If you’re looking for the BEST Chewy Peanut Butter Cookies, with super soft chewy centers and tons of peanut butter flavor, this easy recipe is for you!
I don’t call things “The Best” all that often, but when I do…I mean it. And these cookies truly are The Best Chewy Peanut Butter Cookies, ever.
I have had a love affair with Peanut Butter Cookies for a very, very long time. And I have shared tons of different peanut butter cookie recipes over the years.
For just a sampling, here are a few other epic peanut butter cookie recipes you should check out:
- Peanut Butter Cup Cookies (with an entire full size Reese’s peanut butter cup!)
- Peanut Butter Cookie Cups
- Reese’s Pieces Peanut Butter Cookies
In spite of all those epic cookie recipes, I didn’t have one for a classic chewy peanut butter cookie recipe. One that is thin, with crispy edges and super soft chewy centers.
So I went to work and I am so very excited to share these amazing Peanut Butter Cookies!
You don’t need any special ingredients and this recipe takes less than 30 minutes from to make start to finish.
I like to use creamy peanut butter in these Peanut Butter Cookies, but you can absolutely use crunchy peanut butter instead, if you like a little peanut crunch added to your cookies.
This recipe has been tested and perfected with regular store bought peanut butter. If you use a natural peanut butter (that separates with the oil) it will change how the cookies turn out.
These Peanut Butter Cookies are easy and quick to prepare with no fancy preparation needed.
We combine the dry ingredients and beat together the wet ingredients, and then beat to combine the two until smooth. To add a little depth and keep our peanut butter cookies soft and chewy, I recommend using a ratio of 75% brown sugar and 25% granulated sugar.
Scoop them with a large sized cookie scoop and place them on a cookie sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
And the biggest tip I can give you for perfect peanut butter cookies?? DO NOT OVER BAKE THEM!
Bake these cookies for 10 to 12 minutes — just until edges are slightly browned — and remove from oven.
This peanut butter cookie recipe is an excellent make ahead cookie — perfect for a Christmas Cookie Exchange!
Once the cookies are fully cooled, you can store them in an airtight container, on the counter, for up to a week.
They are best in the first few days, but stay delicious if you use the old school bread trick to keep baked goods fresh.
To keep these peanut butter cookies soft, add a slice of bread to the airtight container. Replace the slice of bread every couple of days, as needed.
The cookies will use the moisture from the bread and the bread will become very stale, but the cookies will stay soft!
Since my daughters have been born, this has become their FAVORITE cookie I make, and that is really saying something!
Just look at all those raving comments below, I promise you have to try this Peanut Butter Cookie recipe.
Follow the ingredient directions below, don’t over bake them, and I promise you will wind up with the BEST Peanut Butter Cookies!
If you’re looking for the BEST Chewy Peanut Butter Cookies, with super soft chewy centers and tons of peanut butter flavor, this easy cookie recipe is the one for you!
Ingredients
- 1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- sugar for sprinkling, optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Combine the flour, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl. Set aside.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the peanut butter, butter and both sugars, until light and fluffy. Add in the egg and vanilla.
- Gradually add in the flour mixture on low speed. Stir until dough forms.
- Using a large cookie scoop (about 1 heaping tablespoon of dough), drop rounded balls of dough onto prepared cookie sheet. Leaving space for spreading. (For a sparkle look, I like to sprinkle the tops of the dough with extra granulated sugar — but it’s totally optional.)
- Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, or until edges are slightly browned, and remove from oven. Let cool for 5 minutes on cookie sheets before transferring cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days…but they won’t last that long.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
20Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 110Total Fat: 4gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 10mgSodium: 154mgCarbohydrates: 17gFiber: 1gSugar: 10gProtein: 3g
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Wow, I made these but huge about 5 inches in diameter and they are so amazing!!! Best ever!
Can you please do metric measurements? I don’t know what weight your stick of butter is so hard to follow in cups and stick!
Thank you
Hi Jane, I’m sorry, my recipes are measured in US measurements as that is where I am based. A stick of butter in the US weighs 4 oz or 113 grams.
I wish I knew if using a natural PB exactly HOW it will change how the cookies turn out so I know what to expect
Hi Beverly! Natural peanut butter is a different texture and usually more oily…although sometimes it’s more dry depending on the brand (or if it is homemade). You are welcome to try it, some readers have reported success with their natural peanut butter…and others have complained that their cookies spread too much and were oily. Hope this helps!
Brilliant cookies- great recipe ! Just as described – thanks for sharing .
Hi so what if I can’t add the brown sugar into the recipe could I sub it for just regular sugar?
Yes, and if you have a little molasses, add 2 teaspoons to the dough. This will give you the molasses flavor you get from the brown sugar.
These came together quickly. They were perfect, soft and chewy, and were gone just as quickly.
Awesome recipe. I’ll be making these again a d again. Thanks for sharing this recipe
These cookies were soft but not chewy. Good – just not what I wad looking for.
Dry cookies..not moist at all
Sounds like too much flour was added or they were over-baked. ♀️
Followed the recipe exactly, and they turned out perfectly. So easy, so quick, and so delicious. Yum!
Best Peanut Butter Cookies…my family loved them. They came out exactly like the picture… chewy and delicious. Thank you for sharing this recipe!!
I can’t seem to get my cookies to spread. They puff up more than spread and I’m using baking soda. I think my baking soda is at least 2 yrs old, maybe more. Do you think it could be my baking soda?
Hi Nicole! Yes, that would be my guess! To test baking soda, place a few tablespoons of vinegar in a small dish or measuring cup, then stir in about a teaspoon of soda. The mixture will immediately begin to fizz if the soda is still active; if there’s little to no reaction, it’s time to buy a new container.
Love them. Recipe is a keeper. Mine were very thin so wasn’t sure if I did something wrong!
Hi Stacy! Was your butter softened – but not melted? If using melted butter, they can be flatter. Also, double check your baking soda to make sure it’s still good!