I recently whipped up a batch of Classic Peanut Butter Cookies using creamy unsalted peanut butter, granulated sugar, a large egg, and a dash of baking soda, finished with a delicate sprinkle of sea salt. In just 30 minutes, these cookies emerged soft and chewy, creating an unexpectedly delightful treat.

Jump to Recipe

I’ve been experimenting with peanut butter lately and stumbled across just the perfect recipe for peanut butter cookies that are soft and chewy in every bite. I promise you, these cookies are unlike any others – they’re thick and chewy with a texture that reminds me of those homemade chewy peanut butter cookies I used to make back in high school.

The base is simple: just 1 cup of creamy peanut butter (unsalted if you can get it), 1 cup granulated sugar, a room temp large egg, and 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda to give them that ideal lift. Once mixed, the dough is formed into rounds and sprinkled with a touch of sea salt to enhance the flavour.

I like calling these the best soft and chewy peanut butter cookies around because they have a balance of sweet and savory that really melts in your mouth. Give it a try and let me know what you think!

Why I Like this Recipe

I like this recipe because it’s super simple to make, it only takes about 30 minutes and doesn’t have a ton of ingredients. I also love the soft and chewy texture which just gives me that warm, nostalgic feeling every time I bite into one. Another reason is the sea salt sprinkled on top which makes the sweet peanut butter really pop, adding a nice contrast of flavors. Lastly, it feels great to whip up something homemade without having to go on a crazy ingredient hunt from the store.

Ingredients

Print Recipe (No Advertisments)

Peanut butter offers creamy texture, healthy fats and protein boost for tastier cookies.
Sugar adds sweetness and helps create a light crisp texture in every bite.
Egg binds ingredients and adds moisture that makes cookies soft and chewy.
Baking soda helps cookies rise and gives them a light airy structure overall.
Sea salt sprinkles extra flavor to balance sweetness while adding a mild crunch.
Together they create a perfect balance of sweet, salty and savory touches.
Fresh ingredients make the cookies taste homemade, warm and inviting.

Ingredient Quantities

1 cup creamy peanut butter (unsalted if you can get it)

1 cup granulated sugar

1 large egg, room temp

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

Sea salt (for sprinkling on top)

How to Make this

Print Recipe (No Advertisments)

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

2. In a bowl, mix together 1 cup of creamy peanut butter, 1 cup granulated sugar, and 1 large egg until it’s well blended.

3. Stir in 1/2 teaspoon baking soda until fully combined.

4. Scoop about a teaspoon of dough for each cookie and roll them into balls on your prepared sheet.

5. Flatten each ball slightly with a fork, making a criss cross pattern on top.

6. Sprinkle a little bit of sea salt on each cookie.

7. Put the cookies in the oven and bake for 10 minutes.

8. Remove from the oven and let them sit on the baking sheet for a few minutes before moving them to a cooling rack.

9. Enjoy your soft and chewy peanut butter cookies as they cool down!

Equipment Needed

1. Oven (you need this to preheat to 350°F)
2. Baking sheet (make sure to line it with parchment paper)
3. Parchment paper
4. A mixing bowl (big enough for all your ingredients)
5. Measuring cups and spoons (for the peanut butter, sugar, and baking soda)
6. A fork (to flatten and make a criss cross pattern on the cookies)
7. Cooling rack (to let your cookies cool off after baking)

FAQ

Can I use crunchy peanut butter instead of creamy?

Sure you can, but the cookies might have a different texture and might not come out as smooth as with creamy peanut butter.

What does the baking soda do for these cookies?

Baking soda helps the cookies rise a little and become softer in the middle so they dont turn out too flat.

Why do we need to use a room temp egg?

Using a room temp egg helps it mix better with the peanut butter and sugar, which can give you a more even texture.

Can I add extra salt or leave it off completely?

You can adjust the salt on top to your taste, but the sea salt really helps balance out the sweetness, so its a good idea to use at least a little.

How long do I bake these cookies for the best result?

Most bakers go with baking them at 350°F for around 10 minutes, but keep an eye on them since every oven is a bit different.

Perfect Peanut Butter Cookies Recipe Substitutions and Variations

If you can’t find unsalted peanut butter, you could use almond butter or sunflower seed butter which work really well in these cookies
Instead of granulated sugar, you might try using brown sugar or coconut sugar. They might change the texture a bit, but it will still taste great
No egg? Mix 1 tablespoon of ground flaxseed with 3 tablespoons of water and let it sit for 5 minutes to replace one large egg
If you are out of baking soda, you can use baking powder instead (use about 1 teaspoon baking powder to replace 1/2 teaspoon baking soda) just remember it might affect the rising a bit
Not got sea salt? Kosher salt works just as well for sprinkling on top, though the grains may be a tad larger

Pro Tips

1. Try not to overmix the dough too much – once your ingredients are combined, mixing more can make the cookies denser and less chewy.
2. If you have a cookie scoop lying around, use it so your cookies are all the same size. This way they cook evenly and you dont end up with some burnt and some underdone.
3. Keep an eye on the timer even if it says 10 minutes – every oven is a bit different so it might be a minute less or a minute more depending on your machine.
4. When you take the cookies out, let them sit on the baking sheet for a few minutes before moving them to a cooling rack, so they firm up a bit and dont break apart.

Perfect Peanut Butter Cookies Recipe

Recipe by Tina Bueller

0.0 from 0 votes

Servings

servings

Calories

323

kcal

Equipment: 1. Oven (you need this to preheat to 350°F)
2. Baking sheet (make sure to line it with parchment paper)
3. Parchment paper
4. A mixing bowl (big enough for all your ingredients)
5. Measuring cups and spoons (for the peanut butter, sugar, and baking soda)
6. A fork (to flatten and make a criss cross pattern on the cookies)
7. Cooling rack (to let your cookies cool off after baking)

Ingredients

1 cup creamy peanut butter (unsalted if you can get it)
1 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg, room temp
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
Sea salt (for sprinkling on top)

Directions

Preheat your oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a bowl, mix together 1 cup of creamy peanut butter, 1 cup granulated sugar, and 1 large egg until it's well blended.
Stir in 1/2 teaspoon baking soda until fully combined.
Scoop about a teaspoon of dough for each cookie and roll them into balls on your prepared sheet.
Flatten each ball slightly with a fork, making a criss cross pattern on top.
Sprinkle a little bit of sea salt on each cookie.
Put the cookies in the oven and bake for 10 minutes.
Remove from the oven and let them sit on the baking sheet for a few minutes before moving them to a cooling rack.
Enjoy your soft and chewy peanut butter cookies as they cool down!

Notes

Below you’ll find my best estimate of this recipe’s nutrition facts. Treat the numbers as a guide rather than a rule—great food should nourish both body and spirit. Figures are approximate, and the website owner assumes no liability for any inaccuracies in this recipe.