Description
These super soft peanut butter cookies offer a perfect balance of sweetness and rich peanut butter flavor with a tender, chewy texture. Featuring a simple mix of pantry staples and an essential chilling step, this American classic recipe guarantees soft, thick cookies every time that melt in your mouth.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookies
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
For Rolling
- Extra granulated sugar
Instructions
- Prepare the dough: In a large bowl, beat together the creamy peanut butter, softened unsalted butter, granulated sugar, and light brown sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy. Add the large egg and vanilla extract, then mix until smooth and well combined.
- Mix dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, cornstarch, and salt to ensure even distribution.
- Combine wet and dry: Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients and stir until a soft dough forms. Make sure not to overmix to keep the dough tender.
- Chill the dough: Cover the dough and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. This step is crucial for helping the cookies maintain a thick and soft texture during baking.
- Preheat and prepare baking sheet: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and promote even baking.
- Shape the cookies: Scoop the chilled dough into tablespoon-sized balls. Roll each ball in extra granulated sugar to create a slightly crunchy exterior.
- Form the classic pattern: Place the dough balls about 2 inches apart on the baking sheet. Gently press down on each ball with a fork in a crisscross pattern to flatten slightly and create the traditional peanut butter cookie look.
- Bake: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 8 to 10 minutes, until the edges are set but the centers look slightly underbaked. Avoid overbaking to maintain a super soft texture.
- Cool: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes to finish setting. Then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely. The cookies will stay soft as they cool.
Notes
- Do not overbake—this is key to keeping the cookies super soft and chewy.
- Add chocolate chips or chopped peanuts into the dough for tasty variations.
- Dough can be chilled for up to 24 hours; if doing so, allow it to warm slightly before shaping to make scooping easier.
