World's Greatest Peanut Butter Cookies - Melt-in-your-mouth, soft and delicious peanut butter cookies. These are a readers' favorite recipe!
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Oh, do I have a treat for you all today! It's officially cookie baking season and we're ready to throw things into high gear around here! The cookies I'm sharing today are MELT-IN-YOUR-MOUTH delicious.
They're the cookies my husband asks me to make over and over again. No one who has tasted them has stopped at only one. That's why I call them the World's Greatest Peanut Butter Cookies. They're simply the best.
Making the World's Greatest Peanut Butter Cookies
It really doesn't take a ton of ingredients to make these heavenly cookies - only seven, and they're all basic ingredients you'll probably be able to find right in your pantry.
So, back to cookie baking season. . .before I had children I used to get together with my husband's side of the family to bake Christmas cookies each year.
We picked a Saturday, headed out to the farm and created a cookie factory within his Grandmother's kitchen that was similar to what you would see happening up at the North Pole. . .only with cookies instead of toys. . .and crazy women instead of elves.
You get what I'm saying, right? Assembly lines, cookies coming out of everywhere. . .and LOTS of testing.
Well, it's been years since I've gotten together with them to do the annual cookie baking and I have to say, I do miss it.
I think it's been so long since we've gotten together because everyones' lives have just gotten so busy! I guess that's what having kiddos does to you, doesn't it?
And just for the record, I only have two children. My sister-in-law has four. I just shake my head and secretly wonder where she stores her super powers.
Some days I literally RUN through my house trying to get things done. I'm not even kidding. Part of that may be from working a full time job and blogging on the side. The jury is still out.
All I know is that the hours in a day have become so very precious.
When I get myself into these frenzies, I need to remind myself what's most important. This is the greatest time ever to start up the cookie baking again, right? Right.
Even if life is a bit crazier, I've learned quickly that traditions are important.
I think we need to get the family together and get those cookie sheets greased again. . .because these peanut butter cookies are HAPPENING!
I hope they happen at your house, too. You're going to love them!
Want to see these cookies dressed up to the nines? Then check out my Smookies recipe that sandwiches marshmallow and chocolate between these beautiful cookies!
World's Greatest Peanut Butter Cookies
Ingredients
- ⅔ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 stick unsalted butter (softened)
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter
- 1 ⅓ cups packed light-brown sugar
- 1 large egg (beaten)
- ¾ teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Lightly coat a cookie sheet with cooking spray.
- Mix flour and baking soda in a small bowl; set aside.
- With a spoon, mix butter, peanut butter and brown sugar in a medium bowl until smooth.
- Add egg and vanilla; beat until smooth.
- Add flour mixture and stir until combined.
- Cover dough and refrigerate for 20-30 minutes.
- Roll dough into 1-inch balls and bake for 8-10 minutes.
- Remove from oven and let stand for 10 minutes; allow to cool in the refrigerator for another 20-30 minutes.
Notes
- Chilling the Dough: Refrigerating the dough for 20-30 minutes before baking is essential. This step helps solidify the fats in the dough, preventing the cookies from spreading too much during baking. It also enhances the flavor and texture of the cookies by allowing the ingredients to meld together.
- Proper Baking Time: Keep a close eye on the cookies while they are baking. Overbaking can result in dry and crumbly cookies, while underbaking may lead to cookies that are too soft and doughy. Aim for golden brown edges and slightly soft centers for the perfect texture.
- Cooling Process: Allowing the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 10 minutes after removing them from the oven helps them set up and firm up slightly. Then, transferring them to the refrigerator for an additional 20-30 minutes ensures they cool completely and maintain their shape. This step also makes it easier to handle and store the cookies without them becoming too fragile.
Kerry
Made these cookies and they were so good! I added some roughly chopped peanuts but followed the recipe exactly for the rest. I am very happy that they did not spread out, which I find happens with so many other recipes. I am making these again for my prayer group. Going to try and swap out some of the sugar for honey as they do not like overly sweet desserts.
Sara
So glad you enjoyed them, Kerry!