Best Ever Peanut Butter Cookies

These are the best ever peanut butter cookies you should make for dessert tonight. Moist with every bite, you can even add chocolate chips.

We have made peanut butter oatmeal cookies for years. Lose the oats though and you can create a really creamy batter that kinda’ melts in your mouth.

Best Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

Add mini semi sweet bits of goodness to bring them even more over the top. Either way these are delicious to enjoy after dinner for sure. Get your Skippy out, make sure it is smooth, and let me tell you what else you need to create these bites of YUM.

Peanut Butter Dessert

If you’re a parent you are sure to have a few containers of this at home. It’s not just for sandwiches anymore! You can make homemade dog biscuits and even peanut butter and jelly donuts with it. If you’re looking for a little sweetness after dinner though, these will be the ticket.

1. All purpose flour
   1. make sure you know how to properly measure flour
2. Butter
3. Salt
4. Creamy peanut butter
   1. I personally don’t like using natural peanut butter
   2. crunchy peanut butter is probably fine, I just don’t prefer it or have it on hand always
5. White sugar and brown sugar
6. Egg + an additional egg yolk (that’s the secret)
7. Vanilla
8. 2 bowls
9. Fork for the criss cross pattern on top

1/2 cup to 3/4 c. chocolate chips are a great add in but not necessary. You could use semi sweet which is my go to or white chips for a milder taste.

This whole prep, bake and cooling process will take you approximately 30 minutes. Reason I include a bit of cool time is that it will allow them to set sitting on the sheet after you take them out. BUT it will also allow the middle to become super soft with the outer rim a bit crunchy. The perfect consistency is key to the best cookie recipe.

Best Peanut Butter Cookies Soft

As with any baking project you might do in your kitchen, you’ll need 2 bowls. One you’ll cream the butter, eggs and granulated sugar together and the other will mix dry ingredients. This is important for all ingredients to combine properly and bake right.

I like to use a small cookie scoop to ensure they are all the same size. You can see here how there is not a differentiation where there would be with a spoon. Baking every item evenly will ensure that each one is as chewy and moist as you dream of. A silpat mat, or lightly spraying your pan is a must too.

Peanut Butter Cookies Recipe

I cannot stress this enough but do NOT bake these too long. Remember that as they sit and cool on the sheet they will continue to harden more and stiffen up. You don’t want it wet in the middle but just enough where the edges are browned. Then pull them out and sit pan on a cooling rack.

Wait the 10 minutes or so to cool down and solidify the middle more. Then use a spatula and enjoy.

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a bowl mix together dry ingredients.
• In another bowl beat together the butter and creamy peanut butter together until smooth. Then add sugars and beat until creamy.
  • can use hand or stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment
• Add egg and your extra egg yolk and vanilla. Beat for about 30 seconds. Slowly incorporate all purpose flour dry mixture until batter is smooth. If you want to add chocolate chips fold them in now.
• Use a cookie scoop (or roll into balls) so they are all the same size. Place on a lightly sprayed cookie sheet or baking sheet with parchment or a silpat sheet on top.
• Use a fork to gently press down twice on each one. Face the tines the opposing directions on each press so they are crossed and batter it a bit flattened.

Bake for 8 minutes in a preheated oven. Remove and keep on baking sheet until completely cooled. You’ll create a very moist fall apart cookie this way. Love this flavor and want more? Try our peanut butter and jelly squares next.

If you want a REALLY intense peanut butter flavor you can smear some of this frosting on top too. You’ll need a couple cups of peanut butter if you want to make both of these. OR smash two cookies together with the frosting in between for a really sticky great recipe for dessert.

I do not find a need to chill the dough myself but some like it to be more stiff to roll it out in their hands instead of using a scoop. That is up to you. It is a bit easier to make the pattern on top if they are a bit stiffer too.

How long will homemade cookies stay fresh?

It depends how well you store them. The best way to store leftover cookies is to use freezer bags. Lay a few inside in a flat layer, then place a piece of bread on top and put a second layer on top of that. I know, weird right but it will keep that moisture in the bag so they don’t dry out!

Keep them on the counter and not in the fridge. Suck the air out every time you seal it and they will be good for at least 3 days.

For an easier, but just as delicious, idea you should also try strawberry cake mix cookies and/or some cake mix crinkle cookies right here. You can make them any color(s) you like which means they are fun for the holidays.