I had a large jar of peanut butter sitting in my pantry that we rarely used for sandwiches, so it was just taking up space. After watching an episode of MasterChef—where contestants created impressive Peanut Butter and Jelly desserts—I felt inspired to turn my jar into something special.
I searched online for recipes and experimented until I developed a simple, delicious peanut butter cookie that our family loved. Below are photos that document the process and the finished cookies.
Peanut Butter Cookies
Prep time: 30 mins
Cook time: 15 mins
Total time: 45 mins
Ingredients
1 3/4 – 2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup granulated sugar (adjust to taste)
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 stick (1/2 cup) butter, softened
1 large egg
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup smooth peanut butter
Instructions
1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a large bowl, cream the softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
3. Beat in the egg, then add the vanilla and peanut butter. Mix until smooth and well combined.
4. Stir in the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until a soft dough forms. Add the extra flour (up to 2 cups) only if the dough is too sticky.
5. Portion the dough into small balls, slightly smaller than golf balls. Flatten each ball gently with your palms and place on the prepared baking sheet about 2 inches apart.
6. Use a fork to press a criss-cross pattern into the top of each cookie.
7. Bake for 10–15 minutes, until the edges are lightly golden. Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
I use less sugar to reduce sweetness, but you can increase it to 1 cup if you prefer sweeter cookies. For a slightly crunchy edge, roll the dough balls in extra sugar before baking.
These cookies are easy to make and hard to resist—my kids loved them. Give the recipe a try and leave a comment to share how yours turned out.
Love ya!