Description
Classic Peanut Butter Cookies are a timeless treat featuring a rich, creamy peanut butter flavor combined with a soft and chewy texture. These cookies are quick to make, with simple pantry ingredients, and bake up perfectly golden with slightly crisp edges and soft centers.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1 cup creamy or crunchy peanut butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 large egg
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt to ensure even distribution of the leavening agents and seasoning.
- Cream Butter and Sugars: In a separate large bowl, use a mixer to cream the softened unsalted butter with granulated sugar, brown sugar, and vanilla extract until the mixture is light and fluffy, which helps create a tender cookie texture.
- Add Egg and Peanut Butter: Beat in the egg and peanut butter into the creamed mixture until the ingredients are thoroughly combined and smooth.
- Combine Wet and Dry: Gradually incorporate the dry flour mixture into the wet ingredients, mixing just until combined to avoid overworking the dough and keeping the cookies tender.
- Portion Dough: Scoop cookie dough onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about two inches apart to allow for spreading during baking.
- Bake Cookies: Bake in the preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the edges turn golden brown while the centers remain soft.
- Cool: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to wire racks to cool completely, ensuring they set properly.
Notes
- For crunchy peanut butter lovers, feel free to substitute creamy peanut butter with crunchy for added texture.
- Do not overmix the dough once the flour is added to keep cookies tender and chewy.
- Storing cookies in an airtight container will keep them fresh for up to a week.
- Optionally, press a fork in a crisscross pattern on each dough ball before baking for a traditional peanut butter cookie look.
- Butter should be softened, not melted, for proper creaming with sugars.
