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    Home » Dessert » Classic Peanut Butter Cookie

    Classic Peanut Butter Cookie

    Published: Jul 5, 2021 · Modified: Sep 16, 2021 by Jennie · This post may contain affiliate links

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    Nothing better than a dessert with peanut butter. These Classic Peanut Butter Cookies are easy to make so taste so good! Simple yet so satisfying, you will be really happy with these cookies once you make them!

    closeup of peanut butter cookies stacked

    Why I love Peanut Butter Cookies:

    The peanut butter cookie, a classic. This was actually the very first cookie I ever learned to bake.

    I still remember being in the kitchen with my mom making these cookies.

    It was one of the first things I really baked on my own, and I was so proud of myself.

    How to make Classic Peanut Butter Cookies:

    These cookies are a world famous recipe! Classic Peanut Butter Cookies are really easy to make, and they taste so good!

    Mix your wet and dry ingredients separately, the mix them together in a stand mixer. Spoon onto a baking sheet, then press with a fork and you are ready to bake!

    Ingredients:

    • Peanut Butter
    • Butter (unsalted and softened)
    • Sugar
    • Brown Sugar (packed)
    • Egg
    • Vanilla Extract
    • All-Purpose Flour
    • Baking Soda
    • Salt
    • Sugar (for topping)

    ingredients for peanut butter cookies

    Directions:

    Step One: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and prepare a baking sheet.

    Step Two: In a large stand mixer or with an electric hand mixer cream together your wet ingredients.

    mixing wet ingredients together in a glass bowl

    Step Three: Next add in egg and vanilla extract and continue to mix.

    adding egg to sugar butter and peanut butter mix

    Step Four: Meanwhile in a separate bowl sift together all of your dry ingredients. Then slowing add into your wet batter.

    If using a stand mixer or hand mixer mix on low until blended then turn up to medium to make sure it is smooth and mixed well.

    Step Five: Roll your dough into 1 inch balls or use a cookie scoop to make the balls.

    using a cookie scoop to scoop batter

    Step Six: Place on a baking sheet and use a fork to make a crisscross pattern. Sprinkle cookies with remaining sugar.

    using a fork to press and mark the cookies

    Step Seven: Bake for 10 minutes or until cookies just start to look brown.

    • Cooking Tip: As soon as the cookies come out of the oven, sprinkle a little bit of sugar on the hot cookies for the finishing touch.

    Cooking Tips:

    • Why flatten cookie: Peanut butter cookies don't spread when baking as other cookies would. To make sure they bake well you want to press the cookies down. I used a fork to make the traditional marks on the peanut butter cookies.
    • How to make the peanut butter crisscross: It's actually pretty simple. I just pressed down with a fork and then changed the direction of my fork and pressed again. That's it!
    • Why the crisscross pattern? Due to the addition of peanut butter to these cookies, they are denser and thicker, so to ensure they bake completely you want to flatten your cookie dough balls, and using a fork in a crisscross pattern does it best.

    closeup of peanut butter cookies stacked

    Here are a few more of my favorite cookie recipes:

    Soft and Chewy Sugar Cookie: This is my all time favorite way to make sugar cookies. If you like sugar cookies you have to try this recipe!
    Chocolate Chip Cookie: The classic cookie, this one is my all time favorite. 

    Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookie: This cookie is the ultimate. I mean when chocolate is in the title twice you know it's going to be good. 

    peanut butter cookies in hand close up picture

    If you tried this recipe or any of my recipes I would love to hear from you, leave me a comment below. You can also connect with me on FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, PINTEREST, and YOUTUBE.

    I would love for you to follow along and discover more amazing recipes.

    Show me what you are making, tag us or use hashtag #TDOARH

    Classic Peanut Butter Cookie

    Jennie Duncan
    Nothing better than a dessert with peanut butter. These Classic Peanut Butter Cookies are easy to make so taste so good! Simple yet so satisfying, you will be really happy with these cookies once you make them!
    4.67 from 3 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 10 mins
    resting time 10 mins
    Total Time 20 mins
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Servings 12 cookies
    Calories 303 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • ¾ cup peanut butter
    • ½ cup butter (unsalted and softened)
    • ¼ cup sugar
    • ¾ cup brown sugar (packed)
    • 1 large egg
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 1 ½ cup all-purpose flour
    • ½ teaspoon baking soda
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • 2 tablespoons sugar (optional for topping)

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare a baking sheet lightly with nonstick cooking spray or with parchment paper. 
    • In a large stand mixer or with an electric hand mixer cream together peanut butter, butter, sugar, and brown sugar. Add in egg and vanilla extract and continue to mix until creamy and combined. 
    • Meanwhile in a separate bowl sift together your flour, baking soda, and salt. Then slowing add into your wet batter. Scraping sides as needed while you mix. 
    • Roll your dough into 1 inch balls. Place on a baking sheet and use a fork to make a criss-cross pattern. Sprinkle cookies with remaining sugar. 
    • Bake for 10 minutes or until cookies just start to turn brown. Be careful not to over bake these cookies can get hard quickly. Once cooked allow to cool on the pan or on a wire rack for 10 minutes then serve and enjoy. 

    Video

    Notes

    Cooking Tips:
    • Why flatten cookie: Peanut butter cookies don't spread when baking as other cookies would. To make sure they bake well you want to press the cookies down. I used a fork to make the traditional marks on the peanut butter cookies.
    • How to make the peanut butter crisscross: It's actually pretty simple. I just pressed down with a fork and then changed the direction of my fork and pressed again. That's it!
    • Why the crisscross pattern? Due to the addition of peanut butter to these cookies, they are denser and thicker, so to ensure they bake completely you want to flatten your cookie dough balls, and using a fork in a crisscross pattern does it best.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 303kcalCarbohydrates: 34gProtein: 6gFat: 16gSaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 37mgSodium: 246mgPotassium: 146mgFiber: 1gSugar: 21gVitamin A: 260IUCalcium: 26mgIron: 1.2mg
    Keyword Classic Peanut Butter Cookie, peanut butter cookie
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. John owens

      January 13, 2023 at 10:35 pm

      I must have made mine too small becase this recipe had 30+ cookies. I only cooked 30 I could have made 40 probably

      Reply
    2. Regina

      December 09, 2022 at 12:10 am

      These are by far one of the best, if not the best, peanut butter cookies! I make these at least twice a week and have now been making them and giving them out as an "I've been thinking about you" kind of gift when I visit friends and have coffee. Now I get requests to make and bring them for get togethers. Absolutely delicious!

      Reply
      • Jennie

        January 25, 2023 at 3:40 pm

        Thank Regina! Sorry for the late reply I somehow missed this, but your comment made my day =)

        Reply
    3. debbie e burton

      December 04, 2021 at 11:33 am

      Tried these cookies for the first time this morning They are the best peanut butter cookies i have ever made!!! Lots of flavor and easy to make I did add peanutbutter chips and chocolate chips. but otherwise kept to the recipe

      Reply
      • Rhonda

        March 21, 2023 at 3:44 pm

        I followed the directions to the letter and my cookies came out dry and crumbly. What did I do wrong?

        Reply
    4. Lydia

      September 20, 2020 at 3:09 pm

      Turned out great! I used salted butter so I omitted the 1/4 tsp salt. I’m not sure how big the cookies are supposed to be, but after rolling them into 1 1/4” balls, I still was able to make 2 dozen cookies. After baking them for 11 minutes they still seem not done enough.

      Reply
    5. Ruby

      April 23, 2020 at 3:39 pm

      What happens if I use foil will it still work

      Reply
      • Jennie

        June 05, 2020 at 2:42 pm

        Yea, it should still work fine.

        Reply
    6. Amy

      December 23, 2019 at 8:38 am

      Great recipe! I added an extra 1/4 cup of peanut butter and they were perfect. Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
      • Jennie

        December 24, 2019 at 11:20 am

        Thanks Amy!

        Reply
    7. Denise Harju

      December 15, 2019 at 2:57 pm

      Easy to make and o so delish ! So glad I tried this recipe! Defiantly a keeper!

      Reply
      • Jennie

        December 16, 2019 at 2:41 pm

        So glad you liked it!

        Reply
    8. Debbie

      November 01, 2019 at 12:53 pm

      Also I cut up reeses and put in batter. So good!

      Debbie

      Reply
    9. Debbie

      November 01, 2019 at 12:47 pm

      Can I use salted butter instead of unsalted. I only have salted Land of Lakes

      Debbie

      Reply
      • Jennie

        November 04, 2019 at 1:50 pm

        Yes! It will bake the same but taste salter. I hope that helps!

        Reply
    10. Hideya

      June 14, 2019 at 8:30 am

      What can i use instead of brown sugar ?

      Reply
      • Jennie

        June 14, 2019 at 2:30 pm

        I personally have not tried it but you should be able to use the same amount of regular granulated sugar in place of brown sugar. Hope you enjoy them!

        Reply
    11. Ava

      May 29, 2019 at 5:59 pm

      SO YUMMY! I can't stop making these!

      Reply
      • Jennie

        May 29, 2019 at 7:27 pm

        Thanks!! Glad you enjoy them

        Reply
    12. Melane Richardson

      April 06, 2019 at 8:07 pm

      I just made them for my husband. They are fresh out of the oven and delicious!

      Reply
      • Jennie

        April 06, 2019 at 10:50 pm

        So happy to hear that!! =)

        Reply
    13. Stephany

      February 27, 2019 at 6:30 pm

      Made a double batch of them, brought them to the food pantry I volunteer at, everybody loved them! Very easy to make.

      Reply
      • Jennie

        February 27, 2019 at 7:17 pm

        So happy to hear that!!

        Reply
    14. Andrea @ The Pineapple Cake

      February 13, 2015 at 1:07 am

      I've never made peanut butter cookies that weren't out of a package.. I'll have to try these.

      Reply
    15. Meg Taylor

      February 12, 2015 at 4:26 pm

      Yum, I love the perfect peanut butter cookie! I always dip them in chocolate or add chocolate chips 🙂

      Reply

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