Soft Chewy Peanut Butter Cookies

These soft and chewy peanut butter cookies are the ultimate comfort treat when you are craving something sweet and nostalgic. Every bite is thick rich and incredibly peanut buttery making these my family’s forever favorite recipe for bake sales weekend snacks or just because moments.

I started making these after coming home from college missing my mom’s home-baked treats and every time I bake a batch the smell alone brings everyone running to the kitchen.

Ingredients

• Unsalted butter: adds richness and helps create a soft cookie always pick good quality butter for best results
• Light brown sugar: makes the cookies chewy and adds a caramel-like flavor choose fresh soft brown sugar for easier mixing
• Egg: binds everything together and gives the cookies their tender structure use a fresh large egg for lift
• Vanilla extract: brings that warm sweet bakery taste try to use pure vanilla if you can
• Creamy peanut butter: gives the cookies their main flavor choose a brand with just peanuts and a little salt for maximum peanut taste
• All-purpose flour: provides structure use a spoon to fluff your flour then level it off for the most accurate measure
• Baking soda: helps the cookies rise and stay soft make sure yours is fresh and not expired
• Granulated sugar for rolling: optional but it gives each cookie sparkling edges and a crisp bite try to use superfine sugar for an extra touch

Step-by-Step Instructions

Preheat the Oven:

Set your oven to three hundred fifty degrees Fahrenheit and prepare two baking sheets with parchment to prevent sticking and help the cookies bake evenly

Cream the Butter and Sugar:

In a large bowl beat the softened butter and light brown sugar until completely smooth this step ensures a tender melt-in-your-mouth cookie

Add Wet Ingredients:

Beat in the egg vanilla and creamy peanut butter mix until everything is silky and homogeneous

Combine Dry Ingredients:

Sprinkle in the all-purpose flour and baking soda mix gently just until you see no more streaks of flour do not overmix or the cookies can become tough

Shape and Coat the Dough:

Scoop around one to two tablespoons of dough use your hands to roll each into a ball if you want classic texture roll each ball in granulated sugar now

Criss-Cross Press Optional:

For that iconic peanut butter cookie look use a fork to gently press down each ball in two directions creating a crosshatch pattern

Bake:

Arrange the dough balls about one inch apart on the baking sheet bake for seven to eight minutes the cookies should look set on the edges but still soft in the center

Cool:

Let cookies rest on the baking sheet for five minutes before gently transferring to a wire rack so they can finish cooling and stay soft

Pin

My favorite part is the criss-cross pattern with a fork which my grandma taught me it makes the cookies look extra special and my kids love taking turns pressing the grooved lines before baking

Storage Tips

Fresh cookies stay soft for five days at room temperature if kept in an airtight container Pop a slice of white bread inside the container to extend softness The cookies also freeze well after baking Let them cool completely then store in a sealed freezer bag and thaw at room temperature overnight

Ingredient Substitutions

You can swap creamy peanut butter for chunky if you crave a little crunch Almond butter also works but will give a milder flavor Instead of light brown sugar dark brown sugar will make them deeper tasting and color Gluten free one to one flour can be used if needed but check for texture

Serving Suggestions

These are perfect with a glass of cold milk or a scoop of vanilla ice cream Sandwich two cookies with chocolate ganache or marshmallow fluff for an extra treat I love gifting these wrapped in parchment paper with kitchen string for neighbors around the holidays

Cultural and Historical Context

Peanut butter cookies are an American classic with roots going back to the early nineteen hundreds The classic fork criss-cross came about because peanut butter makes a dense dough that needs a little flattening to help it bake evenly Across generations these cookies have become a symbol of homey comfort and childhood nostalgia

Recipe FAQs

→ How do I keep these cookies soft?

Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature to maintain their soft texture for up to 5 days.

→ Can I freeze the dough?

Yes, roll the dough into balls, freeze on a tray, then transfer to a freezer-safe bag. Bake directly from frozen with a few extra minutes added.

→ Why use a fork to make a criss-cross pattern?

The fork marks help the thick dough bake evenly and provide the classic look associated with peanut butter cookies.

→ What type of peanut butter works best?

Creamy peanut butter offers consistent results; avoid natural varieties, which may affect dough texture.

→ Can I make these ahead of time?

The dough can be prepared up to two days in advance and chilled until baking. Baked cookies also freeze well.