• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Heather's Homemade Kitchen logo
  • Home
  • Recipes
    • Breakfast
    • Lunch & Dinner
    • Sides
    • Dessert
    • Breads and Muffins
    • Snacks
  • About
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipes
  • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Cookies

    Old Fashioned Peanut Butter Cookies

    July 14, 2022 | Updated July 14, 2022 | Heather Warburton

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Stack of old fashioned peanut butter cookies and top view of cookies on wire rack.

    Old Fashioned Peanut Butter Cookies have everything you want in a cookie. Chewy, sweet and full of peanut butter flavor, they just melt in your mouth! The perfect cookie to make over and over again.

    Old fashioned peanut butter cookies piled on wire rack.

    This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. Click HERE to read my policies.

    Why We Love These Old Fashioned Peanut Butter Cookies

    • They are full of peanut butter flavor for all the peanut butter lovers, including my hubby and kids!
    • An easy cookie recipe that requires no chilling.
    • They have the perfect chewy and crisp edge texture that everyone wants in a cookie.
    • This classic peanut butter cookie recipe makes a huge batch. Enough that you can share with family, friends and co-workers or freeze some for later.
    • Freezer friendly! Freeze baked peanut butter cookies or the cookie dough and bake them later.

    Old-Fashioned Peanut Butter Cookies Recipe Ingredients

    • Salted Butter
    • Creamy Peanut Butter
    • Light Brown Sugar
    • Sugar
    • Eggs
    • Pure Vanilla Extract
    • Baking Soda
    • Salt
    • Unbleached All Purpose Flour
    Old fashioned peanut butter cookie ingredients.

    Substitution Suggestions:

    • Salted Butter: Feel free to use unsalted butter if that is what you have on hand. I suggest adding an additional ½ teaspoon of salt to the cookie dough.
    • Creamy Peanut Butter: If you want a little extra texture and crunch in your cookie, you can use crunchy peanut butter. You could also use almond butter, just make sure it is stirred well and creamy. If the almond butter is too sticky or thick, the cookies won't turn out chewy.
    • Pure Vanilla Extract: Don't skimp with this ingredient. Use pure extracts. The imitation extracts are fake flavored water that is chemically made and you can taste it when you use it.
    • All Purpose Flour: You can substitute with whole wheat flour, white whole wheat flour or a blend of all of them. I like to use half all purpose flour and half whole wheat flour sometimes. It gives a little more depth of flavor to the cookies.
    Stack of six old fashioned cookies surrounded by more cookies.

    This easy peanut butter cookie recipe uses simple ingredients, perfect to make any day of the week. Another reason why they are the best peanut butter cookies!

    How to Make Chewy Peanut Butter Cookies

    1. Heat oven to 350°F and line at least two baking sheets with parchment paper. I like to use three cookie sheets, makes the baking process go faster.
    2. In a stand mixer with paddle attachment or hand mixer and large mixing bowl, cream butter, peanut butter, brown sugar, and 1 cup of white sugar together until creamy.
    3. Next, add the eggs, one at a time beating well after each egg.
    4. Then mix in the pure vanilla extract.
    5. Now add the dry ingredients: baking soda, salt and all purpose flour. Mix on low speed until just fully incorporated.
    Cookie dough in metal mixing bowl and some of red spatula.
    1. Place the remaining ½ cup sugar in a separate bowl. I like to use a medium bowl with a flat bottom, so I can roll a few at the same time.
    2. Using a small cookie scoop or 1 tablespoon, scoop cookie dough and roll into balls. Roll cookie dough in sugar and then place 2 inches apart on prepared baking sheet.
    Cookie dough balls on cookie sheet with bowl of sugar and one cookie dough ball in bowl.
    1. Using tines of a fork press lightly in a criss-cross pattern, or you can flatten slightly with the palm of your hand or bottom of a glass. You can also use pretty cookie stamps that will give fun designs on the top of your cookies.
    Cookie dough pressed with fork on cookie sheet.
    1. Bake cookies for 8-10 minutes until the center no longer looks wet or glossy and the edges are set.
    2. Let cookies cool on pan for 3 minutes then remove to cooling rack and cool completely.
    Old fashioned peanut butter cookies in rows on wire rack.

    Storing Old Fashioned Peanut Butter Cookies

    Storing: Store the cooled cookies in an airtight container. Keep them in a cool dry place and they'll last a few weeks. If you notice the cookies starting to get a little dry or hard, add a piece of bread to the container with the cookies. It will add moisture back into the cookies.

    Freezing: These cookies freeze well! Place the cooled cookies in a freezer safe airtight container in single layers, between pieces of wax paper. Label, date and freeze. Cookies will last 3-4 months in the freezer.

    Thawing: To thaw the frozen cookies, simply let them sit at room temperature for a few hours.

    Freezing Peanut Butter Cookie Dough

    Freezing Cookie Dough: place peanut butter cookie dough balls that have been rolled in sugar and pressed gently with fork on a large baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Then freeze the dough for at least an hour or two. Once frozen, place the frozen cookie dough in a freezer safe airtight container or zip top bag. I like to freeze them between layers of wax paper. Label, date and keep frozen until ready to use.

    Baking Frozen Cookie Dough: To bake the frozen cookie dough, place cookie dough on parchment lined cookie sheets 2 inches apart. Then bake frozen dough at 350°F increasing baking time to 12-15 minutes or until edges are set and the centers no longer look wet. Cook time will vary on how cold your cookies are when placed in the oven. Cool cookies on pan for 3 minutes and then remove to wire rack to cool completely.

    Top view of old fashioned cookies with one cookie broken in half.

    Tips for Homemade Peanut Butter Cookies Recipe

    • Use room temperature ingredients. It helps the dough come together better, and also helps with even baking.
    • Always fluff your flour and then spoon and level it to measure. Doing this will prevent too much flour being added and ultimately making the cookies too dense and dry.
    • Use a cookie scoop to get the same size cookies, that way they will all bake evenly. I like to use the Pampered Chef small size scoop which is equal to about 1 tablespoon.
    • Don't forget to flatten these cookies a bit. This peanut butter cookie dough is a more dense dough than others so it won't spread as much. Giving them some help before baking is ideal for a perfect peanut butter cookie. If you want your cookie to be thicker, taller and a bit cakey, you don't have to press them.
    • If using cookie sheets more than once during baking, make sure the cookie sheet is completely cooled before adding scoops of cookie dough on it.
    • For best results don't over bake the cookies. Over baking will cause the cookies to be more crisp and hard. The edges and center should look set and not glossy.
    Old fashioned peanut butter cookies with bite taken out of one and sitting on top of another cookie.

    FAQs About Easy Peanut Butter Cookies Recipe

    Why did my peanut butter cookies get hard?

    A few things could cause hard cookies: too much flour was added to the dough, ingredients were too cold, or the cookies were baked too long. It is important to measure the flour properly: fluff it, then spoon flour into measuring cup and level it off. Using room temperature ingredients allows everything to mix well properly and incorporate air. Lastly, don't overbake those cookies.

    Why do you criss cross peanut butter cookies with a fork?

    Peanut butter cookie dough is a little denser than other cookie doughs so it doesn't spread as much. Giving the cookies some help before baking is ideal for a perfect peanut butter cookie. If you want your cookie to be thicker, taller and a bit cakey, you don't have to press them.

    What is the secret to a chewy cookie?

    Butter and brown sugar are what create the chewy texture in cookies. If you want a chewier cookie, use more brown sugar and less white sugar. You can also let the cookie dough rest 30 minutes before baking. This will allow for some of the water to evaporate and increase the sugar content.

    Can you use real peanut butter in cookies?

    Yes you can use natural peanut butter in cookies. The most important thing is too make sure the peanut butter is completely stirred well and not separated at all. You may also notice the texture of your cookie being a little different since there is likely no added sugar to your real peanut butter.

    Top close view of old fashioned peanut butter cookies.

    More Peanut Butter Desserts:

    • Chocolate Chip Butterscotch Peanut Butter Cookies
    • 4 Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies
    • No Bake Scotch-a-roos
    • Peanut Butter Brownie Bars
    • Monster Cookies
    • Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
    • Peanut Butter Temptation Cookies
    • No Bake Peanut Butter Bars
    • Peanut Butter Banana Brownies
    • Peanut Butter Cereal Bars
    Old fashioned peanut butter cookies piled on wire rack.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    No ratings yet

    Old Fashioned Peanut Butter Cookies

    Old Fashioned Peanut Butter Cookies have everything you want in a cookie. Chewy, sweet and full of peanut butter flavor, they just melt in your mouth! The perfect cookie to make over and over again.
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: chewy peanut butter cookies, old fashioned peanut butter cookies, peanut butter cookies recipe
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 10 minutes
    Servings: 86 cookies
    Author: Heather

    Ingredients

    • 1 cup salted butter, softened
    • 1 cup creamy peanut butter
    • 1 cup packed light brown sugar
    • 1½ cups sugar, divided
    • 2 large eggs
    • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
    • 1 teaspoon baking soda
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • 3 cups unbleached all purpose flour

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 350°F and line at least 2 cookie sheets with parchment paper.
    • In a stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment or with hand mixer and large bowl, cream together butter, peanut butter, light brown sugar, and 1 cup of sugar until fluffy.
    • Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each egg.
    • Then beat in the pure vanilla extract.
    • Add the baking soda, salt and all purpose flour. Mix on low speed until just fully incorporated.
    • Add remaining ½ cup of sugar to a separate bowl.
    • Using a small cookie scoop or 1 tablespoon, scoop dough and roll into balls. Roll balls in sugar then place 2 inches apart on prepared cookie sheets.
    • Using the tines of a fork, press gently on the center of the cookie dough in a criss-cross pattern, or flatten with the palm of your hand.
    • Bake cookies 8-10 minutes until centers no longer look wet and edges are set.
    • Let cookies cool 3 minutes on pans and then remove to wire rack to cool completely.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1cookie | Calories: 78kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 10mg | Sodium: 59mg | Potassium: 27mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 72IU | Calcium: 6mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Please rate the recipe, leave a comment and tell me how much you loved it!
    Share the Recipe!Please share it and tag @heathershomemadekitchen and use #heathershomemadekitchen!

    More Cookie Recipes

    • Close up view of sliced sugar cookie bars with spatula.
      Sugar Cookie Bars
    • Close up of s'mores cookies on wire rack.
      S'mores Cookies Recipe
    • Five chocolate chip coffee cookies stacked in front of more cookies on wire rack.
      Chocolate Chip Coffee Cookies Recipe
    • Oatmeal raisin cookies in rows on wire rack with a small spatula under one cookie.
      Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    heathers homemade kitchen family picture

    Hi, I'm Heather! A wife and mom of 3. I like to create and share homemade recipes from breakfast to dessert that the whole family will enjoy. Thank you for stopping by!

    More About Me...

    Seasonal Recipes

    • Top view of frosted cinnamon rolls in glass baking dish.
      Easy Homemade Cinnamon Rolls
    • Roasted asparagus piled on white round plate with lemon half and fork.
      Roasted Asparagus
    • Close up of sheet pan honey mustard chicken and vegetables with spatula under sliced chicken breast.
      Honey Mustard Chicken and Vegetables
    • Strawberry rhubarb bars side view cut into squares.
      Strawberry Rhubarb Bars

    Popular Recipes

    • Best Ever Egg Bake
    • Close view of crispy coated corn flake chicken tenders
      Corn Flake Chicken Tenders
    • Close up side view of Oven roasted BBQ chicken slices.
      Oven Roasted BBQ Chicken
    • Iowa Maid Rites with pickles and loose meat spilling onto white round plate.
      Iowa Maid Rites

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    Disclosure - Privacy Policy - Terms and Conditions | About

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. Click HERE to read my policies.

    Copyright © 2023 - Heather's Homemade Kitchen - Seasoned Pro theme