Melt-in-Your-Mouth Peanut Butter Cookies

Author: Mila Stevens Published: 11/24/2025

Peanut butter cookies are the ultimate cozy treat everyone adores—soft and chewy in the middle, with that unmistakable rich peanut butter flavor that hits the spot every time. They come together super fast using simple ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen. The best part? You’ll get perfectly soft, chewy cookies every single time without any headaches or stress. Whether you’re baking for your kids, packing snacks for a playdate, or just craving a sweet comfort fix, these cookies are the way to go.

I have to confess, peanut butter cookies rank right at the top of my favorite cookie list—I seriously could snack on them all day long! Plus, in about 20 minutes, your kitchen will smell like a warm, inviting hug. These cookies are quick, easy, and totally reliable. I make them often for holiday cookie platters, relaxed family game nights, or fun weekend baking sessions with my kids.

Ingredients You’ll Need

½ cup Unsalted butter, softened
½ cup Crunchy peanut butter
½ cup Granulated sugar
½ cup Light brown sugar, packed
1¼ cups All-purpose flour
¾ tsp Baking soda
½ tsp Baking powder
¼ tsp Salt
1 Large egg
½ tsp Vanilla extract

How to Make Peanut Butter Cookies with Easy, Step-by-Step Instructions

First, beat together the softened butter, crunchy peanut butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar. You can use a stand mixer or just a handheld mixer—whip it until the mixture looks light, fluffy, and creamy. Next, add the egg and vanilla extract, mixing everything until smooth and glossy.

½ cup Unsalted butter, ½ cup Crunchy peanut butter, ½ cup Granulated sugar, ½ cup Light brown sugar, 1 Large egg, ½ tsp Vanilla extract
In another bowl, whisk the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt together. Slowly add these dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring gently until the dough is soft and fluffy. Don’t skip chilling this dough in the fridge for about an hour — it really makes a difference!

1¼ cups All-purpose flour, ¾ tsp Baking soda, ½ tsp Baking powder, ¼ tsp Salt
Use a tablespoon or cookie scoop to make dough balls about 1 to 1½ tablespoons each. Place them spaced out on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Lightly press each ball down to about 1½ inches thick so they bake evenly. Bake at 350°F for about 10 minutes, or until the edges turn golden brown.
After baking, let the cookies cool on the sheet for a few minutes before moving them to a wire rack to cool completely. Then it’s time for that first warm, chewy bite—pure joy!

Cream the Butters and Sugars

Start by beating the softened butter, crunchy peanut butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until the mix is soft, creamy, and light. This is the secret to those rich peanut butter flavors and buttery goodness that keeps you coming back.

Once it’s smooth, add the egg and vanilla extract. Mix just until everything looks silky and well combined.

Butter, peanut butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar beaten until soft and fluffy.

Whisk the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt together in a separate bowl. This helps everything mix evenly later on.

Fold the dry ingredients gently into the wet batter, stirring just until the dough feels soft and light. Be careful not to overmix or your cookies could end up tough instead of tender.

Mix the Dry Ingredients

In a separate bowl, whisk together all the dry ingredients — flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Getting this right means your cookies will rise nicely and have a balanced flavor.

Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients

Gradually pour the dry mixture into the wet ingredients, mixing gently as you go. Mix just enough to bring everything together. This keeps your dough light and the cookies soft and chewy.

Chill the Dough

This is a must! Pop your dough in the fridge for about an hour before baking. Chilling slows down spreading and enhances that peanut butter punch while helping you get the perfect chewy texture.

Scoop or roll the dough into balls and set them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Give each one a gentle press to flatten a bit.

Bake at 350°F for about 10 minutes, until the edges turn a warm golden brown.

Shape and Flatten the Dough

Scoop the dough in equal portions—about 1 to 1½ tablespoons each. Leave about 2 inches of space between each ball on your baking sheet to let them spread without sticking. Press each ball down gently until they’re about 1½ inches thick, which helps them bake evenly.

Bake the Cookies

Pop the cookie sheet into a 350°F oven and bake for about 10 minutes. Keep an eye on them—the edges will get golden while the centers remain soft. That’s the sweet spot for chewy peanut butter cookies.

Cool and Serve

When you take the cookies out, let them rest on the baking sheet for a few minutes so they firm up just right. Then move them to a cooling rack to cool completely.. Serve with a cold glass of milk and get ready for warm, homemade comfort in every bite!

Recipe Notes and Expert Tips

Here are some favorite tips that’ll help you nail these peanut butter cookies every time:

Chill for the Best Texture: Refrigerating the dough stops the cookies from spreading too thin and amps up the peanut butter flavor.
Smooth vs. Crunchy: Want soft and tender cookies? Use smooth peanut butter. Like a little crunch and extra texture? Crunchy peanut butter’s perfect—pick your favorite!
Soft Centers: Take the cookies out when the edges are golden but the centers feel soft. They’ll firm up as they cool, giving you that perfect chewy center.
Fork It Up: For that classic peanut butter cookie look, press the tops of the dough balls lightly with a fork before baking to create the traditional crisscross pattern.
Even Cookies: Using dough balls all the same size and flattening them evenly helps your cookies bake uniformly and look picture-perfect.
Room Temperature Matters: Make sure your butter is softened and eggs are room temp. This makes mixing easier and your dough smoother for the best texture.

How to Store Leftover Peanut Butter Cookies

Lucky enough to have leftovers? Store them in an airtight container at room temperature to keep them soft and fresh for up to a week. That means you can snack on them all week long with zero hassle.

Want to keep them even longer? These cookies freeze beautifully! Just layer them with parchment paper in a freezer-safe container, then pop them in the freezer for up to three months. When you want a treat, thaw at room temp and enjoy that fresh-baked flavor anytime.