The Best Soft and Chewy Peanut Butter Cookies

Name: The Best Soft and Chewy Peanut Butter Cookies
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 8 min
Total time: 18 min
Cuisine: American
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

98K Shares

Pin98K

Yum59

Tweet20

There's nothing better than biting into one of these Soft and Chewy Peanut Butter Cookies -thick, puffy, rich, and melt-in-your-mouth delicious. These cookies are made with creamy peanut butter and a simple pantry-friendly dough that comes together in minutes. Best of all, it's a no-chill recipe, so you can go from craving to cookie in under 20 minutes. Get ready to fall in love with a cookie.

The BEST Soft and Chewy Peanut Butter Cookies are thick, puffy, and melt-in-your-mouth good. Easy to make in under 20 minutes — and they stay soft for days! | aheadofthyme.com

Growing up, I only knew peanut butter cookies as dry and crunchy - often found in a cookie tin weeks past their prime. But that changed the moment I tried a soft, chewy version from the bakery. It was thick, tender, and full of peanut butter flavor. I knew I had to recreate it at home. This version is everything those tin-can cookies weren't: buttery, tender, soft for days, and totally hard to resist.

Why You'll Love these Soft and Chewy Peanut Butter Cookies

Ultra soft and chewy texture. These cookies are thick and pillowy with the perfect balance of softness and chew. Each bite practically melts in your mouth with peanut buttery goodness.
Quick and easy. No chilling required! Just mix, scoop, and bake. From start to finish, these cookies are ready in under 20 minutes (10 minutes to prepare and 8 minutes to bake), making them perfect for last-minute cravings.
Stays soft for days. Thanks to brown sugar and peanut butter, these cookies stay fresh and soft for several days - perfect for lunch boxes, gifting, or batch baking.
One bowl recipe. Minimal cleanup and simple ingredients make this a go-to recipe you'll return to again and again. It's ideal for beginner bakers and busy days.
Classic nostalgic flavor. With rich peanut butter, sweet vanilla, and buttery notes, these cookies deliver the classic flavor we all know and love-better than any store-bought version.

Ingredients in Peanut Butter Cookies

Peanut butter cookies are made almost entirely with pantry staples, which means I always have everything on hand - no last-minute grocery trips needed! Here is what you will need (full quantities in recipe card below):

creamy peanut butter - smooth, unsweetened peanut butter is best. Avoid natural peanut butter, which can cause the dough to be oily or separate. You can substitute for chunky peanut butter too but it will give a different texture.
butter - unsalted and softened. If using salted butter, reduce added salt by ¼ teaspoon.
granulated sugar - provides sweetness and contributes to the crisp edge.
brown sugar - helps keep the cookies soft and adds depth with its molasses flavor.
egg - binds the ingredients and gives structure to the cookie.
vanilla extract - enhances the peanut butter flavor and adds warmth.
all-purpose flour - the foundation of the dough. For gluten-free, use a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend.
baking soda - gives the cookies a light rise and slightly chewy center.
salt - balances the sweetness and enhances flavor. Reduce if using salted butter.

You will also need measuring cups and spoons, mixing bowls, large half sheet baking pan and a silicone mat.

How to Make the Best Soft and Chewy Peanut Butter Cookies

Combine the wet ingredients. In a large mixing 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.

Combine the dry ingredients. In a separate mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda and salt.
Add dry to wet. Add these dry ingredients to your large bowl slowly, continuously mixing using your mixer.

Scoop the cookies. Scoop out 1-2 tablespoons of dough and roll into 1-inch balls and then flatten into a disc (this helps prevent it from cracking). If it cracks, smooth out the cracks with your hands.

Shape cookies. Place on a half sheet baking pan lined with a silicone mat or parchment paper. Use a fork to press down on each disc of dough to create a criss-cross pattern.

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 overbake.

Cool. Let cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes and then transfer to a wire cooling rack.

Recipe Variations

Add chocolate chips. Peanut butter and chocolate are a classic duo. Stir in ½ cup of semisweet or milk chocolate chips (or chunks) for an extra indulgent treat. See our Chocolate Chunk Peanut Butter Cookies.
Add mix ins. Similarly, other types of mix ins work well too. Try peanut butter chips, nuts, crushed pretzels, or mini M&Ms.
Make them smaller. Use a teaspoon-sized scoop to make bite-sized peanut butter cookies. Reduce bake time by 1-2 minutes.
Create peanut butter thumbprints. Gently press a thumb into the center of each dough ball before baking, then fill with jam or melted chocolate after cooling. See our Peanut Butter Thumbprint Cookies for more instructions.
Make it gluten-free. Substitute the all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free baking flour. The texture will be nearly identical.
Add a sugar coating. Roll each dough ball in granulated sugar before baking for a lightly crisp, sweet exterior.

How to Serve

The Best Peanut Butter Cookies are a delicious as is or with a sprinkle of sea salt and/or a drizzle of melted chocolate. They are great served with:

A glass of cold milk
A scoop of vanilla ice cream for cookie sandwiches
Crumbled over yogurt or oatmeal
Paired with coffee or tea as an afternoon snack

Recipe Tips and Tricks

Use room temperature ingredients. This helps the dough mix evenly and gives a smoother texture for the cookies.
Do not overmix. Once the dry ingredients are added, mix just until combined to avoid dense cookies.
Use a cookie scoop. For even baking and uniform size, scoop the dough using a medium cookie scoop.
Don't overbake. The cookies should look slightly underbaked when you remove them, as they'll continue to set on the baking sheet.
Cool on the pan. Let cookies rest for 5 minutes on the baking sheet before transferring to a wire rack.

Storing and Freezing Instructions

How to Store

Store leftover cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. Add a slice of bread to the container to help retain moisture. This keeps the cookies soft and really works!

How to Freeze

You can freeze baked cookies or unbaked dough. For baked cookies, cool completely and store in a freezer-safe airtight container or freezer bag for up to 2 months. For cookie dough, scoop onto a baking sheet and freeze until solid, then transfer to a freezer bag and bake directly from frozen (adding 1-2 minutes to bake time).

FAQ

Can I use natural peanut butter?

It's not recommended. Natural peanut butter tends to separate and can result in oily or crumbly cookies. For best results, use commercial creamy peanut butter, which maintains consistency in the dough and yields more reliable results.

Can I double the recipe?

Yes! This recipe scales up easily. Just double all the ingredients and use two baking sheets. You may need to rotate pans halfway through baking to ensure even browning and consistent texture.

Do I need to chill the dough?

Nope! These cookies bake beautifully without any chill time, which makes them perfect for quick baking sessions. However, if your kitchen is particularly warm, a short chill can help control spreading.

Why did my cookies turn out dry?

You need to be careful not to overcook. Even cooking an extra 5 minutes will cause these cookies to get dry. If they look a little undercooked at the 8-10 minute mark, the residual heat from the pan will continue to bake them.

Why did my cookies spread too much?

This can happen if the butter is too soft or melted. Try chilling the dough for 15 minutes or adding a tablespoon more flour to firm it up. Also check your oven temperature to ensure it isn't running hot.

Tried this recipe?

I'd love to hear what you think! Leave a comment and rating below to share your feedback. Your reviews help others discover this recipe and help me keep creating more free recipes for you. Snap a photo and tag me on social media @aheadofthyme too.