Peanut Butter Cookies

Name: Peanut Butter Cookies
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 25 min
Ingredients: 1/2 cup unsalted butter (softened); 1 cup light brown sugar; 1 cup creamy peanut butter; 2 eggs (room temperature); 1 tsp pure vanilla extract; 2 cups all purpose flour; 3/4 tsp baking soda; 1/8 tsp salt

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This easy recipe for homemade Peanut Butter Cookies is so classic! You won’t find any unnecessary frills here. Just a simple recipe that you can trust to yield soft, sweet, timeless cookies that are beloved by everyone!

For more creative peanut butter cookies, check out our Loaded Peanut Butter Cookies, and Sumbitches.

top view of several peanut butter cookies on wire rack.

Classic Peanut Butter Cookies

Peanut Butter Cookies are some of my all-time favorite treats… And I know I’m not alone in feeling that way! When you bite into a perfectly baked homemade Peanut Butter Cookie, there’s no denying how delicious they are. They’re oh so soft, chewy, and sweet! Once you make these quick and easy cookies, you’ll never use store-bought dough again.

In fact, these cookies are so easy to make that your kids will love helping you! Just make sure they don’t sneak too many bites of the cookie dough when you’re not looking… It’s pretty hard to resist. Little ones usually love helping make the checkered pattern with a fork, which gives the cookies their picture-perfect appearance.

Oh, and it’s also worth mentioning that with this homemade cookie recipe, you don’t even need to chill the dough before baking!

No matter what time of year it is, classic Peanut Butter Cookies are always a huge hit. We’re in the thick of Christmas baking madness right now, and I know that I’ll definitely be making a batch (or several) of these tried and true cookies for cookie exchanges, holiday parties, and maybe even to leave out for Santa on Christmas Eve. They’re also great to serve the rest of the year, so you don’t ever have to go too long without getting your fix!

ingredients for the peanut butter cookies on the board.

Ingredients You’ll Need:

Butter – make sure to pull the butter out early to get it softened. Leave it out at room temperature for about an hour prior to using.
Light Brown Sugar – You can always make your own by combining one cup of white granulated sugar with one tablespoon of molasses.
Peanut Butter – your favorite brand of peanut butter will work just fine in this easy cookie recipe! (Just not homemade.)
Eggs – These also need to be room temperature, so be sure to leave them out with the butter.
Vanilla Extract – For the best flavor, I always recommend using pure vanilla extract as opposed to imitation.
All-Purpose Flour – This is what gives the cookies their structure.
Baking Soda
Salt

Baking Instructions:

adding eggs to the cookie dough in a mixer.

adding peanut butter to the creamed butter in a mixer.

mixing the cookie dough in the stand up mixer.

Prepare.

First things first! Preheat your oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Make the peanut butter cookie dough.

Cream the butter and brown sugar until fluffy.

Beat in the eggs, one at a time, until smooth.

Beat in the peanut butter and vanilla extract until fully combined. Stop and scrape the sides of the bowl.

Sift in all of the measured dry ingredients until incorporated.

mixed peanut cookie dough in a mixer bowl.

scooping out some cookie dough with cookie scoop.

rolled cookie dough balls on the baking sheet.

pressing on the cookie dough balls with a fork.

Bake the cookies.

Roll 1-inch cookie dough calls and place them about 2 inches apart on your prepared baking sheet.

Press the dough balls with a fork to form a crisscross pattern, and to flatten them just a little.

Bake for 9-10 minutes.

Let them cool on a wire rack.

pressed cookies on the baking sheet before baking.

baked peanut butter cookies of the baking sheet.

Storing Instructions:

You can store the baked peanut butter cookies in an airtight food storage container at room temperature for a few days. To extend the life of the cookies a little more, store them in the refrigerator.

Things to remember when storing cookies:

Let them cool completely first so the condensation from warm cookies doesn’t create too much moisture inside the closed container.
You can use a storage container with a lid or a zip-top bag.
To warm up cold cookies, you can pop some into the microwave for 5-10 seconds to warm up.

Freezing Instructions:

Unbaked cookie dough – Prepare the cookie dough and roll it into the 1-inch balls. Flatten then with a fork and gently crisscross to make the checkered pattern on top. Place the rolled cookies on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

Freeze the dough balls for about 2 hours, then transfer the frozen cookies into a zip-top freezer bag. Make sure to let all of the air out first and label. Freeze for up to 2 months.

You can bake frozen cookies as they are! Just add about 2 minutes to the bake time.

Baked cookies – To freeze baked cookies, lay them in a single layer on a wire rack and let them fully cool to room temperature. Once cooled, place the wire rack in the freezer and let cookies freeze for about 2 hours. Set a timer so you remember the cookies!

Once frozen, transfer cookie into a large zip-top freezer bag. You can either store all of the cookies at once or portion them into smaller bags.

Make sure to label, seal, and place back into the freezer. Frozen baked cookies will last up to 6 months.

stacked peanut butter cookie halves and more around.

Frequently Asked Questions:

What kind of peanut butter should I use?

Creamy peanut butter is our preference, but you can also use chunky peanut butter if you want a little crunch.

Can I make the dough ahead of time?

Absolutely! You can prepare the dough and store it in an air-tight zip-top bag for 2-3 days in the refrigerator. Make sure to pull the dough out 30-40 minutes before rolling the cookies to let it get to room temperature.
Tip: When storing the dough, try to make it more flat than round so it warms up evenly when you get it to room temperature.

Want extra flavors in your peanut butter cookies? Here are just a few that I love!

stacked several peanut butter cookies and milk.

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