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Soft Chewy Peanut Butter Cookies
The best chewy peanut butter cookies which have everything — a chewy texture, crisp edges, and crunchy peanuts.The perfect peanut butter cookie!
I have been on the hunt for the best peanut butter cookie recipe. Since peanut butter cookies are one of my husband’s favorite cookies, I searched in order to figure out how to make the ultimate peanut butter cookie. After many batches, we have declared a winner!
I tried all sorts of different methods and ingredients. I found that butter produced the best flavor (it truly does make everything better) so it was the perfect base. Slightly softened butter (a small indention forms when pressed but it is not melted) mixed well with the sugars.
Both brown sugar and sugar play an important role in the cookie. The brown sugar creates the chewy texture, thanks to the molasses, and the sugar creates the slightly crispy edges. I tried using all brown sugar, mostly brown sugar and a little sugar, and half and half, and the 50/50 brown sugar to sugar ratio won out.
The peanut butter is always important since it is the star ingredient. If you want the cookies to be extra crunchy, reach for crunchy peanut butter. If you want them to be mostly smooth, reach for creamy peanut butter. One of my favorite parts of this peanut butter cookie is the finely chopped peanuts added to the cookies so you get a crunch in every bite. It adds so much texture!
One note on salt…if you use salted butter, just omit the salt. There will be plenty of salt between the peanut butter, peanuts, and butter. It is best to use unsalted butter in these cookies but either will work just fine.
After rolling the dough into a ball, roll into a bowl of sugar, and then take a fork and make a crisscross pattern. Place on a baking sheet and bake just until edges start to become a light golden color. They will look slightly underbaked but will set up. They are supposed to be soft and chewy so let them continue to set up on the cookie sheet after removing from the oven.
These chewy peanut butter cookies freeze so well so keep them in the freezer for a late night craving or an after school snack for your kids. They go perfectly well with a big glass of cold milk. Just ask my husband…he’s an expert on that combo.
If you LOVE Peanut Butter, check out these recipes:
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Chip Cookies (Levain Bakery Copycat)
- Homemade Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Pie
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Soft Chewy Peanut Butter Cookies
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup Unsalted Butter (softened)
- 1 cup Brown Sugar
- 1 cup Sugar (plus 2 Tablespoons for top of cookies)
- 1 cup Peanut Butter (creamy or crunchy)
- 2 large Eggs
- 2 teaspoons Vanilla
- 2 1/2 cups Flour
- 1/2 teaspoon Baking Soda
- 3/4 teaspoon Baking Powder
- 1/4 teaspoon Salt (optional if using salted butter)
- 1 cup Roasted Salted Peanuts (ground or finely chopped to resemble breadcrumbs)
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, cream together butter, brown sugar, and sugar for 4 minutes, until light and fluffy, scraping the sides of the bowl often.
- Add eggs and vanilla and beat for 1 minute longer. Fold in peanut butter.
- Stir in flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Fold in finely ground or chopped roasted salted peanuts.
- Chill dough for at least 1 hour or overnight is ideal. After chilling, preheat oven to 350 degrees.Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Roll dough into 2-inch balls. Place remaining sugar into a small bowl. Roll cookie dough balls into sugar to coat. Place on cookie sheet and press each ball twice with a dinner form to form a crisscross design.
- Bake for 10-13 minutes or until the edges become a light golden color. Do not overbake as these are supposed to be soft and chewy. Let the cookies rest for at least 5 minutes before moving to a cooling rack.
Video
Notes
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Happy Baking, my friends!
Best peanut butter cookie recipe I have ever found. My family and friends loved them.
Hello,everyone yes this recipe is Yummiest! I love the peanut butter they are very moist and chewy!! I have 4 Grandsons and this cookie is going to them !🤗
can you not add Peanuts on peanut butter cookies?
Hello,I’ve made these twice and I didn’t put peanuts and they came out Yummie Yummie!!😋
You definitely don’t have to add peanuts on top. They still taste great without!
no fork mark on cookie?
You can definitely add the fork marks on the cookies, Elena!
Super easy recipe. Have my dough chilling, just thought it’s a little silly to preheat the oven if you have to chill the dough for an hour to overnight…
Directions say AFTER the dough is chilled…THEN preheat the oven….says it’s ideal to chill overnight so of course you wouldn’t have your oven on for 8+ hours
Can these be made without butter or with a butter substitute? Have a friend who can’t eat dairy, that I would love to make these for!
100% best peanut butter cookies I have ever made. I used natural freshly ground PB as well as a lot of salt to offset the sweetness from all that sugar. PERFECTION! I also refrigerated the dough overnight which avoided overspread cookies and seriously DO NOT OVERBAKE. They will set up I swear! After trying out this recipe I will never use another. These are so so good.
Thank you so much, Emily, for trying my recipe. I love the tips and completely agree. Chilling cookie dough always makes the cookies better and definitely not overbaking. Thank you for sharing your awesome tips!
I made this for my partner who loves peanut butter cookies. I dont like peanut butter cookies usually but these were really good. Awesome
Thank you so much for your kind words! I am so glad your partner loved them. I appreciate you taking the time to comment.
no fork mark?
U don’t have to put the fork mark there if u choose not to
can you not add Peanuts on peanut butter cookies and how long cookies stay fresh?