Old-fashioned chewy peanut butter cookies
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Make a special nostalgic treat for your family and friends with our old-fashioned chewy peanut butter cookies. These homemade peanut butter cookies are the perfect after-school snack with a touch of protein, and a sweet surprise in any lunchbox to say “I love you.”
Unsalted butter and brown sugar create the ideal chewy texture, while peanut butter chips add pockets of rich sweetness. Baked until just golden brown, these easy peanut butter cookies are a hit at any party and sure to leave your cookie jar empty.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
These easy cookies come together in a large mixing bowl using just simple ingredients, making them fast and low-effort when you need a quick dessert. This old-fashioned peanut butter cookies recipe delivers soft cookies with a classic crisscross top. A true family favorite.
Packed with lots of peanut butter flavor, these cookies are a favorite among peanut butter lovers. They stand out among other cookie recipes and are often called the best peanut butter cookie recipe. Whether you use natural peanut butter, creamy peanut butter, or even smooth peanut butter, this is a great recipe to make in multiple batches.
These wonderfully soft peanut butter cookies have a perfect chewy texture. The peanut butter chips create sweet pockets, while the slight crisp on the edges brings balance. Every bite feels like the best part of a cookie.
Ingredients for old fashioned peanut butter cookies
Just a few simple ingredients are needed for this recipe. Refer to the recipe card for the measurements.
- Butter. Gives the cookies a chewy flavor, I like to use unsalted butter.
- Granulated Sugar. For textural balance because if you used all brown sugar, it would be too much and vice versa.
- Brown Sugar. It adds extra chew and depth of flavor. You can use light or dark, but dark will intensify the flavor.
- Creamy Peanut Butter. Brings the perfect flavor. I like to use a natural peanut butter.
- All-Purpose Flour. Substitute with your favorite gluten-free one-for-one flour if needed.
- Baking Soda. Adds rise and helps the cookies brown on the edges.
- Baking Powder. Adds rise.
- Salt. Intensifies the flavor.
- Egg. Eggs in cookies hold everything together.
- Peanut Butter Chips. A special touch of sweet creaminess in each cookie.
Equipment and kitchen tools
- large bowl
- hand electric mixer or stand mixer
- fork
- cookie sheet
- parchment paper
How to make homemade peanut butter cookies
The full recipe instructions for this copycat recipe are in the recipe card, below but here is a step by step overview.
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In a large mixing bowl, combine butter, sugars, and peanut butter . Add the egg. Add your dry ingredients directly to this mixture and combine. Mix on medium speed with a hand mixer and scrape the sides of the bowl.
Remove the mixer and fold in the peanut butter chips. Cover and chill the dough for one hour. When you are within fifteen minutes, preheat your oven and get your sheet pan ready to go. Roll the peanut butter cookie dough into one-inch cookie dough balls and press each cookie with a fork onto the prepared baking sheet.
Bake for ten to twelve minutes and remove from the oven before they brown on top.
Let the cookies cool some before consuming. It’s not easy, but it is necessary as they come out of the oven a little soft and firm up within a few minutes.
Tips for the Best Results
- Remove the cookies from the oven just before they brown. They’ll continue to bake on the cookie sheet, resulting in the perfect texture. Overbaking leads to dry or crunchy cookies.
- Use a cookie scoop to portion your cookie dough balls evenly. This helps with even bake time and consistent size.
- Always line your sheet pan or prepared baking sheet with parchment paper. It prevents sticking and helps with clean-up.
- Cool your baked cookies on the pan for a couple of minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack or cooling rack to finish.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week. Reheat in the microwave for 10 seconds to refresh their soft texture.
- Freeze extra cookies in a freezer bag. You can pop them into lunchboxes or thaw them in the microwave when needed.
- For best flavor and texture, use room temperature butter and a reliable electric mixer or stand mixer when combining wet ingredients and dry ingredients.
Short on time – try these 4 Ingredient Peanut Butter cookies.
Substitutions and Variations
- Peanut Butter – Try crunchy peanut butter or chunky peanut butter for added texture. Jif peanut butter or other commercial brands work well.
- Butter – Unsalted butter gives the best result for flavor and structure, but you can use salted if you prefer
- Sweeteners – A mix of brown sugar and white sugar provides the ideal balance. Using just one or the other may alter the chewiness, but you can use that if you like.
- Add-ins – Swap peanut butter chips with chocolate chips or even mini peanut butter cup cookies for a fun twist.
FAQs About This Recipe
Yes, both crunchy peanut butter and chunky peanut butter will add texture. It changes the bite slightly, but it still results in wonderful cookies.
Chilling helps the peanut butter cookie dough firm up, which improves shape and creates a more uniform crisscross pattern. It also deepens flavor.
Yes, this dough can be made ahead and chilled for up to 48 hours. You can also freeze cookie dough balls or baked cookies in a freezer bag.
You’ll need a large bowl, measuring cup, kitchen scale (optional), cookie scoop, electric hand mixer, and parchment paper. A plastic wrap cover works well when chilling the dough.
Not a lot. The peanut butter mixture holds its shape well. Use a fork to press down and create the signature crisscross pattern.
Yes, this is a wonderful recipe to double, especially during the holidays or any busy time of year. Just be mindful of oven space and use a second cookie sheet if needed.
These are soft peanut butter cookies with slightly crispy edges and a chewy middle. If you prefer crispier cookies, extend the bake time slightly.
More creative cookie recipes
Old Fashioned Chewy Peanut Butter Cookies
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup butter room temperature
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 1/2 teas[ppm baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup peanut butter chips
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl combine wet ingredients: butter, sugars, and peanut butter.
- Add egg.
- Add dry ingredients: flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
- Mix on medium speed while scraping down sides of bowl often.
- Fold in peanut chips.
- Cover dough with plastic wrap and chill for 1 hour.
- Preheat oven to 375 ° f.
- Roll into 1" balls and press with a fork in a criss-cross pattern.
- Bake in oven 10-12 minutes.
Notes
Nutrition
I hope you enjoyed this easy peanut butter cookie recipe.
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I love chewy peanut butter cookies! They’re always the best.