These Perfectly Chewy Peanut Butter Cookies are soft, rich, and packed with classic peanut butter flavor. Each cookie has a tender center, lightly crisp edges, and sweet peanut butter chips folded into the dough for an extra burst of flavor in every bite.
If you love peanut butter cookies that stay soft and chewy instead of dry or crumbly, this easy recipe is one you’ll want to save.
Why You’ll Love These Peanut Butter Cookies
These cookies are simple to make and full of rich peanut butter taste. The combination of butter, smooth peanut butter, white sugar, and brown sugar gives them the perfect chewy texture.
The peanut butter chips add a sweet surprise, while the classic criss-cross fork pattern gives them that old-fashioned homemade look.
Recipe Details
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Yield: 24 cookies
Serving Size: 1 cookie
Ingredients
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup smooth peanut butter, at room temperature
Scant 3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup lightly packed light brown sugar
1 large egg, at room temperature
1 tablespoon milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup peanut butter chips
Instructions
Step 1: Preheat the Oven
If baking right away, preheat your oven to 350°F.
If chilling the dough overnight, wait to preheat the oven until you remove the dough from the refrigerator.
Step 2: Mix the Dry Ingredients
In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
Set aside.
Step 3: Cream the Butter and Peanut Butter
In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and peanut butter together until fluffy and smooth.
Step 4: Add the Sugars
Add the granulated sugar and light brown sugar to the peanut butter mixture.
Continue beating until fully combined and creamy.
Step 5: Add the Wet Ingredients
Add the egg, milk, and vanilla extract.
Beat well until the mixture is smooth.
Step 6: Add the Flour Mixture
Add half of the flour mixture to the wet ingredients and mix until combined.
Add the remaining flour mixture and beat until no white streaks remain.
Step 7: Fold in the Peanut Butter Chips
Using a spatula or wooden spoon, gently fold in the peanut butter chips.
At this point, you can bake the cookies right away or chill the dough overnight for a deeper flavor.
If chilling, press plastic wrap directly onto the surface of the dough and refrigerate.
Step 8: Shape the Cookies
Drop small teaspoonfuls of dough onto ungreased cookie sheets, leaving a few inches of space between each cookie.
Use a fork to gently press a criss-cross pattern into the tops. Do not flatten the cookies completely.
Step 9: Bake
Bake for 10 minutes.
Do not overbake. The cookies may look slightly underdone when they come out of the oven, but they will continue to set as they cool.
Step 10: Cool
Let the cookies rest on the baking sheet for about 1 minute.
Transfer them to a wire rack and allow them to cool completely.
Helpful Tips
Use room temperature peanut butter, butter, and egg for the best texture.
Do not overmix the dough after adding the flour.
For extra peanut butter flavor, use peanut butter chips as written, or add a few chopped peanuts for crunch.
Do not overbake. Soft cookies should still look slightly tender in the center when removed from the oven.
Chilling the dough overnight can help deepen the flavor and improve the texture.
Optional Add-Ins
Chocolate chips
Chopped peanuts
Mini peanut butter cups
White chocolate chips
A pinch of cinnamon
Storage Tips
Store cooled cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
To keep them extra soft, place a small piece of bread in the container with the cookies.
You can also freeze the baked cookies for up to 2 months. Thaw at room temperature before serving.
Final Thoughts
These Perfectly Chewy Peanut Butter Cookies are soft, sweet, and full of peanut butter flavor. With chewy centers, lightly crisp edges, and peanut butter chips in every bite, they are an easy homemade cookie recipe that’s perfect for any occasion.
