The easiest recipe for soft and chewy, Classic Peanut Butter Cookies topped with a sprinkle of sea salt! These kid-friendly cookies come together in about 30 minutes. They’re full of peanut butter flavor and downright irresistible!
Classic Homemade Peanut Butter Cookies
This is the best recipe for classic peanut butter cookies! Easy to make and even better to snack on, this is a great cookie recipe to get the kids involved. The cookie dough comes together in minutes (zero chilling required!) and the end result is the most tender, soft and chewy cookies full of peanut-y goodness.
These homemade cookies are even topped with a sprinkle of sea salt to really make the flavor pop. A fresh batch of sweet and salted peanut butter cookies is hard to resist – I dare you to eat just one!
If you are running low on some of the ingredients, give our 3-ingredient peanut butter cookies a try.
What You’ll Need
- Peanut Butter – Creamy that’s shelf-stable will give the best outcome. See below for more advice on the best peanut butter to use!
- Sugar – A combination of brown sugar and regular white sugar, for the perfect chewy cookie texture!
- Butter – One stick of unsalted butter, softened.
- Vanilla – Pure vanilla extract will always have the most authentic flavor!
- Flour – I use unbleached flour for the slightly denser texture it brings to these cookies.
- Egg – only one egg is needed.
- Baking Soda and Powder – using both gives the perfect texture.
- Sea Salt – Optional, but highly recommended for the crunch factor (and boost of flavor)!
What Kind of Peanut Butter is Best?
As mentioned, regular creamy peanut butter (think Jif or Skippy) works best.
Chunky peanut butter will also work if you’re after the extra texture and crunch. Just make sure you add in about a ¼ cup extra to compensate for the dry chunks of peanuts.
However, natural butters tend to separate and can lead to mixed results, particularly cookies that are dry and crumbly. For this reason, stick to the shelf-stable options!
How to Make Soft & Chewy Peanut Butter Cookies
In three quick steps you can have this easy, no-chill cookie dough ready to bake!
Combine the ingredients. Soften the butter in the microwave. Add in the peanut butter and sugar, followed by the egg and vanilla, and finally the flour, baking powder and soda to form the dough.
Scoop out the dough. Drop even-sized scoops of cookie dough onto a lined cookie sheet. Using a fork, gently press vertical lines into the tops of the cookies, to give them that classic look. Give the dough a sprinkle of sea salt.
Bake. Bake the cookies in a preheated oven, and then allow them to cool.
Can I Make the Dough in Advance?
You can make this peanut butter cookie dough up to 3 days in advance. The dough will need to return to room temperature before you plan to scoop it onto the baking trays, so remember to take it out of the fridge approximately half an hour before you plan on baking it!
Tips for Success
- Use real butter where possible. These cookies turn out the best when they’re made with real butter, and not shortening or imitation butters.
- Don’t forget the fork marks! Since the cookie dough won’t spread as naturally when baking, gently pressing down the cookie tops with a fork helps the cookies bake more evenly.
- Use a kitchen scale to measure. For the most accurate results, a kitchen scale is always the first choice! If you don’t have one, a handy trick is to measure ingredients like flour by spooning it into the measuring cup, and then levelling it off.
- Add chocolate. Get creative with dipping your cookies in chocolate, giving them a chocolate drizzle, or even adding in a handful of chocolate chips! Chocolate and peanut butter = winning combo!
Storage Instructions
Store these cookies airtight at room temperature, in a cool and dry location.
Do These Freeze Well?
The baked cookies can be stored frozen for up to 3 months! Place the cookies in a freezer-safe container or bag, with parchment paper between layers to keep them from sticking. Thaw the cookies at room temperature and enjoy!
More Easy Peanut Butter Cookies to Try
- Peanut Butter Sandwich Cookies
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies
- Chocolate Dipped Peanut Butter Cookies
- Reese’s Peanut Butter Cookies
Chewy Peanut Butter Cookies
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter 1 stick (softened)
- 3/4 cup creamy peanut butter
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup white granulated sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1 1/3 cups unbleached flour
- 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- sea salt (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Soften butter in the microwave for about 20 seconds. Microwave an additional 5 seconds if needed.
- Add peanut butter, brown sugar, and sugar and mix well until smooth.
- Add egg and vanilla.
- Slowly stir in the flour baking powder and baking soda.
- Scoop dough out and shape into balls (2 Tablespoons) then place onto baking sheet spacing 2 inches apart.
- Use a fork and create horizontal and vertical lines for the classic look of peanut butter cookies (flattening just slightly).
- Sprinkle the cookies with sea salt (if desired) and bake for 9 minutes (cookies will look a bit pale and slightly under-baked, they'll continue to cook as they cool).
- Let cool on the baking sheet for 15 minutes before moving to the cooling rack.
Last Step:
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352 comments on “Peanut Butter Cookies”
Best cookies ever. Just finished making them. Fantastic
Thanks Tara!
Hi! Would you be able to freeze these after scooping? Would you thaw before baking?
Hi Leah! Yes you could freeze after scooping. Store in an airtight container and thaw before baking.
Best pb cookie recipe I’ve found and the easiest. Thank you for posting this.
Thanks Diana!
So easy & so delicious!
Thanks Jaqueline!
Simply delicious peanut butter cookies
Thank you Holly!
Am I able to add peanuts tothem to make them have a bit of a crunch?
Hi Amber. Yes, you could add peanuts or use extra crunchy peanut butter.
Family approved! Will be on repeat in this house!
Yay! Thank you Hannah!
Everyone loved them! Thank you for sharing!
Thanks Becky!
They turned out great! I wish I’d doubled the recipe.
Thanks Kim!
I was craving something peanut buttery and so peanut butter cookies were on the top of my list. I’ve had a different recipe I’ve used in the past but it included shortening and Im trying to get away from stuff like that. Anyways, I just made this recipe and I LOVE IT! All I had on hand was Reese’s peanut butter but it takes super good. Also, before cooking I rolled each cookie in sugar instead of utilizing the suggested salt. Yum! Definitely using this one again!
Thank you Meghann!
This is really a good peanut butter cookie recipe. I’ve made it a few times and everyone enjoyed them. I will be saving this recipe.
Thanks Sharon!
They were perfect, soft idle and a little crispy on the edges!
Thanks Dilphia!
I have made these cookies several times and they are super delicious! Family, Friends and Co-workers love them.
I will continue to use this recipe.
Glad they love them April! Thanks!
These are my favorite go to for a quick cookies. I also add Reese’s Chips. So very Yummy
Thank you Rebecca!
My cookies do not look like the picture. I followed the recipe to a T. They turned out a bit crumbly.
Sorry to hear that Delores. If the ingredient amounts were correct and you didn’t overmix, you may want to try a a shorter baking time to ensure they aren’t overbaked.
Mine, too, Delores.
This is my all-time favorite peanut butter cookie recipe! Even better than my mom’s! She will roll over in her grave if she heard me say this
So glad you like them Jan! Thank you!
Very good peanut butter cookies
Thanks Patty!
We have made these several times and love them! We have made just peanut butter but have also added chocolate chips. Thank you for the recipe!
Thanks Kelly!
Just made these with Extra crunchy Jiff. They turned out perfectly. Absolutely Delicious!!
Thanks Peg!
These have been deemed The best peanut butter cookies from all my family and friends I’ve shared with!! Thanks so Much for the only one I’ll ever make❤️
Thank you Tammy!