The Best Soft and Chewy Peanut Butter Cookies

What is better than the best classic, soft and chewy peanut butter cookies? Umm... to be honest, not a whole lot comes to mind. Get ready to fall in love with a cookie. A puffy, thick, circular pile of baked goodness.

Why Make Soft and Chewy Peanut Butter Cookies?

Growing up, peanut butter cookies meant thin, hard and crunchy cookies to me. The ones that were in my great aunt's tin for what seemed to be a few weeks too long -- way past their expiration date. But then something amazing happened a few years ago. I tried an incredible, soft peanut butter cookie from the bakery section of my local grocery store. I was forever changed. Now, I cannot even imagine going back to those crumbly, stiff, practically stale cookies that I grew up on.

These cookies may be a smaller version of that decadent first chewy cookie that I tried but they taste even better. I mean, obviously they taste better, they are the best soft and chewy peanut butter cookies.

Ingredients in Peanut Butter Cookies

Peanut butter cookies are pretty much solely made with pantry staples. So I always have all the ingredients in my pantry, which is pretty awesome since I don't have to worry about making a trip to the grocery store.

• creamy peanut butter - can substitute for chunky peanut butter too but it will give a different texture.
• butter
• sugar - both granulated sugar and brown sugar.
• egg
•  vanilla extract
• all-purpose flour
• baking soda
• salt

How to Make the Best Soft and Chewy Peanut Butter Cookies

Soft and chewy is my new standard peanut butter cookie, and thank goodness for it!! They are my go to treat of choice to make when I am craving something sweet. I also love that don't have to wait an hour before I can eat these. It takes 10 minutes to prepare (basically while the oven is preheating anyways) and 8 minutes to bake. Yup, 8 minutes. When you are craving a delicious treat, nothing else is on your mind other than taking that first bite. So the amount of time it takes really matters!! Are you with me?

1. Combine the wet ingredients. In a large bowl, cream together the peanut butter, butter and sugars using a hand mixer (or a stand mixer), until soft and creamy. Add the egg and vanilla extract and continue to mix until fully combined.
2. Combine the dry ingredients. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda and salt. Add these dry ingredients to your large bowl slowly, continuously mixing using your mixer.
3. Form the cookies. Roll the dough into 1 to 2-inch balls and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Using a fork, press down on each ball of dough to slightly flatten and create a criss-cross pattern.
4. Bake the cookies. Bake for 8-10 minutes in a preheated 350 F oven, or as soon as tops begin to slightly crack. To keep them soft and chewy, be careful to not over-bake. Let cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes and then transfer to a wire rack.

So what are you waiting for? Go ahead and bake a batch of these little beauties and pour yourself a nice tall glass of cold milk. It's time to dunk away!

More Cookie Recipes

• The Best Chewy Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies
• Soft and Chewy White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies
• Soft and Pillowy Chocolate Chip Banana Bread Cookie Bites
• Chocolate-Dipped Shortbread Heart Cookies

Did you make this recipe? Please leave a comment and rating below, and let me know what you thought of the recipe. Be sure to snap a picture and tag me on Instagram @aheadofthyme or share it on the Pinterest pin so that I can follow along.

Don't forget to sign up for my email newsletter so that you don't miss any recipes. You can also follow along on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook for more recipe updates.

The Best Soft and Chewy Peanut Butter Cookies

---

★★★★★

5 from 71 reviews

• Author: Sam | Ahead of Thyme
• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 8 minutes
• Total Time: 18 minutes
• Yield: 24 cookies 1x
• Diet: Vegetarian

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Description

What is better than classic, soft and chewy peanut butter cookies? Umm... not a whole lot comes to mind. Get ready to fall in love with a cookie.

---

Scale 1x2x3x

Ingredients

• 1 cup creamy peanut butter
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 + 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

---

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 F.
2. In a large bowl, cream together the peanut butter, butter and sugars using a hand mixer (or a stand mixer), until soft and creamy.
3. Add the egg and vanilla extract and continue to mix until fully combined.
4. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda and salt. Add these dry ingredients to your large bowl slowly, continuously mixing using your mixer.
5. Roll the dough into 1 to 2-inch balls and place on an ungreased, parchment-lined baking sheet. Using a fork, press down on each ball of dough to slightly flatten and create a criss-cross pattern.
6. Bake for 8-10 minutes or as soon as tops begin to slightly crack. To keep them soft and chewy, be careful to not overbake. Let cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes and then transfer to a wire rack.

---

Notes

If you are like me and love vanilla, you can increase the vanilla amount to 1 tablespoon.

• Category: Cookies
• Method: Bake
• Cuisine: American

Keywords: peanut butter cookies, chewy cookies, chewy peanut butter cookies, cookies