I don’t joke around with my claim to have the best peanut butter cookies recipe. It’s just a fact! These old-fashioned cookies are perfect in every way.
Best Peanut Butter Cookies Recipe
I love retro dessert recipes, and these crackle-top peanut butter cookies remind me of the old-fashioned treats I used to eat as a kid.
RELATED: Don’t miss my easy peanut butter pie and my famous no-bake peanut butter cookies.
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What makes these cookies the best? Well, these little beauties are small, soft, and chewy. They are great for the holidays or as a special treat anytime.
My old-fashioned peanut butter cookies are also easy to make.
That beautiful crackle top means you don’t have to waste any time fussing with fork marks on your cookies!
How to Make Homemade Peanut Butter Cookies
- Whisk together the flour, salt, and baking soda; set aside.
- Cream the margarine and sugars.
- Beat in the egg, vanilla, and the peanut butter until combined.
- Mix dry and wet ingredients.
- Chill the dough for 30 minutes before shaping. This is an important step and will help when you’re working with the dough.
- Shape rounded teaspoonfuls of dough into balls and roll in sugar. Place 2 inches apart onto an ungreased cookie sheet or a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Bake for 9 to 11 minutes until edges are set. The cookies may look a bit underdone, but don’t worry, they will continue to set up. You don’t want to overbake them!
Do you have any recipes in your repertoire that you consider your no-fail favorites? This recipe is definitely one of those for me. I turn to these cookies whenever I need a treat that everyone is sure to love.
Best Peanut Butter for Cookies
Sometimes people comment to ask if they can use natural peanut butter in my dessert recipes. While I’m a fan of natural-style peanut butter, it’s not always great for baking.
The best peanut butter for cookies is creamy, processed peanut butter. I recommend creamy Skippy or Jif, but you can also use a creamy store brand equivalent.
This is such a classic recipe. Whether you’re looking for the perfect Christmas cookies, a Thanksgiving dessert, or even some sweet treats to pop in your kids’ lunch boxes, these cookies are perfect.
I just know you’re going to love these cookies! Be sure to leave a comment below if you tried them.
Easy Cookie Recipes
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- Peanut Butter Fudge
- Best Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Chewy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
- Soft Maple Sugar Cookies
- Peanut Butter Squares (from a friend’s blog!)
Best Peanut Butter Cookies
Ingredients
- ¾ cup margarine room temperature
- ¾ cup packed brown sugar
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- ¾ cup peanut butter
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar in a small bowl for rolling
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
- In a small bowl, stir together the flour, salt, and baking soda; set aside.
- Using an electric mixer, cream together margarine, the ¾ cup granulated sugar, and brown sugar for 2 to 3 minutes or until light and fluffy. Add the egg and beat just until combined. Add the vanilla and the peanut butter and beat until combined.
- Add the flour mixture a little at a time until well combined, scraping the sides of the bowl as needed. Chill the dough for 30 minutes before shaping.
- Shape rounded teaspoonfuls of dough into balls and roll in sugar. Place 2 inches apart onto an ungreased cookie sheet or a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Bake for 9 to 11 minutes until edges are set. Cookies may look a little underdone. Allow cooling on the cookie sheet for 3 to 4 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool.
Notes
- Yes, these cookies are small!
- Since these cookies are delicate, be careful not to overbake. When you pull them out, they may look a bit underdone, but they will continue to set up. For me, about 9 or 10 minutes is perfect.
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Why didn’t my cookies flatten out
Will this work with butter instead of margarine?
Will this recipe work using Stevia instead of sugar? I have Type 2 diabetes and must control my carb. intake.
Pineapple and fat. I like peanuts. Very delicious. Thank you!
Significant piece of work, Thank You!!
Will it ruin cookie to use add-in’s..such as Chocolate chips??
I like the peanut. thanks for the tips you share.
You use margarine and not butter?
What brand of margarine?
Hi Joanne, yes, margarine! This makes them chewier. Also, this is an old recipe! :) I use Blue Bonnet brand.
Have you used butter? I won’t use margarine but don’t want to waste the ingredients if butter won’t have the same outcome? Thanks!