The best chewy Peanut Butter Cookies are thick, soft, and practically melt in your mouth with every single bite. As for the best Peanut Butter Cookie recipe, easy is key, and dependable results are a must. It should take less than 15 minutes to whip up, require zero chill time in the fridge, and yield perfect cookies every time, without fail.
Here, you'll find both that cookie and that recipe. In addition to the easiest, most dependable recipe for Chewy Peanut Butter Cookies, we'll also uncover the secrets behind making a thick and chewy Peanut Butter Cookie, why this is a Peanut Butter Cookie recipe without baking soda, plus, a list of 9 Must-Have Tips for perfect cookie results!
When my at-home bakery was in full swing, I had dozens of cookies and handheld bars on the menu. Of all the cookies on that list, my grandma's absolute favorite was the Thumbprint Hershey Kiss Cookies -- a soft, bite-sized cookie, topped with a chocolate kiss, and this was no surprise to me.
Peanut Butter Cookies were her go-to made-from-scratch cookie, and they were the old-fashioned kind -- big and fluffy, with a perfect crosshatch and a dusting of sugar across the top. These days, my children now eagerly await for their Peanut Butter Cookies to make their way from table to oven, and from time to time, they even hop on into the kitchen and help me make them.
These are some seriously easy Chewy Peanut Butter Cookies to make, making them perfect for baking with kids! Here's why:
- The batter takes less than 15 minutes to whip up!
- There is zero chilling required.
- They finish their stint in the oven in just 12 minutes!
For another legitimately amazing cookie, try our pumpkin chocolate chip cookies next!
HOW TO MAKE THE BEST CHEWY PEANUT BUTTER COOKIES EVER
Making perfect soft and chewy Peanut Butter Cookies is not a difficult feat, and all it really comes down to is the right combination of ingredients, baked at the right temperature. It's truly as simple as that. So let's talk about those ingredients, shall we?
INGREDIENTS AND QUANTITIES REALLY MATTER
The wet ingredient to dry ingredient ratio is almost 3:1, which most definitely plays a role in a soft, melt-in-your-mouth cookie. The wet ingredients for this recipe are as follows: Melted butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar, creamy, peanut butter, egg, and vanilla extract. The molasses that the brown sugar contains, in combination with the quantity of peanut butter in the recipe plays a roll in both the thickness and the chewiness of the cookie.
PEANUT BUTTER COOKIES WITHOUT BAKING SODA
Another aid in building a soft and chewy structure for these Peanut Butter Cookies is the fact that they are made without baking soda, and rather with baking powder. Both baking soda and powder are leaveners but make no mistake, they were not created equal. Baking powder is used to maintain the structure of a baked good when said "good" is lacking in acidic ingredients. Brown sugar can be considered an acidic ingredient, however, there is not enough of it in this recipe to amend the use of baking powder to baking soda.
Long story short, for the best, chewy Peanut Butter Cookies ever, follow the recipe.
TIPS FOR BAKING SOFT PEANUT BUTTER COOKIES
- Always have your dry ingredients mixed and ready to go before you begin working with your wet ingredients.
- Use good, old-fashioned, creamy peanut butter for peanut butter cookies.
- Measure the peanut butter in a measuring cup, not a measuring pitcher.
- Make sure your wet ingredients are well-blended before adding the dry ingredients. Otherwise, your cookies may bake unevenly.
- As soon as the dough starts to come together, stop mixing! Overmixing can over-develop the gluten, which will, in turn, make for a tough cookie.
- Use a medium-sized cookie scoop if you want to ensure your cookies are of uniform size!
- Don't cram the baking sheet if you don't want your cookies to bake into one another.
- Using a silicone baking mat or parchment paper on your baking sheet ensures easy removal after baking, and will prevent broken cookies!
- Pull from the oven as soon as the edges begin to tinge with a deeper brown.
Peanut Butter Cookies are an old-fashioned favorite and a classic for good reason. If done right, they're a soft and chewy, melt-in-your-mouth cookie that often times, remind us of someone very special.
MORE COOKIE RECIPES TO TRY:
- Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies feature everything you know and love about classic, bakery-style peanut butter cookies, only made better thanks to the addition of melty chocolate chips.
- Chocolate Drop Cookies are every chocoholic's dream: Full of chocolate, soft, gooey, and easy to make!
- Want a little chocolate in your peanut butter cookie? Literally? Then you'll love these Thumbprint Hershey Kiss Cookies! Miniature, bite-sized cookies with the perfect cookie-to-kiss ratio!
- Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies are made with old-fashioned oats, chocolate chips, and (surprise) vanilla pudding! It's the secret ingredient that keeps these cookies decadently moist and addictively yummy!
- Ginger Molasses Cookies are a classic cookie full of warm and cozy spices and makes a beautiful and heartfelt holiday gift!
- Sugar Cookies with Buttercream Frosting are another classic cookie you just can't go wrong with. The perfect, buttery sugar cookie, topped with a homemade frosting. Everyone will rave over the taste and the look of these gorgeous cookies!
The Easiest Soft and Chewy Peanut Butter Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 ⅓ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
- ⅔ cup unsalted butter, melted
- ½ cup + 1 tablespoons light brown sugar, packed
- ½ cup granulated sugar, plus ¼ cup extra for rolling
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter
- 1 Large egg
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350° and have ready a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Also, have ready a small bowl with about a ¼ cup of sugar for coating the cookie dough balls.
- In a medium-sized mixing bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine butter, light brown sugar, granulated sugar, peanut butter, egg, and vanilla. With a handheld mixer on medium-high speed, mix until smooth.
- Add the dry ingredients and mix on low speed until combined. Do not overmix.
- Scoop out heaping tablespoons of dough, and roll into a ball. Roll in the granulated sugar, and transfer to the baking sheet spacing them 1 ½"-2" apart.
- Make crosshatch lines across the tops of the cookies using the tines of a fork, and bake for 12-14 minutes, just until the edges are a deeper brown. Serve and enjoy.
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Carissa Shaw says
So hungry for peanut butter cookies now! They are my daughter's favorite. Thanks for the recipe! We'll be making these this week.
Kelly Anthony says
Wahoo! Thanks, Carissa!
Janice says
Can you tell me if it’s one cookie per serving I’m baking them as I type
Kelly Anthony says
Yes, one cookie per serving!
Sues says
This look absolutely perfect! Peanut butter cookies are one of my all-time favorite desserts and the chewier, the better!
Wajeeha says
I once made an easy peanut butter cookie recipe but it didn't turn out good at all! Yours look super delicious, and I love all the detailed tips...I'll bake these with my 4 year old 🙂
Heidy L. McCallum says
Sounds so wonderful and simple-- you have my vote. Easy Button all the way when it comes to baking. I bet my family would love these Peanut Butter Cookies.
Elaine Benoit says
I love a good chewy cookie, especially a chewy peanut butter cookie! These look perfect in so many ways. They look delicious and easy to make and I'll be making them asap!
Fran says
I never rate and comment on a recipe unless I make it exactly as it is written. So, I followed directions to a “t” and decided these were the best peanut butter cookies I have ever made/tasted. Do not even bother with any “add-ins” (chocolate chips, nuts etc) - delicious enough in their own. Thank u for sharing such a wonderful recipe - keeper for sure!
Kelly Anthony says
This makes my day, Fran! Thank you so much! That is so wonderful to know 🙂
Paula says
These are delicious. I am so proud to bring them to our neighborhood picnic.
Kelly Anthony says
Thank you so much, Paula! I'm glad you enjoyed them 🙂
Angela says
I was looking for a new PB Cookie recipe and so glad I found this one! Amazing flavor and the texture is perfect! My family raved about them. It has replaced my old recipes. Delicious!
Kelly Anthony says
Angela! That is wonderful to know! Thank you so much for sharing 🙂 This is one of my all-time favorite cookie recipes, and I'm so glad you and your family loved them!
Dotti says
Made these with my grandson and we are both in love with this recipe. Thanks for sharing
Kelly Anthony says
How wonderful! Thank you for sharing that, Dotti! Love that you made them with your grandson. My girls and I love to bake together as well 🙂
susan kennedy says
Made these today and they turned out perfect.
Kelly Anthony says
That's awesome! Thank you so much, Susan 🙂
Vidya Narayan says
Loved reading all the tips for the cookie recipe. Chewy cookies are my personal favourite and the peanut butter simply takes it to another level. Absolutely delicious and tempting!
Stine Mari says
Baking is a science. Different leavenings play different roles and ratios between it all matter greatly. You managed to whip up a fantastic recipe, and the fact that it's SO EASY too is just amazing!
Ramona says
Such a great recipe - we love peanut cookies and this is a great one - saved ! My daughter cannot wait o make these again 😉
Maman de sara says
These are my type of cookies, I love easy and delicious recipes.
April says
Wow, this recipe post is so informative! I've discovered so many great things that I didn't know. Love how detailed you made it - thank you!
Mimi says
Well, I think I have everything I need to make the perfect peanut butter cookies. It is time to make them just about enough to fill up all of my jars. And I have A LOT of jars.
Celeste says
Peanut butter cookies were one of the first cookies I learned to make as a child at a day camp. I remember making them over and over again. I've learned a lot more about making them in this post. Thanks
Jenni LeBaron says
There are few desserts I love more than a fresh batch of warm peanut butter cookies. These look perfectly chewy and delicious!
Geetanjali Tung says
These cookies look so delicious and I love how simple it is! Can't wait to try these at home. Thank you!
Jacqueline Debono says
Planning to make these peanut butter cookies this week. Can't wait! They look and sound scrumptious!
Cheese Curd In Paradise says
Now I really really want to peanut butter cookie. I always forget how much I love them! I can't wait to try this.
Jeannette says
I love love how good these look! I would just add Hershey's Kiss to the middle ;-).
Kelly Anthony says
We've got those too, Jeanette! 😉 https://www.theanthonykitchen.com/peanut-butter-kiss-cookies-recipe/
Amanda says
I'm all about a chewy, soft cookie! And the thickness looks absolutely perfect. I can't wait to make a batch of these. They'll definitely be a big hit!
Lathiya says
I love chewy cookies. This peanut butter cookies looks fabulous. I love to dunk these in a glass of milk.
Kari Heron says
I have never made peanut butter cookies. This looks like a nice reicipe to try.
Nicoletta De Angelis Nardelli says
My preference goes to crunchy cookies more than chewy and soft, but these look so great that I might even change my mind 🙂 .
Heather says
Such great tips for these cookies! I agree peanut butter cookies should be simple... and delicious!! And these look like both!
Danielle says
They say that best cookies are the chewiest, and I agree. It looks like your recipe is just like that, so I am more than sure that the cookies will turn out to be amazing!
Amanda Mason says
I love this cookie recipe! It's a classic, but these tips you list are so super helpful! I'm so glad I found this article because these little things absolutely matter!! Such great tips for me to put into practice!
Elena says
I was just thinking about making CHEWY peanut butter cookies and then I saw your recipe! What a coincidence! Your instructions are really helpful. Good to know that you can't use baking soda for cookies. Thank you for sharing this amazing recipe, Kelly!
Anne Lawton says
These are such a classic cookie and I love that they are chewy! My cookies usually tend to turn out more crispy, so thank you for your helpful tips.
Natalie says
Oh this recipe is so tempting. Cookies look delicious and so perfect with cup of tea or coffee. I think I'm going to make these cookies right now. I have all ingredients.
Marisa F. Stewart says
Peanut Butter Cookies are a classic and for good reason. They've withstood the test of time and there are very few people I've encountered who can pass one or two of those delicious treats. My son-in-law loves them so much that's all he wants me to gift him for his birthday. I've got an old standard recipe I use but next time I'll try yours.
Jenni LeBaron says
I love a good, chewy peanut butter cookie and these look fantastic! A plate of these with a big glass of milk is heaven!
Karyl Henry says
I can't tell you the last time I had a peanut butter cookie, but this recipe is making me want to make a batch right now! And I like that you don't have to chill the dough, so the cookies are ready to eat even faster
Analida Braeger says
I haven't had one of these in so long , my mouth is watering over these beautiful cookies.!! Will be making these soon 🙂
Cathleen says
Yes!! I am all about easy cookie recipes. It is always good to have a dependable peanut butter cookie in your back pocket!
Sam says
I was just craving something sweet. These cookies will be perfect! I have a similar recipe on my blog but will have to try yours! They look so chewy ... yum!!
Kathy says
Homemaker for over 40 years, wanted to try a new recipe. These are fabulous.
Thank you. IMG_9486.jpg
Elizabeth says
I am making these to mail to a friend some distance away, how long can I expect them to remain soft and delicious? Thank you for the recipe and in advance for your reply
Kelly Anthony says
Hi Elizabeth! That's so kind! What a good friend you are 🙂 You may want to add a couple of extra minutes to these cookies bake time if you're planning to ship them. They are soft and buttery, and I worry they may crumble if the box is banged around. In regard to staying soft and delicious, most cookies usually stay in good shape for 3-5 days after baking. After this point, I usually freeze them to preserve quality further.
Charity says
Very easy recipe. Texture and taste are perfect.
Kelly Anthony says
Thank you, Charity!
Margaret says
These look delicious! If I need to make ahead of time, would it be better to freeze the dough then bake or freeze the already cooked cookies then thaw?
Kelly Anthony says
Hi Margaret! I prefer freezing the dough and then baking. However, these dough balls can be a little tough to separate once frozen, so be sure you separate the layers of dough balls with wax paper and allow to sit at room temperature for 10 minutes or so before adding to your cookie pan. You may also add a minute or two to the bake time if baking frozen. Enjoy!
Kellie says
So good! My first time making homemade peanut butter cookies and they turned out so perfect! A quick and easy recipe when wanting something sweet!
Kelly Anthony says
Thank you so much, Kellie! Thrilled you loved them and they turned out so well! 🙂
blondeinwanderingboots says
I literally make these cookies 1-2 times per week for my husband! So easy to throw together, and they come out perfect each time! Thanks for the recipe!
Faith says
Just put these in the oven. Smells amazing!!
Kelly Anthony says
That's awesome Faith! Enjoy 🙂
Gloria says
My boyfriend loves peanut butter anything. We made a batch of these with his granddaughter this morning, she’s 5. I told her what we needed (she helped line everything up), and helped/supervised her measures, mixing (ok that was mostly me), and putting fork impressions on cookies. She and he loved be them. I must admit we used crunchy peanut butter, and these are such a hit I am not sure the batch will make it to the end of the day. Thank you so much for this recipe and helping me create new memories for our little family.
Kelly Anthony says
What an amazing comment! Thank you so much, Gloria. That is such a special and wonderful read 🙂 I'm so glad y'all enjoyed them and your boyfriend's granddaughter had fun helping. We love baking with kids over here as well!
Colleen Haire says
I just made these. I was really wanting chewy cookies. I don’t know what happened but they are flatter than pancakes. What a letdown
Kelly Anthony says
Hi, Colleen! Here are a few reasons why your cookies may have turned out flat:
Expired Leaveners – Baking powder and baking soda are both chemical leaveners that help cookies to rise throughout the baking process. If your leavener is expired, it can’t do its job and your cookies will fall flat.
Baking At The Wrong Temperature – The higher the oven temperature, the faster the cookie will set. If you bake your cookies at a lower temperature than called for (or if your oven is not reaching the right temperature altogether — a much bigger problem), your cookies will be more likely to spread.
Eggs Not Properly Mixed – If you’ve ever had a batch of cookies come out of the oven with wonky spreading in various spots, this is an indication you did not mix in your eggs properly.
Luba says
Hi do I use pure peanut butter or the other kind like skippy etc. ?
Kelly Anthony says
Hi, Luba! I use Jif, but you could use also Skippy or Peter Pan -- really, any "standard" creamy peanut butter will do. Just not the healthy/low sugar kind 😉
Afton m Grenat says
What could be a change to the recipe if i wanted to make them in an altitude of 6000+?
Bianca says
Could I use this recipe to make cut ploughing cookies?