Soft & Chewy Peanut Butter Cookies – A Classic Done Perfectly

There are few desserts as comforting, nostalgic, and universally loved as Soft & Chewy Peanut Butter Cookies. With their rich peanut butter flavor, tender centers, lightly crisp edges, and signature crisscross tops, these cookies are the definition of classic homemade baking done right.

This recipe delivers everything you want from a peanut butter cookie: deep nutty flavor, melt-in-your-mouth softness, and just the right amount of chew. They’re simple enough for a weekday baking project yet impressive enough to serve for holidays, cookie swaps, bake sales, or gifting.

Unlike dry or crumbly versions, these cookies stay soft for days thanks to the perfect balance of butter, brown sugar, and peanut butter. One bite, and you’ll understand why this recipe becomes a forever favorite.

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Why These Peanut Butter Cookies Are So Good

These cookies earn rave reviews for good reason:

• Soft, chewy centers with lightly crisp edges
• Rich peanut butter flavor in every bite
• No chilling required
• Simple pantry ingredients
• Perfect for beginners and seasoned bakers alike

They’re the kind of cookie that disappears straight from the cooling rack.

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The Secret to Soft & Chewy Cookies

The magic behind the texture comes down to fat, sugar balance, and bake time. Using more brown sugar than white sugar adds moisture and chewiness, while creamy peanut butter provides richness and structure. Pulling the cookies from the oven while the centers still look slightly underbaked ensures they finish setting as they cool—staying soft instead of dry.

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Ingredients

• Unsalted butter, softened
• Creamy peanut butter
• Brown sugar, packed
• Granulated sugar
• Egg
• Vanilla extract
• All-purpose flour
• Baking soda
• Salt

These everyday ingredients combine to create bakery-style cookies without any complicated steps.

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Instructions

1. Preheat the oven
   Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. Cream butter and sugars
   In a large bowl, beat butter, peanut butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
3. Add wet ingredients
   Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until fully combined.
4. Mix dry ingredients
   In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt.
5. Combine dough
   Gradually add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and mix just until combined.
6. Shape cookies
   Scoop dough into 1½-tablespoon portions and roll into balls. Place on baking sheet and gently flatten with a fork in a crisscross pattern.
7. Bake
   Bake for 9–11 minutes, until edges are set but centers are soft.
8. Cool
   Let cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack.

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Pro Tips for Perfect Peanut Butter Cookies

• Use creamy peanut butter for best texture
• Don’t overbake—soft centers are key
• Measure flour correctly to avoid dry cookies
• Let cookies rest on the pan before moving

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Delicious Variations

Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Cookies
Fold mini chocolate chips into the dough.

Peanut Butter Blossom Cookies
Press a chocolate kiss into the center after baking.

Crunchy Peanut Butter Version
Swap creamy peanut butter for crunchy.

Gluten-Free Option
Use a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend.

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What to Serve with Peanut Butter Cookies

These cookies pair perfectly with:

• Cold milk
• Hot coffee or espresso
• Hot chocolate
• Vanilla ice cream
• Dessert platters and cookie boxes

They’re ideal for lunchboxes, after-school snacks, and holiday baking.

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Storage & Freezing

• Room temperature: Store in airtight container up to 5 days
• Freeze baked cookies: Up to 3 months
• Freeze dough balls: Bake straight from frozen, adding 1–2 minutes

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Why This Recipe Works

Butter adds flavor, brown sugar adds chew, peanut butter adds richness, and precise baking time locks in softness. The result is a perfectly balanced cookie that hits every nostalgic note while still tasting fresh and bakery-worthy.

This is the peanut butter cookie recipe you’ll come back to again and again.