Soft & Thick Peanut Butter Cookies Recipe
These Soft & Thick Peanut Butter Cookies are delightfully rich, tender, and packed with creamy peanut butter flavor. Rolled in granulated sugar before baking to create a slightly crisp exterior, these cookies offer the perfect balance of softness and thickness. Easy to make with simple pantry ingredients, they’re ideal for a comforting treat that melts in your mouth.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 27 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 1 and 1/3 cups (170g) all-purpose flour (spooned & leveled)
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients
- 1/2 cup (8 Tbsp; 113g) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- 1/2 cup (100g) packed light or dark brown sugar
- 1/4 cup (50g) granulated sugar, plus 1/2 cup (100g) for rolling
- 1 large egg, at room temperature
- 3/4 cup (about 185g) creamy peanut butter
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Set your oven to 350°F (177°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats for easy cleanup.
- Mix dry ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt until evenly combined.
- Cream butter and sugars: In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to beat the softened butter, brown sugar, and 1/4 cup granulated sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy, about 2 to 3 minutes.
- Add egg, peanut butter, and vanilla: Beat in the large egg, creamy peanut butter, and vanilla extract until fully incorporated and smooth.
- Combine wet and dry ingredients: Gradually add the dry flour mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined. Do not overmix to keep cookies tender.
- Shape and roll cookies: Scoop tablespoon-sized portions of dough and roll each into a ball. Roll the dough balls in the remaining 1/2 cup granulated sugar to coat them evenly.
- Arrange on baking sheets: Place the coated dough balls on the prepared baking sheets about 2 inches apart to allow for spreading.
- Bake the cookies: Bake in the preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the edges are set but the centers remain soft. Avoid overbaking to ensure chewiness.
- Cool before serving: Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. This helps them set and maintain thickness.
Notes
- Use creamy peanut butter for the best texture and flavor. Natural peanut butter can be used, but stir well before measuring.
- Do not overbake the cookies; they will firm up as they cool, preserving softness.
- Room temperature ingredients help create a smooth, homogenous dough.
- For extra chewiness, slightly underbake and cool completely on the baking sheet.
- Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days or freeze for longer storage.