These classic peanut butter cookies are always a hit. Easy to make, easier to eat! They’re absolutely our favorite.
Peanut butter lovers rejoice! This cookie is for you.
I made a huge batch of these classic cookies for the weekend. These peanut butter cookies will melt in your mouth. The edges are chewy, the centers are soft, the tops are crinkly. It is nearly impossible to stop at one. I served hummus & pita chips, a cheese plate, and sangria– and these cookies were the first to go.
I think all dinners should start with a peanut butter cookie appetizer.
This is a super basic recipe. No frills, nothing fancy. No candy bar pieces, gooey caramel, chocolate chips, or sprinkles to take away from the massive peanut butter flavor. Trust me, you won’t miss any of that stuff! Just pure peanut butter. By the way, if you want EXTRA peanut butter flavor, you must make my updated peanut butter cookies recipe. Twice the peanut butter!
Today’s cookies are soft-baked style. For a little crunch, feel free to bake the batches a minute or two longer. But the softness is what makes them SO good!. And guess what? They stay soft for days and days. I made this batch on Wednesday and the few I have leftover are still just as soft as they were on day 1. Soft cookies > crunchy cookies.
The most important part? Chill your cookie dough! The dough is extremely soft due to the creamy peanut butter, eggs, and butter and if it’s not cold going into the oven, the cookies will spread all over your baking sheet. I chilled this cookie dough for 24 hours and my cookies were soft, thick perfection. I recommend chilling the dough for at least 3 hours.
And yes, the wait is so, so, so worth it.
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These classic peanut butter cookies are always a hit. Easy to make, easier to eat! They’re absolutely our favorite.
Ingredients
- 1 cup (230g) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature*
- 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
- 3/4 cup (150g) packed light brown sugar
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1 cup (250g) creamy peanut butter*
- 3 cups + 2 Tablespoons (391g) all-purpose flour (spoon & leveled)
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- optional: 1/3 cup (67g) granulated sugar, for rolling
Instructions
- Using a hand mixer or a stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment, cream the softened butter and both sugars together on medium speed until smooth. Add the eggs and mix on high until combined, about 1 minute. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl as needed. Add the vanilla and peanut butter and mix on high until combined. Set aside.
- In a separate bowl, toss the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt together. Add to the wet ingredients and mix on low until combined. Dough will be thick, yet very sticky. Cover dough tightly and chill for at least 3 hours (and up to 2 days) in the refrigerator.
- Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C). Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
- Roll balls of dough (about 1.5 tablespoons of dough per cookie) and roll into granulated sugar. Place 2 inches apart on the baking sheets. Press fork into the tops to create the criss-cross pattern. Bake for 11 minutes or until very lightly browned on the sides. The centers will look very soft and undone. Remove from the oven and let cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. The cookies will continue to “set” on the baking sheet during this time.
Notes
- Make Ahead & Freezing Instructions: Cookies stay fresh covered at room temperature for up to 1 week. You can make the cookie dough and chill it in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Allow to come to room temperature and continue with step 3. Baked cookies freeze well – up to three months. Unbaked cookie dough balls freeze well – up to three months. Bake frozen cookie dough balls for an extra minute, no need to thaw.
- Room Temperature Ingredients: Make sure your butter is softened, not melted in the slightest. Do not soften in the microwave – that makes it sort of melty and greasy. Place out 1 hour before beginning. Room temperature eggs are preferred. Good rule of thumb: always use room temperature eggs when using room temperature butter.
- Peanut Butter: Chunky peanut butter works as well. I do not suggest using natural style, oily peanut butter. Brands such as Jif or Skippy work best.
- Be sure to check out my top 5 cookie baking tips AND these are my 10 must-have cookie baking tools.
Keywords: peanut butter cookies, classic peanut butter cookies
gorgeous! i just made the gluten free version of these today – there’s nothing quite like the scent of peanut butter baking!
I agree the smell of peanut butter baking in the oven give the entire house a nice peanut buttery smell.
These look like the perfect PB cookies, pinned!
Peanut butter cookies are one of my absolute favourites (switches between them & white chocolate macadamia nut cookies) & I’ve been looking for just a basic recipe (non-GF, since the one on the back of the peanut butter jar is just peanut butter, egg, and sugar!) for a while now. These ones look perfect! Cannot wait to make my favourite cookie, it’s been so long!!
You’ve done it again Sally! These look absolutely perfect! And I haven’t had a classic peanut butter cookie in ages so I may have to make some of these 🙂
An oldie but goodie! You are the cookie queen, so I will bookmark this recipe for my holiday gift assortment!
The cookie queen? I’m honored =)
yayyyy!!! bachelorette partyyyy! so fun!
and theeeese cookies-oh yes yessss-so peanut buttery and the texture looks perfect!
Oooh, these look just perfect!
Sally, would you be able to list the weights of common items such as 1 cup flour, brown sugar, light brown sugar, etc for reference in a future post or list them in your recipes? It is extremely helpful because baking is such a precise art that even a little more flour or sugar can impact the final product!
Thanks for considering!
oh my gosh I have been DYING for a peanut butter cookie recipe recently!! This seems like the perfect cure for my craving!!
Hope the bachelorette party was a total blast and that there are plenty of stories 🙂
And these cookies look absolutey picture perfect! They need to be on the cover of a peanut butter cookie book or something- love the fork marks bc they add so much old school charm. Pinned! I know I’d love these!
Ah the classic pb cookie, these look fantastic! I just love the criss cross pattern on top, it does remind you of home-style baking! i love it.
Aw yeah! Back to basics. Love soft PB cookies. I find anyone who likes them crunchy to be confusing.
And your bachelorette sounded like the perfect menu with cookies and a cheese plate. That’s total heaven!
They look delicious! But I wish there were indications of weight in gram. I hope I convert them correctly.
Hey Marie! I haven’t had the chance to add them in until now. Enjoy!
Awesome! Thank you so much 🙂
You are so good at making cookies look delicious!! I love the fork marks in these Sally – so pretty! And peanut butter is my favorite – a good classic peanut butter cookie recipe is a must! Pinned 🙂
These are definitely a classic cookie, and look full of peanut buttery goodness! Gorgeous pictures, too!
Oh I missed this post yesterday…just as well because I ate too much over the weekend. Made the award winning zucchini bread again but added chocolate chips this time (plus that mile high streusel on top) and my husband and I ate the ENTIRE loaf over the weekend! And I still have more zucchini coming in! Oy!
I bought peanut butter for these on Friday too after your teaser! But I think mine is too greasy (from TJ) so will wait and get some regular style this weekend. Can’t wait though…I haven’t had peanut butter cookies in forever!
So glad you were able to relax, not stress and have fun with your friends!!! The wedding is almost here!!! 🙂
Hahahahaha Christine I made that zucchini bread this weekend too! I left off the streusel though. And it was gone in 2 days. So good. Let me know if you try these!
Oh dear – these sound amazing – I swear I can almost smell them….
You know what? I’ve ALWAYS wondered what that fork-criss-cross business is all about. Who stared it?! Why?! When?! So many questions!! But I suppose none of those questions really matter when the answer is PEANUT BUTTER COOKIES! So I’ll stop wondering and just enjoy my bites. Maybe. Glad you had a fun bach party!! 🙂
I don’t really know who started it but I don’t think I can enjoy a classic, old-fashioned pb cookie without it. 😉
Thank you for the nice recipe. Have a Great Week.
This PB lover is definitely rejoicing!! I’m constantly looking for the perfect PB cookie, and it looks like you nailed it here! Soft, full of peanut butter flavor – yum! I’m so glad you had a great bachelorette – it sounds like so much fun!!
Scrumptious! I haven’t made these in forever – thanks for the reminder! Peanut butter cookies were one of my absolute favorite after-school snacks when I was a kid. Alongside a cold glass of milk, the salty/sweet cookie made an ordinary day pretty incredible.
Wow this looks great- and I have all the ingredients right at home! I’ll make this ASAP…thanks, Sally!
I second the cookie queen comment 😉 A title you’ve earned, lady xoxo
It’s been too long since I’ve had a classic peanut butter cookie. Can’t wait to make these!
Let me know how you like them Michelle!
A second nomination for the Cookie Queen from me!
Classic peanut butter cookies are a complete winner in my book Sally! Love the fact that they’re soft baked and the pretty pattern on top! Pinned 🙂
Love, love, love! Peanut butter cookies are one of my all time faves. The only thing that makes them better is dipping them I’m chocolate. Thanks for the recipe!
Can I use whole wheat flour?
I’m sure you could, though the cookies may taste a little dry or be too heavy tasting.
You can’t beat the classics, and I love the idea of a peanut butter appetizer! These look just perfect, Sally. 🙂
I love chilling my dough. I think it’s the NUMBER ONE tip I would give anyone who bakes cookies. I never bake cookies anymore (unless it’s a last minute thing) without chilling my dough. Definitely tastes 100% better!
I am so happy to hear your bachelorette party went well! Any party with cookies and sangria is sure to be a good one ;o)