Name: Easy Peanut Butter Cookies
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 85 min
Ingredients: 1 ¼ cups +2 tablespoons all purpose flour (if needed add 2 more tablespoons) ((163-195 gram)); ½ teaspoon baking powder; ¼ teaspoon baking soda; 1 pinch salt; ½ cup butter softened* ((105 grams)); ½ cup + 2 tablespoons peanut butter (plain or crunchy) ((150 grams)); ½ teaspoon vanilla; ½ cup granulated sugar ((100 grams)); ½ cup brown sugar (lightly packed) ((90 grams)); 1 large egg (room temperature)

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These Peanut Butter Cookies are so easy and delicious. The perfect amount of peanut butter makes them tasty and so hard to resist. Everyone will love these not just the kids!

How to make the Cookies

In a large bowl cream the butter, peanut butter, vanilla and sugars, then add the egg and beat to combine. In a medium bowl whisk together the dry ingredients.

Add the dry ingredients to the peanut butter mixture and mix to combine, the dough will be sticky. Move the dough to a bowl, cover and chill for at least 1 hour.

Roll the dough into balls, place on the prepared cookie sheet and gently flatten making a criss cross pattern with a fork on each cookie. Chill the cookies while the oven is pre-heating. Bake, let cool 5 minutes on the cookie sheet then move to a wire rack to cool completely before serving.

Why does the cookie dough need to be refrigerated?

I always recommended refrigerating the dough for at least an hour. Although the longer you refrigerate the dough the deeper the flavour intensifies. Of course if you don’t have time to bake them the dough will hold in the fridge for up to 2 days.

How to tell when the cookies are done?

Peanut butter cookies are done when the top of the cookie is light brown, they will still be soft to the touch when the are taken out of the oven, but they will firm up as they cool. Let them rest 5-10 minutes on the cookie sheet then move to a wire rack to cool completely.

What kind of Peanut Butter is best?

I like to use smooth peanut butter in my cookies, but crunchy will definitely work also, of course the cookies will have bits of finely chopped peanuts in them. You could also experiment with Natural Peanut Butter, but check for the salt content, if it’s without salt, you may need to add a bit more in the recipe, probably a pinch or 2 would do.

What kind of flour is best?

Since this is the type of cookie that we don’t want to spread too much, it’s best to use a higher protein flour, anywhere for 11.5 -12.50. Low protein flour will cause your cookies to spread no matter what, even if you chill the dough.

How to Store them

Before storing the cookies they should be completely cooled. Store them in an airtight container between layers of parchment paper, adding a slice of bread will keep them fresher.

They can be stored at room temperature for up to five days. These cookies should not be stored in the refrigerator as they will become staler faster (although I have to confess I love cold cookies, therefore for me they never have time to get stale)!

You could even leave the dough in the fridge over night and whip them up in the morning!

How to freeze the cookies

You can freeze them either baked or unbaked. If you are freezing the baked cookies then make sure they are completely cooled. Place them in an airtight container or freezer bag. To freeze the unbaked cookies, place the cookies (shaped) on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet and freeze until firm about an hour.

Then place the slices in an airtight container or freezer bag. Let the slices thaw for about 15-20 minutes then continue with the baking instructions. Properly stored the baked or unbaked cookies will last for about 2 to 3 months in the freezer.