This classic peanut butter cookie recipe is thick and chewy, dusted with sugar, and downright delicious.

Peanut Butter Cookies

Our week of holiday cookie recipes on the blog this week continues today with another throwback classic…

…soft, chewy, buttery, always-a-hit peanut butter cookies.

Over the years, I’ve made a variety of healthier peanut butter cookies, which I also really love and make most often nowadays. But whenever I happen to spy one of the fork-crossed, sugar-dusted originals at a holiday party, I’m instantly reminded just how irresistible this classic peanut butter cookie recipe still is. And when we baked up a batch during my little holiday bake-a-thon this week, our friends here were quick to agree that nothing beats this classic recipe.

Gotta love a good peanut butter cookie. 

So if you feel like baking up a batch this season, here’s the recipe I’ve used for years!

Peanut Butter Cookies Recipe | 1-Minute Video

How To Make Peanut Butter Cookies

Peanut Butter Cookie Ingredients:

To make this peanut butter cookie recipe, you will need:

  • All-purpose flour: Or you are welcome to substitute white whole wheat flour.
  • Baking powder and baking soda: This recipe calls for both.
  • Cornstarch: To help make them extra-chewy.
  • Salt: To bring out the flavor.
  • Butter: Two sticks, completely softened.
  • Sugars: Both granulated (white) and brown sugar, plus extra for rolling the dough balls if you’d like.
  • Peanut butter: Either smooth or crunchy.
  • Vanilla extract: Either store-bought or homemade.
  • Eggs: Two, please!

Peanut Butter Cookie Dough

How To Make Peanut Butter Cookies:

So, how to make peanut butter cookies? Simply…

  1. Prep your oven and cookie sheet. 350˚F and parchment paper.
  2. Combine dry ingredients. Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, cornstarch and salt.
  3. Mix the wet ingredients. In an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat together the softened butter, granulated sugar and brown sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy (about 2-3 minutes). Mix in peanut butter until it is incorporated and smooth. Add vanilla and eggs, one at a time, scraping the bowl down after each addition.
  4. Add in the dry ingredients. Reduce mixer speed to low and slowly add dry ingredients until they are just incorporated and the batter is smooth, being careful not to over-mix.
  5. Form your dough balls. Form the dough into 1.5-tablespoon round balls and place on the prepared baking sheet. (If you’d like, you can roll each of these balls in a bowl of granulated sugar before adding them to the baking sheet.)  Press a criss-cross pattern into each dough ball with a fork to flatten slightly, being sure that each dough ball is at least 2 inches apart.
  6. Bake. For about 10-12 minutes, until the edges are golden brown and the centers are slightly puffy. Remove from the oven, and then transfer the cookies to a cooling rack to cool.
  7. Enjoy! Serve warm, or store in a sealed container for up to 4 days. Or freeze for up to 3 months.

How To Make Peanut Butter Cookies

Possible Variations:

Feel free to add in some:

  • Chocolate chips: Semisweet, dark, white, normal-sized, mini-sized…any kind. :)
  • Cinnamon chips: I’m a big fan of mixing cinnamon and peanut butter in this recipe.
  • Nuts: Chopped walnuts, pecans, almonds, or even extra chopped peanuts would be delicious in these cookies.

Peanut Butter Cookies with Milk

More Favorite Cookie Recipes:

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Peanut Butter Cookies

Peanut Butter Cookies

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 4.8 from 131 reviews
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 10 minutes
  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: 0 About 4 dozen cookies 1x

Description

These peanut butter cookies are soft, chewy, and absolutely delicious!


Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon cornstarch
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 1 cup peanut butter (smooth or crunchy)
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 2 large eggs
  • (optional: 1/2 cup granulated sugar for rolling the dough balls)


Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350˚F.  Line a baking sheet with parchment paper; set aside.
  2. Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, cornstarch and salt in a large bowl and set aside.
  3. In an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat together the softened butter, granulated sugar and brown sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy (about 3 minutes). Mix in peanut butter until it is incorporated and smooth. Add vanilla and eggs, one at a time, scraping the bowl down after each addition. Reduce mixer speed to low and slowly add dry ingredients until they are just incorporated and the batter is smooth, being careful not to over-mix.
  4. Form the dough into 1.5-tablespoon round balls and place on the prepared baking sheet.  (If you’d like, you can roll each of these balls in a bowl of granulated sugar before adding them to the baking sheet.)  Press a criss-cross pattern into each dough ball with a fork to flatten, being sure that each dough ball is at least 2 inches apart.  Bake for 10-12 minutes, until the edges are golden brown and the centers are slightly puffy.  Remove from the oven, and then transfer the cookies to a cooling rack to cool.
  5. Serve warm, or store in a sealed container for up to 4 days.  Or freeze for up to 3 months.

Soft Peanut Butter Cookies Recipe

About Ali

Hi, I'm Ali Martin! I created this site in 2009 to celebrate good food and gathering around the table. I live in Kansas City with my husband and two young boys and love creating simple, reliable, delicious recipes that anyone can make!

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223 Comments

  1. Sumaya says:

    This recipe is a keeper, the cookies turned out great.Thanks for sharing your recipe?

    1. Hayley @ Gimme Some Oven says:

      Thank you Sumaya — we’re so happy you liked them!

  2. Roger says:

    This is very similar to my recipe. I’m curious about the corn starch ingredient which is not in my recipe. I think mine are world-class already so I’m curious what I might have been missing by not using the corn starch?

    By the way, when I flatten the cookies I prepare a saucer with a tablespoon or two of sugar. I dip the fork in the sugar after pressing each cookie. The oils in the cookie dough helps just the right amount of sugar to stick to the fork which is transferred to the cookie when pressing.

    1. Hayley @ Gimme Some Oven says:

      Hi Roger! We like your flattening method, and the corn starch is totally optional. We like it because it makes a chewier cookie (you don’t detect it at all taste-wise).

  3. Barbara says:

    This is my go-to PB cookie recipe.  They come out perfect every time and they taste amazing. 

    1. Hayley @ Gimme Some Oven says:

      We’re so glad to hear that Barbara! :)

  4. Sherri Booker says:

    These cookies look amazing I am about to give it a shot!

    1. Hayley @ Gimme Some Oven says:

      Thanks Sherri — we hope you enjoy them! :)

  5. Julie says:

    Amazing recipe!!! Followed the recipe and everything turned out perfect!

    1. Hayley @ Gimme Some Oven says:

      Thanks Julie — we’re glad you enjoyed these! :)

  6. Shanna says:

    These are good I mixed 1/2 cup of each creamy and peanut for texture 

  7. Grace Avery says:

    I love them I am 11 and my mom makes me make them all the time

    1. Hayley @ Gimme Some Oven says:

      Thank you for sharing Grace! We’re so happy to hear you like these! :)

  8. gigi says:

    What does the cornstarch do? Have you made these without the cornstarch? Thanks!

    1. Hayley @ Gimme Some Oven says:

      Hi Gigi, we’ve just found that adding cornstarch to cookie recipes lends a nice texture that makes them extra chewy! :) We hope you enjoy these!

  9. Sawako says:

    Wow love this recipe! so simple & looks delicious! Thanks Ali!

    1. Hayley @ Gimme Some Oven says:

      Thank you, we hope you enjoyed the cookies!

  10. Jamie @ Voluntown Housewife says:

    The women’s group at my church hosts a cookie swap every year and today’s the day! I will be making these! I can’t wait to give them a try! Thanks for posting! I am a die hard peanut butter cookie lover and these look delish! I may get crazy and dip half of them in chocolate! Oh boy! 

    1. Hayley @ Gimme Some Oven says:

      Jamie, we’re so happy you’re giving this recipe a try for your cookie swap – how fun! We hope you and everyone else enjoys these! :D