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Peanut Butter Cookies are perfectly soft and chewy. These pea-nutty morsels come together quickly with only a few ingredients!

These Peanut Butter Cookies are easy and simply delicious, but for an even easier version try 3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies, or shake it up a bit with Peanut Butter Oatmeal or Mini Peanut Butter Cookies with chocolate chips.

A stack of peanut butter cookies on a white plate served with milk.


Easy Peanut butter cookies

Peanut Butter Cookies are a well-loved classic. They are easy to make and are every peanut butter lover’s dream.

They also just happen to be my hubby’s favorite cookie – he loves peanut butter flavor! Although close runner-ups are the Peanut Butter Cup Cookie and the Peanut Butter Kiss Cookie.

Peanut Butter Cookies are tasty fresh and warm from the oven, but I also like these the next day dipped in milk. There are many variations and additions to the classic cookie, but no matter how you “spread it”, peanut butter cookies are scrumptious!

How to Make Peanut Butter Cookies

PREP. Preheat the oven to 350°F.

WET INGREDIENTS. In a large mixing bowl, beat together peanut butter, butter, brown sugar, and 1 cup of granulated sugar. Add eggs and vanilla and mix until creamy.

DRY INGREDIENTS. In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and baking soda. Whisk together, then pour into the butter mixture. Stir to combine.

ROLL. Place the remaining ½ cup of sugar in a bowl. Roll dough into 1–1½-inch balls and roll in sugar, making sure to coat all sides.

BAKE. Place on a greased cookie sheet and make a criss cross pattern on top of each ball using the back of a fork. Bake for 8–9 minutes.

  • Due to the peanut butter, the cookies may not spread as much as other cookies. Hence the crisscross pattern that is a peanut butter cookie signature. The marks are just a decorative way to press the dough down to your desired shape and thickness.

COOL. Let cookies sit on the cookie sheet for a few minutes, then remove them to a rack to cool.

Pressed peanut butter cookie dough on a baking sheet ready for cooking.

Recipe Tips

Mix-ins. Mix in chopped Reese’s Cups or top with a Hershey Kiss. Some other variations include:

  • mini chocolate chips
  • Reese’s Pieces
  • peanut butter or butterscotch chips
  • white chocolate chips or a white chocolate drizzle

The best peanut butter to use when making cookies is the “regular” creamy kind like Jif or Skippy. Or for texture, use regular crunchy peanut butter.

Using natural peanut butter will yield a different texture, both crumbly and drier. Add a pinch more salt and sugar to the recipe since natural peanut butter lacks both.

Peanut butter cookies baked and lined on a baking sheet.

Storing Info

Make ahead of time. Go ahead and double the recipe. These best Peanut Butter Cookies are great to have on hand as a quick after-school snack, a treat for an unexpected guest, or a late-night snack for you and your spouse.

STORE cookies in dough form or as baked cookies.

STORE cookie dough. Wrap in plastic and store in the fridge for 3-5 days. Or form cookie dough balls, flash freeze them for about 2 hours, transfer them to a freezer Ziploc and store them in the freezer for up to 3 months.

STORE baked cookies in an airtight container for 7-10 days, or freeze in a Ziploc bag for up 3 months.

When storing baked cookies at room temperature place a piece of white bread in the container. The bread will keep the cookies softer longer.

Peanut butter cookies cooling on a wire rack.

For more cookies, try:

5 from 8 votes

Peanut Butter Cookies Recipe

By: Lil’ Luna
Peanut Butter Cookies are perfectly soft and chewy. These pea-nutty morsels come together quickly with only a few ingredients!
Servings: 30
Prep: 12 minutes
Cook: 10 minutes
Refrigerate: 1 hour
Total: 1 hour 22 minutes

Ingredients 

  • cups creamy peanut butter or crunchy
  • 1 cup unsalted butter softened
  • 1 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 1.5 cups granulated sugar divided
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 tablespoons vanilla extract
  • cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda

Instructions 

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F.
  • In a large mixing bowl, beat together peanut butter, butter, brown sugar, and 1 cup of granulated sugar. Add eggs and vanilla and mix until creamy.
  • In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and baking soda. Whisk together, then pour into the butter mixture. Stir to combine.
  • Place the remaining ½ cup of sugar in a bowl. Roll dough into 1–1½-inch balls and roll in sugar, making sure to coat all sides.
  • Place on a greased cookie sheet and make a crisscross on top of each ball using a fork. Bake for 8–9 minutes.
  • Let cookies sit on the cookie sheet for a few minutes, then remove them to a rack to cool.

Notes

Make Ahead: Peanut butter cookies can be stored in dough form or after baking. To store cookie dough, wrap in plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator for 3 days. You can also form cookie dough balls, place them on a baking sheet and freeze for about 2 hours, then transfer them to a resealable plastic freezer bag and store them in the freezer for up to 3 months. Store baked cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for 7 days.
Peanut Butter: Regular creamy peanut butter is definitely the best type of peanut butter to use. Natural peanut butter will not give you the same results. 

Nutrition

Serving: 36g, Calories: 239kcal, Carbohydrates: 27g, Protein: 4g, Fat: 13g, Saturated Fat: 5g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 5g, Trans Fat: 0.2g, Cholesterol: 27mg, Sodium: 99mg, Potassium: 113mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 19g, Vitamin A: 205IU, Calcium: 23mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Making this recipe? Tag us!
Share it with us on Instagram using the hashtag #lilluna, so we can see what you’re creating in the kitchen!


About Kristyn

My name is Kristyn and I’m the mom of SIX stinkin’ cute kids and the wife to my smokin’ hot hubby, Lo. My mom’s maiden name is Luna, and I’m one of the many crafty “Lil’ Lunas” in the fam. On this site I like to share all things creative - from recipes to home decor to gifts and home decor ideas. Welcome!

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Recipe Rating




8 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Delicious cookie recipe. I made half plain and then mixed chopped Reese’s in the other half.

  2. 5 stars
    These are heavenly and so yummy! We love peanut butter here and these were such a big hit here! I’ll definitely make these again very soon!

  3. 5 stars
    They best peanut butter cookies are whichever ones I am eating right now! I love them all, thick, thin, chewy, or crunchy. These were beyond delicious and had a great texture. One of my favs!

  4. 5 stars
    I am not a peanut butter fan, but peanut butter cookies are my favorite!! They are so soft & the best with a tall glass of milk!