Peanut Butter Cookies are a true classic, celebrated for their thick, soft, and irresistibly chewy texture, bursting with rich, authentic peanut butter flavor. Elevate your baking game with this foolproof recipe designed for maximum deliciousness. For an extra touch of gourmet flair, consider dipping half of each cookie in luxurious melted chocolate – a delightful (and highly recommended) optional step!

Craving more nutty delights? Explore other beloved peanut butter treats like our no-bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie, the satisfying crunch of Buttercrunch Candy, or these indulgent Chocolate Peanut Butter Muffins.

Deliciously thick and soft peanut butter cookies, some dipped in melted chocolate, arranged on a cooling rack.

Contents

Mastering the Best Chewy Peanut Butter Cookies

My journey to perfecting these peanut butter cookies is deeply personal. Growing up, our home was a peanut-free zone due to my older brother’s severe allergy. It wasn’t until I moved into a college dorm, finally free from peanut restrictions, that I truly discovered the magic of peanut butter. My pantry quickly became a haven for all things peanut butter, and I found myself constantly baking. Late-night study sessions weren’t just fueled by textbooks, but by generous servings of homemade trail mix and, unashamedly, spoonfuls of raw peanut butter cookie dough.

While many of my freshman year memories are a blur, the endless quest for the perfect peanut butter cookie remains vivid. I scoured every recipe online, meticulously testing and tweaking. This recipe is the culmination of that passion – a unique blend of all the best elements from countless trials, meticulously crafted into a singular, exceptional cookie. Just in time for holiday gatherings or any occasion that calls for a comforting, homemade treat, these easy Peanut Butter Cookies are guaranteed to impress. I genuinely can’t wait for you to experience them!

Process images showing melted butter, brown and granulated sugar being mixed, followed by the addition of extracts and creamy peanut butter for homemade cookies.

What Makes These Peanut Butter Cookies Unforgettable?

Prepare yourself for an extraordinary cookie experience. These aren’t your average cookies; each one is generously sized, crafted from a full 3 tablespoons of dough, ensuring a substantial and satisfying bite. They are wonderfully thick, boasting centers that are incredibly soft and lusciously chewy. Imagine the delightful texture of a classic soft sugar cookie, but infused with the rich, nutty embrace of premium peanut butter. This unique combination delivers a dessert that is both comforting and deeply satisfying.

The secret to their signature gooey texture lies in a carefully balanced ratio of ingredients and a simple, yet ingenious, baking method. By using melted butter instead of creamed butter, we eliminate the need for an electric mixer, making the prep incredibly easy. This technique also contributes significantly to the cookies’ dense, chewy consistency, rather than a cakey or fluffy one. All you need is a single bowl, a trusty whisk, and a desire for peanut butter cookie heaven. It’s truly that simple to achieve bakery-quality results right in your own kitchen.

The Criss-Cross Mystery: Why Do Peanut Butter Cookies Have Fork Marks?

It’s a classic image: a perfect peanut butter cookie adorned with distinctive criss-cross fork patterns. This tradition isn’t just for aesthetics; it serves a practical purpose. Peanut butter cookie dough is inherently denser and richer in fat compared to many other cookie doughs. Without intervention, these cookies tend to bake up as thick, round mounds, potentially staying undercooked in the center or baking unevenly. The fork marks help to flatten the dough slightly, ensuring a more consistent thickness for even baking and a better overall texture.

However, many traditional recipes that rely heavily on the fork-mark technique often result in cookies that, while visually appealing, can be disappointingly dry, overly crisp, or even bland. With this recipe, you won’t need those fork marks. Our carefully developed ingredient ratios and baking method produce cookies that naturally spread just enough to bake perfectly while retaining their soft, chewy interiors and maximizing that incredible flavor. Say goodbye to dry, crumbly cookies and hello to truly flavor-packed, irresistibly soft, and chewy Peanut Butter Cookies.

Process images showing eggs being incorporated into the wet ingredients for a batch of homemade peanut butter cookies, ensuring a smooth mixture.

Key Steps to Making the Best Chewy Peanut Butter Cookies

Creating these remarkably soft and chewy peanut butter cookies is straightforward when you understand a few essential principles:

Maximize Moisture and Richness: The foundation of a chewy cookie lies in its moisture content. This recipe calls for two large eggs, which add crucial liquid and act as a binder, contributing to the cookie’s structure and tenderness. A full cup of brown sugar is also key; brown sugar not only adds a deeper caramel note but, due to its molasses content, significantly increases moisture and chewiness compared to white sugar alone. By strategically reducing the amount of flour, we prevent the cookies from becoming dry and cakey, ensuring they remain wonderfully soft.
Embrace Melted Butter for Ultimate Chewiness: While many cookie recipes demand cold, creamed butter for aeration and lift, our goal for these peanut butter cookies is a dense, chewy texture. Melted butter is the secret here. It fully incorporates into the sugars and other wet ingredients, preventing air pockets that would make cookies fluffier. The result is a richer, more compact dough that bakes into exceptionally chewy cookies. Plus, it simplifies the process—no need for a stand mixer!
The Importance of Chilling the Dough: Don’t skip the chilling step! Refrigerating the dough for at least 30 minutes, and up to an hour, is crucial for several reasons. Firstly, it allows the melted butter to firm up again, preventing excessive spreading during baking and ensuring your cookies remain thick. Secondly, chilling allows the flour to fully hydrate, which leads to a more tender crumb. Finally, it gives the flavors a chance to meld and deepen, resulting in a more complex and satisfying taste profile. This short wait is well worth the superior cookie you’ll achieve.

Exciting Peanut Butter Cookie Variations to Try

While this classic recipe is perfect as is, feel free to get creative! Peanut butter cookies are incredibly versatile, offering endless possibilities for customization:

If you’re seeking the ultimate convenience and wondering how to make no-bake peanut butter cookies, you must try these delightful Avalanche Cookies or our wholesome Healthy No-bake Cookies. They deliver all the flavor without turning on the oven!
Transform this recipe into irresistible Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies by simply folding in 1 to 1.5 cups of your favorite chocolate chips (milk, semi-sweet, or dark work wonderfully) during the final mixing stage of the dough.
For those looking to make peanut butter cookies healthier, consider substitutions. You can replace some of the granulated sugar with natural sweeteners like honey or maple syrup, and incorporate oats for added fiber and a heartier texture. My Healthy Breakfast Cookies are a fantastic example of this approach!
To craft vegan-style peanut butter cookies, check out this adaptable recipe. Remember to replace honey with agave nectar, use a vegan rice crisp cereal, and choose a high-quality vegan chocolate for any drizzles or dips.
If you need to make them without brown sugar, you can substitute the brown sugar with an equal amount of granulated white sugar. Be aware that this alteration will yield cookies with a slightly crunchier texture and they will be less chewy than the original recipe due to the absence of molasses.

Process images illustrating the addition of baking soda, salt, and flour to the wet ingredients, followed by rolling the finished peanut butter cookie dough into perfect balls for baking.

Expert Tips for Unbeatable Peanut Butter Cookies

Achieving cookie perfection is easier with these simple yet effective tips:

Utilize Room Temperature Eggs: This is a small but mighty detail! Room temperature eggs incorporate much more smoothly and evenly into your wet ingredients, creating a more cohesive and emulsified dough. This leads to a more consistent texture in your baked cookies, preventing dense spots. To quickly bring cold eggs to room temperature, simply place them in a bowl of warm (not hot) water for about 10 minutes, or let them sit on your counter for 30 minutes.
Add Eggs One at a Time: Instead of adding both eggs at once, incorporate them individually. After adding the first egg, mix thoroughly until it’s just combined with the butter and sugar mixture before adding the second. This technique ensures that each egg is fully emulsified into the dough, contributing to a smoother batter and a more uniform cookie texture.
Bake on a Silicone Baking Mat: For consistently even baking and beautifully soft cookie bottoms, a silicone baking mat is a game-changer. It provides a non-stick surface that promotes gentle, uniform heat distribution. Parchment paper is a good alternative and works well, but a silicone mat often yields slightly superior results in terms of bottom texture and browning.
Master Flour Measurement with a Food Scale: One of the most common culprits for baking mishaps is inaccurate flour measurement. “Scooping and leveling” can still lead to too much flour. For truly consistent results, invest in a food scale. Measuring flour by weight (grams) ensures you’re using the exact amount specified in the recipe, which is critical for achieving the perfect soft and chewy texture. This recipe thrives with precision!
Roll Generous Dough Balls: Size matters for these cookies! Each dough ball should be approximately 3 packed tablespoons (around 60 grams) in size. Resisting the urge to make smaller cookies is important here; smaller cookies will bake faster and may not develop the same luscious, chewy center that makes this recipe so special. This specific large size is the sweet spot for achieving the ideal thick, soft, and chewy texture.

Overhead shot of a freshly baked, warm, and perfectly golden peanut butter cookie, highlighting its thick, soft texture.

Storage and Freezing Tips for Your Peanut Butter Cookies

Ensuring your delicious Peanut Butter Cookies stay fresh and delightful is easy with proper storage. The baked cookies from this recipe can be stored at room temperature in an airtight container for 3-4 days, maintaining their wonderful soft and chewy texture.

While baked cookies can be frozen, for optimal freshness and texture, we highly recommend freezing the dough instead. Freezing the dough allows you to enjoy freshly baked cookies anytime with minimal effort.

To freeze cookie dough: Portion the cookie dough into individual balls, each 3 tablespoons (60 grams) as specified in the recipe. Place these dough balls on a large baking sheet lined with parchment paper, ensuring they don’t touch. Freeze until the dough balls are completely solid (this usually takes a couple of hours). Once frozen solid, transfer them to an airtight freezer-safe container or a heavy-duty freezer bag. They can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months.

To bake from frozen: When you’re ready for a fresh batch of cookies, simply remove the desired number of dough balls from the freezer and place them directly onto a prepared baking sheet. There’s no need to thaw them beforehand! You will likely need to add a few extra minutes to the baking time (typically 2-4 minutes more than the original bake time) to account for the frozen state. Bake until the edges are lightly golden and firm, but the centers still appear soft. This ensures the perfect chewy interior.

A perfectly baked peanut butter cookie, split in half to reveal its incredibly soft, thick, and chewy interior.

Creative Ways to Use Leftover Peanut Butter

Got extra peanut butter? Don’t let it go to waste! Peanut butter is a versatile ingredient that can elevate many dishes beyond just cookies. Here are some delicious ideas to use up that last bit:

Whip up a batch of homemade Peanut Butter Granola, especially delightful with added chocolate chips, for a wholesome breakfast or snack.
Indulge in classic Peanut Butter Blossoms, featuring that iconic Hershey’s kiss center, perfect for any cookie platter.
Create a crave-worthy Chocolate Peanut Butter Snack Mix, enhanced with mini Reese’s cups for an irresistible salty-sweet crunch.
Bake adorable Peanut Butter Brownie Bites, conveniently made in a miniature muffin tin for bite-sized delights.
Go all out with decadent Peanut Butter Cup Brownies, featuring double the peanut butter goodness for ultimate richness.
Blend it into smoothies for an extra protein boost and creamy texture.
Spread it on apple slices or celery sticks for a quick, healthy snack.
Add a dollop to your morning oatmeal or yogurt for added flavor and healthy fats.

A freshly baked peanut butter cookie, golden brown and perfectly soft, displayed as a recipe image.

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4.85 from 39 votes

Peanut Butter Cookies

By
Chelsea Lords

These favorite Peanut Butter Cookies are thick, soft, and chewy with a rich, sweet peanut butter flavor. Want to take them up a notch? Dip them in melted chocolate!

Prep Time:

20

Cook Time:

11

Chilling Time:

30

Total Time:

1
1

Servings:

24 large cookies

Video Overview

Equipment You’ll Need

Large sheet pan (15″ x 21″)
Silicone baking mat or parchment paper
Cooling rack
Large mixing bowl
Whisk or spatula
Food scale (recommended for accurate flour measurement)

Ingredients for 24 Large Cookies

16 tablespoons unsalted butter (1 cup), melted and cooled to room temperature
1 cup brown sugar (light or dark, lightly packed)
1 cup granulated sugar, plus extra for rolling (optional)
1 cup creamy peanut butter (see Note 1)
1/8 teaspoon almond extract (optional, but highly recommended for depth of flavor!)
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs, at room temperature
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2-2/3 cups all-purpose flour (385 grams, see Note 2)

Optional Chocolate Dip

4 ounces semi-sweet baking bar (or milk or dark chocolate of your choice)

Step-by-Step Instructions

Prepare your baking sheet: Line a large sheet pan (15″ x 21″ is ideal) with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper. Set this aside.
Melt butter and combine with sugars: In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the unsalted butter until fully liquid. Crucially, allow the melted butter to cool back to room temperature. Hot butter will dissolve the sugars too quickly and can result in greasy cookies. Once cooled, scrape all the butter into a large mixing bowl. Add both the brown sugar and granulated sugar. Using a large whisk, mix vigorously until the mixture is smooth and well combined, which usually takes about 1 minute.
Incorporate peanut butter, extracts, and eggs: Add the creamy peanut butter, almond extract (if using), and vanilla extract to the sugar-butter mixture. Mix until these ingredients are just combined. Next, add the first room temperature egg, mixing just until it’s incorporated into the dough. Then, add the second egg and mix again until it’s barely incorporated. Overmixing at this stage can lead to tougher cookies. Finally, add the baking soda and salt, mixing gently until they are just blended in. Add the all-purpose flour last, mixing until no dry streaks remain. Again, avoid overmixing the flour.
Chill the dough and preheat oven: Cover the cookie dough bowl tightly with plastic wrap and chill it in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to 1 hour (refer to Note 3 for extended chilling tips). This chilling period is vital for thick, chewy cookies. While the dough chills, preheat your oven to 325°F (160°C). Once chilled, scoop the cookie dough. Each ball should be generously sized, about 3 packed tablespoons (approximately 60 grams) for the best texture (see Note 4). If desired, roll the dough balls in extra granulated sugar for a sparkling, slightly crisp exterior. Place these dough balls on your prepared lined sheet pan, ensuring ample space (at least 2 inches) between each cookie; bake in batches of 6 cookies at a time.
Bake to perfection: Bake the cookies for 8–14 minutes. The key to soft and chewy cookies is to slightly under-bake them. They should appear lightly golden at the edges but still very soft in the center. Remember, cookies continue to bake for a few minutes on the hot sheet pan after being removed from the oven. Keep a close eye on them and avoid overbaking!
Cooling: Once baked, remove the sheet pan from the oven. If any cookie edges have spread irregularly, you can quickly (and gently) press them inwards with the side of a metal spatula to reshape them while they are still warm. Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes; this helps them set and prevents them from breaking. Then, carefully transfer them to a wire cooling rack to finish cooling completely. Ensure cookies are fully cooled before proceeding with the optional chocolate dipping step.
Optional chocolate dip: For an extra decadent treat, coarsely chop the chocolate bar into evenly sized pieces and place them in a microwave-safe bowl (refer to Note 5 for chocolate melting tips). Microwave in short bursts of 20 seconds, stirring thoroughly for 15 seconds after each burst, until the chocolate is completely melted and smooth. Dip half of each cooled cookie into the melted chocolate, allowing any excess to drip off or gently scraping the bottom of the cookie on the edge of the bowl. Transfer the dipped cookies to a sheet of parchment paper to allow the chocolate to set at room temperature.

Recipe Notes for Success

Note 1: Choosing Your Peanut Butter
For these cookies, I highly recommend using a smooth, creamy peanut butter like Skippy® Creamy Peanut Butter (this is not a sponsored recommendation, just a personal preference based on results). It provides the ideal consistency and flavor. I do NOT recommend using natural peanut butter that requires stirring, as its oil separation can negatively impact the cookie’s texture.

Note 2: Precision in Flour Measurement
Measuring flour inaccurately is a common pitfall in baking and often the main reason cookies don’t turn out as expected. For the most consistent and perfect results, I strongly advise using a food scale instead of traditional measuring cups. For this recipe, 385 grams of all-purpose flour is the exact sweet spot for texture and chewiness.

Note 3: Optimal Dough Chilling
The cookie dough performs best when chilled for a period of 30 minutes up to 1 hour. Chilling beyond this time can cause the dough to dry out and become crumbly, making it difficult to roll into balls. If you need to chill the dough for a longer duration (e.g., overnight or for up to 24 hours), roll the dough into individual balls first, then place them on a parchment paper-covered plate, cover tightly with plastic wrap, and refrigerate.

Note 4: Cookie Size Matters
The specified size of 3 tablespoons (60 grams) per dough ball is crucial for achieving the signature thick, soft, and chewy texture of these cookies. While you might be tempted to make smaller cookies, please note that reducing their size will significantly alter the baking time and yield a different texture – likely drier and less chewy. Stick to the recommended size for the best experience.

Note 5: Perfecting Your Chocolate Dip
For the best results when dipping, use high-quality chocolate melting wafers or a good baking bar. When melting chocolate in the microwave, proceed slowly: use short bursts of 20 seconds, stirring thoroughly for 15 seconds after each interval, until the chocolate is smooth. For more detailed tips on melting chocolate, refer to our peppermint bark post. If your melted chocolate seems too thick for dipping, you can thin it out by stirring in 1 to 2 teaspoons of coconut oil or vegetable oil until it reaches the desired consistency.

Storage and Freezing Reminder:
Store baked Peanut Butter Cookies at room temperature in an airtight container for 3–4 days. While baked cookies can be frozen, freezing the dough is highly recommended for superior texture and convenience, and it can be stored for up to 3 months.

Nutrition Information (Approximate)

Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should be used only as an approximation.

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