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.
Carol
These peanut butter cookies are truly the best. I made some for my grandchildren and one of them called them, “Gran’s world famous cookies.”
Sara
I love it, Carol!
Anonymous
These cookies are way too sweet!
Not my favorite!
Cheryl
Best gluten free cookies I’ve ever made! ! Thank you!
Vanessa
Thanks for sharing! Do they keep long?
Sara
Well, they never last long in our house! If you want to extend their shelf-life, stick them in the fridge and just allow them to come to room temp before enjoying!
Suzanne
These look so good! Peanut butter cookies are such a favorite treat and its nice that the ingredient list is simple!
Jasmine
Hi these look absolutely gorgeous and delicious.I highly recommend
Blake
Came out perfect! Great quarantine treat!
Marcia
I must agree, this is a very delicious recipe. This recipe is easy to put together. Very well worth your time.
Anonymous
Can I swap out creamy pb with chunky?
Sara
I've only made the cookies with creamy peanut butter but I don't see why you couldn't use chunky. If you try it, let me know how the cookies turn out!
Anonymous
Hello. I never leave comments, but felt compelled for the benefit of your friends and family, as my friends and family have loved this recipe. I've heard it's the best they've ever had. My only change was to add enough chocolate chips at the end, as well as to refrigerate the dough overnight, and only take it out of the fridge to bake immediately, only to return the dough to the fridge. Cheers.
Sara
Thank you for leaving a comment! Your tips are great!
Christine
Sooooo good, I just had 3 before even putting in the fridge!
Sara
So glad you enjoyed them!!
Smg65
Hello! Just made these yesterday, so incredibly pea-nutty! Only thing I did different was melted and browned one stick of butter then let other stick melt in warm butter. Mixed the rest the same. My husband and his friends at work want more!! I doubled the recipe, thank goodness! Hubby said the cookie lasted a WHOLE hour!! EXCELLENT cookie!:):)!
Sara
Oh I'm so glad you all enjoyed the cookies. Sounds like you'll be making more real soon. Thanks for the comment!
Debbie R
These are awesome!
Sara
So glad you enjoyed them, Debbie!
Margo
I followed directions to a tee and they came out weirdly flat. The flavor is there but they no more resemble your picture than the man in the moon. Baking soda was good. I checked to make sure it wasn't expired. Why do you think?
Sara
These peanut butter cookies aren't thick by any means. They should be flat, but it seems you are saying yours were extremely flat? Did you remember to cover and refrigerate the dough before baking?
Toby P.
I made these for my husband today. Only change was I rolled in granulated sugar and put hash marks on the tops. They were wonderful!! I highly recommend this recipe!
Sara
So glad you and your husband enjoyed them!
Paula McAnally
I love this recipe! Being a southern baker, that has tried a lot of different peanut butter cookie recipes, this is one of the best I’ve tried. I did bake mine at 350 for eleven minutes and they may have been bigger than your recipe called for so they were falling apart somewhat. The next dozen I baked I made smaller size but at 350 and eleven minutes again and they were perfect! Thanks so much for the recipe!
Sara
Thanks so much for your comment, Paula! Sometimes it takes a little trial and error. Glad you enjoyed them!