Peanut Butter Cookies are a classic and this recipe is quick and easy to make!  These cookies are perfectly soft with rich peanut butter flavor every time!

peanut butter cookies in a stack

Baking season is my favorite, and you just can’t skip out on a good peanut butter cookie!  They come out perfect every time, and you don’t even need to refrigerate the dough!  I’ve been making these for years, they’re tried and tested.  Another fave is our Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies!  If you’re here looking for more cookies to make this season, don’t miss out on our best Sugar Cookies, the perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies, and our Christmas Sprinkle Cookies!

Why Do You Put Fork Marks On Peanut Butter Cookies?

Peanut butter cookies differ from other types in that they are super dense, more fatty and heavy…because of all that peanut butter!  Using a fork simply flattens the cookies out so that they are more uniform and cook evenly.  It also looks pretty.  I can tell you that for my recipe, these cookies don’t spread much, but you don’t have to flatten them if you want a super thick cookie.  You can also flatten using the bottom of a drinking glass if preferred.

Making Peanut Butter Cookies:

You can do this in two large bowls, or one large bowl and then your stand mixer with the paddle attachment.

  1. Whisk together all of your dry ingredients just for a few seconds until everything is mixed together well.
  2. Cream together your peanut butter, softened butter, both sugars for a full 3 minutes until fluffy and pale in color.  Then, you will beat in your eggs and vanilla until no yellow egg streaks remain.
  3. Add the dry ingredients to the wet in 2-3 additions (so that you don’t spray flour everywhere) just until incorporated.
  4. Drop the cookies onto a large baking sheet in Tablespoonfuls about 2 inches apart.  I have a good non-stick baking sheet so I didn’t need to use parchment paper, but you definitely can if you’re worried about the cookies sticking to the pan.

How to make peanut butter cookies photo collage

Room Temperature Ingredients:

This is something I talk about in my sugar cookie post as well.   I can’t stress enough, that room temperature eggs and butter do make a difference!  Your butter should sit out for only 30 minutes to 1 hour.  Longer than that, and your butter will be too soft and cookies may be greasy.  To bring eggs to room temp quick, you can place in a bowl of warm (not hot) water for a few minutes.

How to Tell if Peanut Butter Cookies are Done:

These cookies only take 8-10 minutes in the oven.  They will be lightly golden around the edges and on the bottom when they are done.  Don’t cook them for too long, or they may crumble.  You will want to let them sit on the pan for a good 5 minutes before transferring to cool.

peanut butter cookies on rack

Enjoy!

~Nichole

5 from 49 votes

Peanut Butter Cookies

Peanut Butter Cookies are a classic and this recipe is quick and easy to make!  These cookies are perfectly soft with rich peanut butter flavor every time!
Prep 15 minutes
Cook 10 minutes
Total 25 minutes
Servings 2 Dozen

Ingredients 

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Prepare a large baking sheet with a Silpat or parchment paper, set aside.
  • In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.
  • In bowl of stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment (or large bowl using hand mixer) beat together the butter, peanut butter, and both sugars until fluffy and pale in color, about 2-3 minutes.
  • Beat in the eggs and vanilla until well incorporated.
  • With the mixer running on low speed, add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients in three additions, mix until combined.
  • Drop the dough by Tablespoonfuls onto prepared baking sheet. Use a fork to press down gently on the dough in one direction, then turn the fork and press down in the other direction.
  • Bake the cookies in preheated oven for 8-10 minutes until lightly golden on the bottom and around the edges.
  • Allow the cookies to cool on the pan for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.
  • Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.

Video

Notes

NOTE ON PEANUT BUTTER:  This recipe has not been tested with all natural peanut butter, and I don't recommend using it here for best results.
NOTE ON FREEZING:  You can make this dough in advance and store in a large zip top bag in the freezer for up to 3 months.  Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before baking.

Nutrition

Serving: 24Cookies, Calories: 123kcal

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

Additional Info

Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Like this? Rate & review this recipe below!

 


Hey! Nice to meet you! I'm Nichole!

Welcome to The Salty Marshmallow! I'm a mom, animal lover, photographer, & kitchen mess-maker. Here you will find the result of my decades-long passion for chasing the best flavors in the kitchen, all meant to be cooked by regular people with busy lives just like you and me.

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33 Comments

      1. Thank you for your quick response! Made your banana bread last night-absolutely delicious! Cannot stop eating it!

  1. 5 stars
    These are best best peanut butter cookies I’ve ever made!! I lost my usual recipe I’ve been using so I tried these and 32 years of baking Christmas cookies and these were a hit! I made them for peanut butter blossoms so I rolled them in green and red sugar. Baked for 10 minutes and the are soft and delicious. My 4 adult children have asked me to make more and I made them a day ago. My husband who doesn’t like peanut butter cookies has secretly been caught eating them as well!