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Chewy Peanut Butter Cookies Recipe

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4.3 from 15 reviews

These chewy peanut butter cookies are soft, deliciously nutty, and perfect for any peanut butter lover. Easy to make with basic pantry ingredients, they bake to a perfect balance of chewy and slightly crisp edges with a rich peanut butter flavor that melts in your mouth.

Ingredients

Dry Ingredients

  • 1 ¼ cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt

Wet Ingredients

  • ½ cup creamy peanut butter
  • ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
  • ¾ cup packed brown sugar
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Optional

  • Sugar for sprinkling on top

Instructions

  1. Preheat and Prepare: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats to prevent sticking and set them aside.
  2. Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt until well combined. Set this mixture aside.
  3. Cream Butter and Sugars: In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat together the creamy peanut butter, softened unsalted butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy. This usually takes a few minutes and ensures a smooth batter.
  4. Add Egg and Vanilla: Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until fully incorporated, creating a smooth and uniform batter.
  5. Combine Dry and Wet Ingredients: Gradually add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients on a low mixer speed. Mix just until the dough forms, avoiding overmixing to maintain tenderness in the cookies.
  6. Shape Cookies: Using a medium cookie scoop (about 1 heaping tablespoon), drop rounded balls of dough onto the prepared cookie sheets, spacing them evenly to allow for spreading during baking. Optionally, sprinkle a little granulated sugar on top of each dough ball for a sparkling finish.
  7. Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the edges of the cookies are lightly browned and set but the centers remain soft.
  8. Cool: Remove from the oven and let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes to firm up. Then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Notes

  • For a sparkly sugar topping, sprinkle granulated sugar on the cookie dough just before baking.
  • Softened butter is essential for proper creaming with the sugars.
  • Do not overbake—the cookies should be slightly soft in the center when removed.
  • Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.
  • For a nuttier texture, consider adding chopped peanuts or chocolate chips.