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Soft and Chewy Peanut Butter Cookies

If you’re a peanut butter lover, these homemade Peanut Butter Cookies will win you over at the first bite! They’re soft, chewy, and perfectly balanced with just the right amount of peanut butter flavor. Simple to make with pantry staples, this recipe is one you’ll turn to again and again.

🥜 Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • Quick and easy — ready in under 30 minutes
  • Made with basic ingredients you already have on hand
  • Perfect to bake with kids
  • Freezer-friendly for make-ahead treats
  • Easy to double for cookie swaps or parties

Serve them with a cold glass of milk for the ultimate comfort dessert!

Classic Homemade Peanut Butter Cookies

There’s something timeless about a batch of freshly baked peanut butter cookies. These cookies are soft in the center with lightly crisp edges — a melt-in-your-mouth texture that’s hard to resist. They’re just sweet enough without being overwhelming, making them a perfect everyday cookie recipe.

Just like Chocolate Chip Cookies or Sugar Cookies, these are the kind of classics everyone needs in their recipe box.

Ingredients You’ll Need

  • Butter – Unsalted and softened to room temperature.
  • Sugar & Brown Sugar – The mix adds sweetness and a hint of caramel flavor.
  • Peanut Butter – Creamy peanut butter gives the best smooth texture, but crunchy works too for extra texture.
  • Egg – Binds everything together and adds richness.
  • Flour – All-purpose flour keeps the cookies light and soft.
  • Leavening & Salt – Baking soda, baking powder, and salt help the cookies rise and balance the flavors.

How to Make Peanut Butter Cookies

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
  2. Cream the butter and sugars with an electric mixer until smooth and fluffy.
  3. Add the peanut butter and egg, mixing until everything is well combined.
  4. Whisk the dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt) in a separate bowl. Add to the wet mixture and stir until a soft dough forms.
  5. Shape the cookies into 1-inch balls and arrange them on the baking sheet, about 3 inches apart.
  6. Flatten with a fork in a crisscross pattern — a classic peanut butter cookie signature!
  7. Bake for 8–9 minutes for soft cookies or 10–11 minutes for firmer ones. The edges should just start to turn golden.
  8. Cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack.

Fun Variations

  • Sugar-Coated: Roll cookie dough balls in coarse sugar before baking for a sparkly finish.
  • Peanut Butter Blossoms: Skip the fork pattern — bake the cookies and press a chocolate Hershey’s Kiss into the center right after baking.
  • Crunchy Texture: Swap creamy peanut butter for crunchy peanut butter.

Make-Ahead & Storage Tips

  • Room Temperature: Store cooled cookies in an airtight container for up to 2 days for best freshness.
  • Refrigerate Dough: Make the dough up to 3 days in advance and chill until ready to bake.
  • Freeze Cookie Dough: Shape dough balls and freeze them on a tray. Once solid, transfer to a freezer-safe bag and store up to 3 months. Bake straight from frozen, adding 1–2 minutes to the baking time.
  • Freeze Baked Cookies: Freeze fully cooled cookies in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature before enjoying.

Recipe Tips

  • Don’t overbake — they’ll firm up as they cool.
  • Measure flour correctly: spoon and level for accurate texture.
  • For extra flavor, sprinkle a tiny bit of flaky sea salt on top before baking.

More Classic Cookie Recipes

If you love these Peanut Butter Cookies, you’ll also enjoy:

Soft Peanut Butter Cookies Recipe

Prep Time: 20 mins
Cook Time: 8 mins
Total Time: 28 mins
Servings: 24 cookies

Ingredients:

  • ½ cup unsalted butter, room temperature
  • ⅔ cup granulated sugar
  • ⅓ cup brown sugar
  • ⅔ cup peanut butter
  • 1 large egg
  • ¾ tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp baking soda
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • 1⅓ cups all-purpose flour

Instructions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
  2. Beat butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar together until light and creamy.
  3. Mix in peanut butter and egg until smooth.
  4. Whisk together baking powder, baking soda, salt, and flour. Add to wet ingredients and mix until combined.
  5. Shape dough into 1-inch balls, arrange on baking sheets, and flatten with a fork in a crisscross pattern.
  6. Bake 8–9 minutes, or until lightly golden on the bottom.
  7. Cool 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack.

Nutrition (per cookie): 137 kcal | 15g carbs | 3g protein | 8g fat