Dorothy KernThis is the BEST Peanut Butter Cookies Recipe you’ll ever make. It’s soft and chewy and full of peanut butter flavor. It’s a classic – and it’s my husband’s favorite cookie!
You can make easy cookies like this from scratch in NO TIME at all – just mix and bake. Your family will love them as much as mine does.
Can we talk for a minute about kids getting older? Man, it’s hard.
When you have an infant or a toddler or even a little and you see older ladies at the store and they’re all “enjoy this time it goes by so fast!” all you want to do is roll your eyes and be all, yeah mmm-hmmm just give me that older kid please so I can sleep through the night!
Kids change every day – but one thing that doesn’t change? Our love of cookies! I’ve made hundreds of peanut butter cookie recipes over the years and most of them stem from THIS basic recipe.
That’s right: this cookie recipe has spawned dozens of others. That’s why I’m proclaiming it to be the BEST peanut butter cookie recipe ever!
Really – it is. I’ve got so many other forms of this cookie: stuffed cookies, cookie cake, cookie pie, gooey bars. I figured it was about time I posted the basic good old fashioned peanut butter cookies I base all those recipes on.
Ingredients in my favorite cookie recipe:
- Unsalted Butter. Sometimes you see that peanut butter cookie recipes call for shortening. While you can easily substitute shortening for the butter, I prefer the flavor that the butter lends to the cookie. It makes it a bit more light and fluffy too.
- Peanut Butter. It’s the most important part! For this recipe, use a regular no-stir peanut butter you can get at the regular grocery store. Forego natural peanut butter unless you’re using a no-stir natural (like Jif or Skippy). Use crunchy for some extra texture!
- Brown sugar. This cookie recipe is FULL of brown sugar. I love using brown sugar in cookies so much more than granulated. While this recipe has both kinds of sugar, the brown sugar keeps the cookies soft. You can make peanut butter cookies without brown sugar but I don’t recommend it.
The rest of the ingredients are normal for a peanut butter cookie: baking soda, salt, flour, egg, milk. Like I said, this is a basic peanut butter cookie recipe, but it’s anything BUT: it’s the best ever cookie recipe!
I also have a recipe for three ingredient peanut butter cookies, if you prefer those!
Why You Will Love These Cookies:
- Easy
- Fast
- No Chill Time
- Super peanut buttery
They don’t need to be chilled! Since they don’t flatten much (because, science), you don’t have to wait to have the best peanut butter cookies ever.
How do you make easy peanut butter cookies from scratch?
- Wet Ingredients: Mix together the butter and peanut butter until smooth, then add both sugars. Cream until smooth and fluffy, just a minute or so. Mix in the egg, vanilla, and milk until smooth.
- Dry Ingredients: Mix in the baking soda and salt to the wet ingredients, then slowly mix in the flour just until the batter comes together. Be sure to scrape the bowl during mixing!
- Form the Cookies: Scoop 2 tablespoon balls of dough and place 2-inches apart on prepared cookie sheets. Using a fork, create a criss-cross pattern on the cookies to flatten slightly.
- Bake: Bake at 350°F for about 9-13 minutes, or until the edges are just golden brown and the tops are no longer glossy.
Why are my peanut butter cookies falling apart?
- Too much flour: did you measure your flour correctly? You should use the weight in the recipe if using a scale; if using a measuring cup be sure to spoon the flour into the cup.
- Baked too long: they should come out of the oven as soon as they are no longer glossy and the edges just start to look golden.
Pro Tips For This Recipe
- You can roll the balls of dough in granulated sugar before placing them on the cookie sheet for a crispier outside.
- If the dough sticks to the fork when you’re making the criss-cross pattern you can dip the fork in sugar.
- These can be made into bars and baked in a 9×13-inch pan for about 20-25 minutes.
Frequenly Asked Questions About Peanut Butter Cookies
These cookies are so soft because of the fats from the peanut butter and the milk I add into the batter. As long as they are not overbaked they will stay soft for days.
In these cookies, the milk makes them more moist and keeps them soft and never dry.
Store cookies in an airtight container on the counter. They’ll be soft for at least 3-4 days, if you haven’t over baked them.
You can also freeze cookies. I freeze them in airtight containers or sealable bags for up to one month. Read how I freeze all my desserts!
Why do peanut butter cookies have fork marks?
Have you ever wondered why there are hash marks (or criss cross marks) on PB cookies? It’s because adding peanut butter makes them not spread as much, so the fork criss cross was to help the cookies flatten and bake evenly.
How do you tell if peanut butter cookies are done?
You can tell these cookies are done because they are no longer glossy. They don’t brown much but become dull instead of shiny.
Be sure to read my guide on how to tell when your cookies are done baking!
Peanut Butter Cookie Variations
Peanut butter cookies are probably the kind of cookie I make the most. After all, they’re the only kind Mel will eat. I love making them because they’re easy and don’t need any chill time. Plus, it’s easy to dress up a peanut butter cookie:
- Stuff them with snickers
- Add Oreos
- Make them into caramel bars
And so many more ideas!
These classic peanut butter cookies are easy and the best base for any other cookie creation.
You can also turn these cookies into:
- Peanut Butter Blossoms
- Peanut Butter Cookie Cake
- Rolo Stuffed Peanut Butter Cookies
- Peanut Butter Gooey Bars
- All my peanut butter cookie recipes!
These go great on a cookie platter with:
- The BEST Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Chewy Soft Sugar Cookies
- Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Stuffed Oatmeal Cookies
- I can’t wait to try these chocolate peanut cookies!
Be sure to check out a roundup of PB cookies!
THE BEST PEANUT BUTTER COOKIE RECIPE
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup 113g unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup 213g creamy peanut butter
- 3/4 cup 138g light brown sugar, packed
- 1/4 cup 50g granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon 5ml vanilla extract
- 1 large egg
- 1 tablespoon 15ml milk
- 1/2 teaspoon 3g baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 3/4 cup 248g all-purpose flour
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line two cookie sheets with silicone baking mats or parchment paper.
- Place butter and peanut butter in a large bowl. Using a hand or a stand mixer, mix until combined then add both sugars. Cream until smooth. Mix in egg, vanilla, and milk and mix on medium speed until combined.
- Mix in baking soda and salt, then slowly mix in flour and mix just until the batter is smooth and comes together. Be sure to scrape the sides of the bowl during mixing.
- Scoop 2 tablespoon balls of dough and place 2-inches apart on prepared cookie sheets. Using a fork, create a criss cross pattern on the cookies to flatten slightly. (Tip: if the dough starts sticking to the fork, dip it in a bit of granulated sugar.)
- Bake for 9-13 minutes, or until the edges are just golden brown and the tops are no longer glossy. Cool on cookie sheets at least 10 minutes before removing.
Recipe Video
Recipe Notes
Nutrition Information
Nutritional information not guaranteed to be accurate
This recipe is my favorite peanut butter cookie recipe. I hope it will be yours too!
Last Updated on December 1, 2020
All text and images © DOROTHY KERN for Crazy for Crust. Please do not use my images without prior permission. If you want to republish this recipe, please re-write the recipe in your own words, or link back to this post for the recipe. Disclaimer: Nutrition information shown is not guaranteed to be accurate.
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Published on: July 30, 2018
I have a question – could I dip these in chocolate?! Just on the ends, I think it would make a great flavor addition!
Yes!
Best peanut butter cookie recipe! I’ve made them a few times now and they’re always a big hit! Thanks for sharing 🙂
I couldn’t believe how hard it was to find a good peanut butter cookie recipe. This one delivers. I made them the other day and was ecstatic to finally have found a great one! Thank you 👏👏👏
Hi Dorothy,
Where do get the measurement cup with the pusher?
Amazon! It’s OXO brand.
Why do you mix in baking soda and salt to mixture before adding the flour? I usually whisk all dry ingredients, then add to the wet mixture. Is it better to put in separately?
You can do either. I’m lazy so I don’t want to get two bowls out, but a pastry chef would tell you do to it separate. Growing up I never did, so I usually don’t.
Not only is Dorothy amazing, so re her recipes. This Peanut Butter Cookie Recipe is THE BEST. Flavor, texture is fantastic. These are not overly sweet, they are just right. I have tried many recipes, this is by far the best..