and chewy cookies with a crispy exterior.
- Robust peanut butter flavor.
- Super simple and easy to make.
- Only eight basic ingredients from your kitchen are used to make these cookies.
Ingredients
Peanut butter: Use creamy peanut butter for the best results. Crunchy peanut butter can be used, but it will make your cookies crumblier.
Brown sugar: Dark brown or light brown sugar can be used to make these cookies. The color and flavor of your cookie will vary slightly.
Combination of brown sugar and white sugar: Brown sugar makes your cookies soft and moist, and white sugar will help the cookies spread. So it is important to use both brown and white sugar in the recipe.
Flour: Add only the amount of flour mentioned and not more. The amount may look small but believe me, the recipe works wonderfully. If you add more flour, your cookies will become dry.
See the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.
Variations
- You can use almond butter to make almond butter cookies.
- Make biscoff cookies using Lotus biscoff cookie butter.
- Love chocolate and peanut butter combo? Then you can fold in chocolate chips and peanut butter chips. You can also add chopped pecan or nuts of your choice for additional crunchiness.
Step-by-step instructions
Step 1: In a bowl, add butter, sugar, and brown sugar and beat using a hand-held beater or stand mixer until smooth and creamy. Scrape the sides of the bowl with a spatula.
Step 2: Add egg and peanut butter and continue to mix until the mixture is smooth. Check out the video of making peanut butter cookies.
Step 3: Add baking powder, baking soda, and flour and slowly mix on low speed for 30 seconds until everything is combined.
Step 4: Scrape down the sides of the bowl to make sure everything is thoroughly combined.
Step 5: Cover the dough with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 3 hours or preferably overnight.
Step 6: Scoop approximately 2 tablespoons of dough to form dough balls and gently press to flatten them slightly. Arrange them on a baking sheet 2 inches apart.
Step 7: Using a fork, flatten the cookies slightly to form a crisscross pattern.
Step 8: Bake cookies in the preheated oven for about 12 to 15 minutes.
The cookies may look under-baked, but they will continue to cook as they cool. Let this sit for about 5 to 10 minutes. Once the cookies are firm enough to handle, transfer them to the cooling rack. Store these cookies in an airtight container. Serve and enjoy.
Pro Tips
- Do not substitute butter with margarine, shortening, or imitation butter. Use real butter (salted/unsalted). If using unsalted butter, then add ¼ teaspoon of salt to your cookie dough.
- You can make the dough and keep it in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, but baked cookies are better when consumed within two days.
- The cookies are soft when they are just out of the oven. After 5 to 10 minutes, they will firm up.
- The baking time may vary depending on how thick or thin your cookies are. On average, it will take anywhere between 10 to 15 minutes.
Make ahead and store
- You can make the cookie dough up to 3 days in advance and keep it in the refrigerator.
- Baked cookies can be stored in an airtight container for 2 to 3 days at room temperature.
Freezing instructions
- You can freeze the cookie dough for up to 3 months. When ready to use, let it thaw in the refrigerator overnight. If you are in a hurry, let the frozen dough thaw at room temperature for 1.5 to 2 hours, make balls, and follow the instructions for baking given above.
- Baked cookies can also be frozen for up to 3 months. Microwave for 20 to secs to thaw and warm them up.
Recipe FAQs
Compared to other cookie doughs, peanut butter is a little dense. Adding fork marks or hashtags flattens them, creates more surface area, and helps them bake evenly.
I prefer using creamy smooth peanut butter. You can add the crunchy peanut butter if you like the crunchier texture. And when it comes to brand, use any brand that you love the most or those that are readily available at your local stores.
Yes. Make sure you double all the ingredient amounts and bake them in batches. You can double the recipe if you plan to serve this for a large crowd or give it as a holiday gift.
You can use processed as well as natural peanut butter (only peanuts and salt) to make the cookies. You will find the difference in the end result. The cookies prepared using processed peanut butter will give you the perfect and best cookies ever. The natural peanut butter may make your cookies dry and crumblier.
There are only two reasons for your cookies turning out dry and crumbly.
Reason 1 - You have baked cookies for a longer time than needed. While baking peanut butter cookies, always remember the cookies may not always look cooked even when they are fully cooked. Take them out of the oven when they are still soft but not wet or raw. They will continue to cook further on the baking sheet.
Reason 2 - Do not add too much flour than mentioned in the recipe while making these cookies. Lesser flour will give your cookie a perfectly chewy and melt-in-mouth texture, while more flour is going to make your cookies drier.
Recipe card
Best Peanut Butter Cookies
Equipment
- Baking pan
Ingredients
- ½ cup Softened butter (I have used salted butter)
- ½ cup Granulated sugar
- ½ cup Brown sugar
- 1 Egg
- ½ cup Peanut butter
- ½ teaspoon Baking soda
- ½ teaspoon Baking powder
- 1 ¼ cup All purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon Salt (optional, add only if using unsalted butter)
Instructions
How to make peanut butter cookies?
- In a bowl, add butter, sugar, and brown sugar and beat using a hand-held beater or stand mixer until smooth and creamy. Scrape the sides of the bowl with a spatula.½ cup Softened butter, ½ cup Granulated sugar, ½ cup Brown sugar
- Add egg and peanut butter and continue to mix until the mixture is smooth. Check out the video of preparing peanut butter cookies.1 Egg, ½ cup Peanut butter
- Add baking powder, baking soda, salt (see notes), and flour and slowly mix on low speed for 30 seconds until everything is combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.½ teaspoon Baking soda, ½ teaspoon Baking powder, 1 ¼ cup All purpose flour, ¼ teaspoon Salt
- Cover the dough and refrigerate for 3 hours or overnight.
How to bake peanut butter cookies?
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line your baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Scoop approximately 2 tablespoons of dough to form dough balls and gently press to flatten them slightly. Arrange it on a baking sheet 2 inches apart.
- Using a fork flatten cookies slightly to form a crisscross pattern.
- Bake cookies in the preheated oven for about 12 to 15 minutes.
- The cookies may look under-baked, but they will continue to cook as they cool. Let this sit for about 5 to 10 minutes.
- Once the cookies are firm enough to handle, transfer them to the cooling rack.
- Store cookies in an airtight container. Serve and enjoy.
Video
Notes
- Do not substitute butter with margarine, shortening, or imitation butter. Use real butter (salted / unsalted).
- If using unsalted butter, then add ¼ teaspoon of salt to your cookie dough.
- You can make the dough and keep it in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, but baked cookies are better when consumed within 2 days.
- The cookies are soft when they are just out of the oven. After 5 to 10 minutes, they will firm up.
- The baking time may vary depending on how thick or thin your cookies are. On average, it will take anywhere between 10 to 15 minutes.
Jamie
This cookie recipe with peanut butter looks yummy and has a perfect flavor! Kids will definitely love it and would enjoy eating it!
Amy Liu Dong
This is one of my favorite cookies, it is so easy and delicious!
I love it so much!
Cathleen
I love a good peanut butter cookies recipe, and this one might be the best one I have tried yet! Thank you so much for sharing this recipe 🙂