Peanut butter cookies are easy to make and always a hit. This recipe is a good option when you need to quickly replenish your cookie supply. Preparation takes less than thirty minutes from mixing to baking and does not require complex equipment.
The main secret is not to overbake the cookies. These cookies should come out of the oven still soft, as they will continue to firm up as they cool.
Peanut Butter Cookie Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup smooth, creamy peanut butter
- ½ cup white sugar
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ cup softened butter
- 1½ cups flour
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 180°C.
- In a large bowl, beat the softened butter, white sugar, and brown sugar until creamy.
- Add the egg, vanilla extract, and peanut butter. Mix until smooth.
- Stir in the flour and baking powder, continuing to mix until a smooth cookie dough forms.
- Roll the dough into small balls and place them on a baking sheet. Gently press each ball with a fork to flatten it.
- Bake for 10–12 minutes, until the cookies are slightly set.
- Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet until fully hardened before moving them.
Why Are My Peanut Butter Cookies Dry?
The most common reason is overbaking. Peanut butter cookies may look slightly underbaked immediately after coming out of the oven, but they become denser as they cool. If you wait until the centers of the cookies look completely firm in the oven, the finished cookies are likely to be dry rather than chewy. You need to monitor them closer towards the end of the 10–12 minute baking time.
Why Is Softened Butter Specified in the Recipe?
Softened butter mixes more easily with the sugars, ensuring a smooth mixture before adding the other ingredients. The butter should be soft enough for easy mixing but not melted. Melted butter changes the behavior of the cookie dough and can affect the final shape and texture.