World's Greatest Peanut Butter Cookies

Servings

Calories 240kcal

Author Sara

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.

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.