Chewy Peanut Butter Cookies

If you're looking for chewy peanut butter cookies, this is your recipe. They're a tiny bit crisp on the outside, deliciously soft and chewy in the middle, and full of peanut flavor. You will LOVE them!

If you love peanut butter cookies, also try our gluten-free peanut butter cookies, chickpea peanut butter cookies, and bacon bourbon peanut butter cookies!

Chewy Peanut Butter Cookies

These peanut butter cookies are just like the ones that granny used to make. They're incredibly chewy and have a strong peanut butter flavor.

The soft, chewy, and extra peanut buttery morsels are as good as it gets. But to take things just a tad further, we like to add a tiny sprinkle of flaky sea salt on top, just because sweet and salty belong together.

If you're craving peanut butter cookies, you have to try this recipe!

Tips to make the best soft and chewy peanut butter cookies

We've made A LOT of peanut butter cookies, and know that they're not all equal. We have two tricks we use that make these peanut butter cookies the best we've tried.

1. Cornstarch – Just a tiny little bit transforms these cookies. Often, PB cookies can be a little dry. But a couple of teaspoons of cornstarch makes them deliciously chewy.
2. Lots of peanut butter. We use more peanut butter and less butter than most peanut butter cookie recipes. That's because we want to really taste the peanut butter. (Should be obvious, right?)
3. A little sugar. Rolling the dough in sugar makes the cookies subtly crisp on the outside. It's the ideal contrast to the chewy centers.
4. A little salt. If you love that sweet-salty thing like us, sprinkle a little flaky sea salt on top. You won't regret it!

What type of peanut butter works best

We always use natural peanut butter (just peanuts and salt!) and it works perfectly. Natural peanut butter has a stronger peanut flavor so it makes the cookies much tastier.

How to store peanut butter cookies

These cookies will keep well for 5-7 days in a sealed container at room temperature.

Can I freeze chewy peanut butter cookies

Yes! These cookies freeze very well. Store them in a freezer-safe bag (we love these ) for up to 3 months.

Warning: these cookies are dangerously delicious straight out of the freezer. It makes snacking hard to resist!

Peanut butter cookie variations

We love this recipe the best when it's exactly as written. But sometimes it's fun to switch it up a little.

• Add chopped peanuts.
• Or use chunky peanut butter.
• Add some chocolate chips.
• Or dip the baked cookies in a little chocolate.
• Try using almond butter instead of peanut butter.

Popular cookie recipes

• Gluten Free Peanut Butter Cookies
• Chocolate Almond Thumbprint Cookies
• Glazed Coconut Lemon Sugar Cookies
• Sea Salt and Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
• The Best Chocolate Chip Cookies

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Chewy Peanut Butter Cookies Recipe

Prep: 10 minutes mins

Cook: 12 minutes mins

Total: 22 minutes mins

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 If you're looking for chewy peanut butter cookies, this is your recipe. They're a tiny bit soft on the outside, deliciously chewy in the middle, and full of peanut flavor. You will LOVE them! 

24 cookies

Ingredients

• ▢ 1 ¼ cup all-purpose flour
• ▢ 2 teaspoons cornstarch
• ▢ ½ teaspoon EACH: baking soda and baking powder
• ▢ ½ cup butter (at room temperature (we like salted – see notes))
• ▢ ½ cup granulated sugar
• ▢ ½ cup brown sugar (firmly packed )
• ▢ 1 large egg
• ▢ 1 cup peanut butter (we like salted natural peanut butter – see notes)
• ▢ 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ▢ Optional: granulated sugar for dusting the cookies
• ▢ Optional: flaky sea salt

Instructions 

• Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. 
• In a medium-sized bowl, whisk the flour, cornstarch, baking soda, and baking powder.
  1 ¼ cup all-purpose flour, 2 teaspoons cornstarch, ½ teaspoon EACH: baking soda and baking powder
• Using electric beaters or a stand mixer, cream the butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar. Add the egg and mix to combine. Add the peanut butter and vanilla and beat until it is soft and smooth. 
  ½ cup butter, ½ cup granulated sugar, ½ cup brown sugar, 1 large egg, 1 cup peanut butter, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Add the dry ingredients all at once. Mix only until just combined. Do not overmix. 
• Scoop the cookie dough using a medium-sized cookie scoop (1 ½ tablespoons) and roll into balls. If you'd like, roll the balls in some sugar then place them on baking sheets. 
  Optional: granulated sugar for dusting the cookies
• Use a fork to make a crosshatch pattern on top of the cookies, pressing the fork down gently on the cookies. 
• Bake the cookies for 12 minutes. If you'd like, sprinkle the tops with a little salt when they come out of the oven. Let them cool for 5 minutes before moving them to a cooling rack. 
  Optional: flaky sea salt

Video

Notes

If you have unsalted butter, add ¼ teaspoon of salt with the flour.

If you have unsalted peanut butter, add ¼ teaspoon of salt with the flour. (You'll want to add ½ teaspoon of salt to the flour if you have both unsalted butter and unsalted peanut butter. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1 cookie, Calories: 182kcal (9%), Carbohydrates: 21g (7%), Protein: 4g (8%), Fat: 10g (15%), Saturated Fat: 4g (25%), Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 4g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 17mg (6%), Sodium: 133mg (6%), Potassium: 94mg (3%), Fiber: 1g (4%), Sugar: 10g (11%), Vitamin A: 128IU (3%), Calcium: 13mg (1%), Iron: 1mg (6%)

© Author Kristen Stevens

We have thoroughly tested this recipe for accuracy. However, individual results may vary. See our full recipe disclosure here.

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