Melt-in-Your-Mouth Peanut Butter Cookies

Peanut butter cookies are the ultimate comfort treat—rich, buttery, and packed with that irresistible peanut flavor. They’re quick to make with ingredients you probably already have in your pantry, and they come out soft and chewy every time. Whether you’re baking for a family get-together or just treating yourself, these cookies are a guaranteed hit.

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Affiliate, if you purchase through those links, I earn a small commission. Thank you!

Peanut butter cookies – I could eat them all day long; they’re one of my favorite cookies! And you can have that irresistible aroma of baked cookies wafting around your kitchen in just 20 minutes. Simple, quick, and easy, just the way we like it! They’re real crowd-pleasers and are a firm favorite for the holidays, game days, and potlucks.

Ingredients You’ll Need

You’ll need all the ingredients shown in the photograph below.

How to Make Peanut Butter Cookies with Step-By-Step Instructions

Scroll down for the full recipe card containing a full printable recipe and measurements in both US customary and metric units.

Making our homemade peanut butter cookies is easy if you follow our simple instructions.

Cream the Butters and Sugars

Start by grabbing your stand mixer (or a handheld one works, too) and mix together the softened butter, crunchy peanut butter, granulated sugar, and light brown sugar. Beat these together until the mixture turns smooth and fluffy.

Once that’s done, add in the egg and vanilla extract, mixing again until everything is well incorporated.

Mix the Dry Ingredients

In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. This ensures all the dry ingredients are evenly spread out, giving your cookies the right balance and texture.

Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients

Gradually add the dry mixture into the creamed butter and sugars. Keep mixing until the dough comes together and looks soft and fluffy. Be careful not to overmix—you want the dough to stay light and airy.

Chill the Dough

Once your dough is ready, pop it in the fridge for about an hour. This helps the cookies hold their shape while baking and deepens the peanut butter flavor. Don’t skip this step—chilling the dough makes a big difference.

Shape and Flatten the Dough

Now, scoop or roll the dough into balls, about 1 to 1½ tablespoons each, and place them on your prepared baking sheet. Make sure they’re spaced around 2 inches apart because they’ll spread a bit. Gently press down on each ball to flatten them to about 1½ inches thick.

Bake the Cookies

Preheat your oven to 350°F and bake the cookies for about 10 minutes, or until the edges are just starting to turn golden brown. You want the centers to still be soft, so don’t overbake them.

Cool and Serve

After baking, let the cookies sit on the baking sheet for a few minutes to firm up before transferring them to a cooling rack. Once cooled, they’re ready to be devoured! Perfect with a glass of cold milk.

Recipe Notes and Expert Tips

Here are some tips for you to make sure you have perfect cookies every time!

• Chill for the Best Texture: Don’t skip chilling the dough! It keeps your cookies from spreading too much and makes them extra flavorful.
• Smooth vs. Crunchy: If you like smoother cookies, go ahead and swap the crunchy peanut butter for creamy. Both work great, so it’s all about what you prefer.
• Soft Centers: Keep an eye on your bake time. These cookies should have soft centers, so pull them out when the edges are just turning golden. They’ll firm up as they cool.
• Fork It Up: For a classic peanut butter cookie look, lightly press a fork into the dough balls before baking to create that crisscross pattern.
• Even Cookies: To make sure all your cookies bake evenly, roll the dough into balls of equal size and flatten them uniformly.
• Room Temp Matters: Let the butter and egg reach room temperature before you start mixing. It helps the ingredients come together smoothly, giving you a better final texture.

How to Store Leftover Peanut Butter Cookies

These cookies will stay soft and fresh in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week.

If you want to keep them even longer, they freeze well! Layer them between sheets of parchment paper in a freezer-safe container, and you can store them for up to 3 months. Just let them thaw on the counter when you’re ready to enjoy.

More Easy Cookie Recipes for You to Try at Home

If you’re a cookie addict like me, you need to try these awesome cookie recipes.

• Irresistible Marshmallow Swirl Cookies
• Lemon Glazed Cookies
• Chewy and Goey Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
• Soft and Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies
• Soft Thin Mint Cookies

You may also like…

Sweet Potato Soup

Warmly spiced broth loaded with tender sweet potatoes, soft carrots, and wilted spinach, topped with crunchy roasted pumpkin seeds. The kind of cozy soup that warms you all the way through.

Vegetarian Lasagna

Every slice is loaded with tender sautéed vegetables, creamy herbed ricotta, savory marinara, melty mozzarella, and crunchy toasted pine nuts. Hearty, comforting, and so deeply good.