My Perfect Peanut Butter Cookies are soft, chewy, and a little crispy! Packed with real peanut butter flavor, these cookies are a classic you’ll make again and again!
The Best Peanut Butter Cookie Recipe
This one has been a long time coming! After weeks of recipe testing, late night peanut butter runs, and mountains of dirty dishes, I finally did it. I perfected the peanut butter cookie.
These pb cookies are:
- soft but chewy
- full of peanut butter flavor without being overwhelmingly peanut buttery (does that make sense?)
- freezer friendly
- made with simple, everyday ingredients
- a dream come true for peanut butter purists
- and best consumed with an ice cold glass of milk (or almond milk, if you’re lactose sensitive like me)
Truth: Growing up, peanut butter cookies were not a household favorite. My mom rarely baked them (she’s team chocolate chip all the way), and on the rare occasion when we would buy a package from the market, they were always just… meh. ← No wonder it took me almost 6 years to get a perfect peanut butter cookie recipe up on my website! We need to start making up for lost time NOW.
To make these cookies you’re going to need butter, creamy peanut butter, vanilla extract, light brown sugar, granulated sugar, eggs, all-purpose flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Nothing fancy or hard to find for this one!
Tips and Tricks for success:
- As always, I suggest following this recipe exactly as written for best results.
- This recipe requires brown sugar and granulated sugar. I do not suggest substituting all of one for the other. While technically they’re both sugar, they work in different ways, and the combination of the two gives these cookies they’re unique flavor and texture.
- Your butter and peanut butter must be at room temperature before you begin the creaming process. You’ll know your butter is ready when you lightly press down on the stick and your finger leaves an indentation.
- Your eggs should also be at room temperature, as cold ingredients do not evenly bond together. Here’s a quick trick for the eggs: place them in a bowl of warm water and let them sit for 15 minutes. After that, they’ll be at room temperature and ready to go! Just be sure you don’t use HOT water.
- The cookie dough must chill for at least one hour. The silver lining? It can also be chilled up to 2 days! Making this recipe very make ahead friendly.
One last thing! Be sure not to over bake your cookies. When you pull them out of the oven the edges should be set but the centers should still look a little underdone. The cookies cool on the baking sheet, and will firm up a lot during this time! Promise 🙂
This recipe = pure peanut butter cookie bliss! Trust me when I say just one bite will turn you into a believer 😉
If you try this recipe, let me know! Leave a comment below and don’t forget to snap a pic and tag it #bakerbynature on Instagram! Seeing your kitchen creations makes my day. ♥
Perfect Peanut Butter Cookies
Prep
Cook
Total
Yield 2 dozen cookies
My recipe for thick and chewy Peanut Butter Cookies. Perfect with a cup of coffee or a cold glass of milk.
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter, at room temperature
- 1 and 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1 and 1/4 cups light brown sugar, packed
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs, at room temperature
- 2 and 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (bleached or unbleached will work fine)
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 and 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt (kosher or table salt)
Instructions
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment or in a large bowl using a handheld electric mixer, beat the butter until smooth and creamy. Add in the peanut butter and vanilla and beat until smooth; about 2 minutes. Add in both sugars and beat until light and fluffy, scraping down the sides as needed, about 2 minutes. Add in the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Turn mixer off. Add in the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Whisk the ingredients together lightly before turning the mixer back on low and mixing in the dry ingredients until just combined. Be sure not to over mix here. Cover the bowl and place it in the fridge for 1 hour, or up to 2 days. If you refrigerate the cookie dough for more than an hour, you may need to let it thaw a little before scooping.
- When ready to bake:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees (F). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Scoop two tablespoon sized mounds of dough onto the prepared cookie sheet, leaving a few inches between each cookies for spreading. Use a fork to make crosshatch marks on the top of each cookie, if desired. Bake for 11-13 minutes, or until the edges are golden and the centers have set. Cool cookies on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a cooling rack.
Notes
The total time above includes chill time. For best results, follow this recipe exactly as written. To freeze the cookie dough: Prepare the cookie dough as directed above. Shape the cookie dough into balls, then place them on a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Freeze for about an hour, or until solid, then transfer into a freezer safe zip-top bag, squeeze out any excess air, and freeze for up to 3 months. To bake the frozen dough: Place frozen cookie dough balls on a lined baking sheet, leaving a few inches in between for spreading, and bake as directed above, adding a couple of extra minutes to the bake time to make up for their frozen start.
Courses Dessert
Cuisine American
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size 1-2 cookies
Amount Per Serving | ||
|---|---|---|
% Daily Value |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
The cookies look perfect! Love that they can be made ahead too!
Thank you, Roxana! Can’t beat a classic peanut butter cookie 😉
These cookies do look perfect! I hear ya on trying batch after batch trying to find that perfect one! So rewarding when you finally do find it though! 🙂
I couldn’t agree more, Malinda! xoxo
I can’t resist a good peanut butter cookie! Love the sprinkling of salt on these!
Thank you, Jessica! I can’t seem to resist sprinkling a little flaky sea salt on everything these days 😉
Hi! Do you add the salt and peanuts on top before you bake them?
AMAZING.
These truly look perfect! Pinning!
Thank you so much, Kayle! You’re the best 🙂
Yum! These just look divine!!
These cookies were delicious and so easy to make. I did cut down on the sugar because we tend not to consume too much sugar down here (still got complaints that it was still too sweet ). I have a serious case of sweet tooth so it was perfect for me. Absolutely loved it. I wish I could make some more but my pants are telling me otherwise hahahahaha
Made these last weekend and not one was left to spare! I’m actually baking another batch now by request of the household!!!!! This is a great peanut butter recipe!!!!!! Thank you thank you thank you!!!
I just finished baking this recipe to add to my Christmas cookie gift boxes and the cookies are fabulous! Thank you so much for sharing this recipe along with technique 🙂 Appreciate the details! Thanks again
Can brown sugar be used instead of light brown sugar?
Thanks for the recipe.
Makes a really good Traditional Peanut Butter cookie for the Peanut Butter Lovers.
(Fork marks and all)
Growing up I used to like my peanut butter cookies with an actual peanut on top..lije you did.
Really good Tip ideas & suggestions.
Can you use natural PB to make these? I’m worried with extra oil natural PB has.
Thank you.
Lisa
Hi Lisa! I wouldn’t recommend natural for the reasons you mentioned above.