These Easy Peanut Butter Cookies are everything a peanut butter cookie should be – soft, chewy, and packed with rich peanut butter flavor that melts on your tongue. What makes this recipe truly special is how incredibly simple it is to make, requiring just basic pantry ingredients and minimal mixing. The cookies have that perfect tender texture with slightly crispy edges and the classic crisscross pattern on top that makes them instantly recognizable. Unlike many peanut butter cookie recipes that can turn out dry or crumbly, these stay wonderfully soft and maintain their texture for days. Whether you’re baking with kids, need a quick dessert for a gathering, or simply want to satisfy a peanut butter craving, this foolproof recipe delivers bakery-quality cookies every time. This batch makes 24 cookies, perfect for sharing or keeping all to yourself.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Bake Time: 10-12 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Makes: 24 cookies
What You’ll Need
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter
- 1/2 cup butter, softened
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 and 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- Extra granulated sugar for rolling
Getting Started
Preheat your oven to 375 degrees. Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper or lightly grease them. Make sure your butter is properly softened – it should give slightly when pressed but not be melted. Room temperature butter mixes better and creates the perfect cookie texture.
Making the Cookie Dough
In a large mixing bowl, cream together the peanut butter, softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy. This takes about 3 minutes with an electric mixer or 5 minutes by hand with a wooden spoon.
Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until they’re fully incorporated and the mixture is smooth. The dough should look creamy and well combined at this point.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add these dry ingredients to the peanut butter mixture, mixing just until everything comes together. Don’t overmix, as this can make the cookies tough.
Shaping the Cookies
Roll the dough into balls about the size of a walnut, roughly 1 and 1/2 tablespoons each. Roll each ball in granulated sugar to coat completely – this creates a lovely sweet crust and helps the cookies bake evenly.
Place the sugar-coated balls on your prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart to allow for spreading. Using a fork, gently press down on each cookie to create the classic crisscross pattern. Press just enough to flatten slightly and create the pattern, but don’t press too hard.
Baking to Perfection
Bake the cookies for 10 to 12 minutes, until the edges are lightly golden but the centers still look slightly soft. They might seem underbaked, but they’ll continue cooking on the hot pan after you remove them from the oven.
Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack. This brief cooling time prevents them from breaking apart while ensuring they finish cooking properly.
The Secret to Success
The key to perfect peanut butter cookies lies in not overbaking them. They should look slightly underdone when you take them out – this ensures they stay soft and chewy rather than becoming hard and crispy. The residual heat from the baking sheet will finish the cooking process.
Storage and Serving
Store your finished cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week. For longer storage, freeze the baked cookies for up to 3 months. You can also freeze the cookie dough balls on a baking sheet, then transfer them to a freezer bag and bake directly from frozen, adding an extra minute or two to the baking time.
Why This Recipe Works
This recipe uses the perfect ratio of creamy peanut butter to create rich flavor without making the cookies too dense. The combination of both granulated and brown sugar gives the cookies their ideal texture – the granulated sugar helps them spread properly while the brown sugar keeps them soft and adds a subtle caramel note that complements the peanut butter beautifully.
These Easy Peanut Butter Cookies prove that the best treats often come from the simplest recipes. With their irresistible peanut butter flavor and foolproof method, they’re sure to become a favorite in your baking rotation.
