I wrote this post for classic peanut butter cookies and then last night had the feeling that I should dedicate this post to my parents, and I try to always follow those little feelings. Thank you for taking the time to always encourage, patiently teach and most of all love me through anything and everything. You gave me the wings to fly anywhere and become anything.
Music and food. Two things that store up memories like nothing else. I can love a book but never remember what was going on when I was reading it. A certain song though, well suddenly I’m right back in college teaching a pilates class, or driving to a marching band practice. Yup. Totally did that. haha, but seriously, music and food bring back so many memories and I bet a few of you have one attached to classic peanut butter cookies.
This may seem ridiculous to some of you, but I so badly wanted to feel like I could do things on my own as a kid. With siblings much older than me I watched them doing all sorts of fun and cool things and I just wanted to be big like them. I know, I should have been more content with being little because looking back I am bummed I didn’t take more advantage of being carefree. Either way, I distinctly remember my mom making peanut butter cookies one day and she let me sit up on a stool and help her make the crisscross pattern with a fork on top of the cookie dough.
How silly, a fork to press a pattern into a cookie and warm memories attached to just that. I can see the same desire in our oldest and I struggle as a mom to let her, even encourage her to be little and at the same time push her to be more and more responsible each year. It’s in these little moments that I feel balanced, a mom having fun and being little alongside her daughter and still teaching her as a mother should.
I first teach her that it’s all about the softened butter. Not melted, and not cold, perfectly soft where you see your fingerprint and indentation in the butter. Then whip it, forcing air into the sugar and butter for a fluffier cookie. I also tell her that there’s nothing more important in baking than first following the recipe, and second measuring correctly. Wet ingredients in a glass measuring cup, dry in regular cups. Flour MUST be measure just like in our tutorial.
And in the end, the fork comes out for the indentations just like Mom taught me. She’s a good mom like that.
Is Peanut Butter Good for You?
Peanut butter is very high in fats.
The fact that it is high in fats makes it high in calories also.
Peanut butter also contains many good nutrients such as protein, fiber, minerals and vitamins.
In spite of the high calorie content, eating small amounts of pure peanut butter is fine on a weight-loss diet.
Can Peanut Butter Cookie Dough be Frozen?
Roll dough into balls and freeze in heavy duty freezer bags.
Thaw and make crisscross marks on top and bake.
Or, freeze dough in disc shape in freezer bag.
Thaw, roll into balls, crisscross and bake.
What Can You Substitute For Brown Sugar?
You can use an equal amount of white sugar although the flavor and texture may be just a little different.
You can use white sugar and a little molasses or maple syrup–1 cup sugar plus 1 Tablespoon molasses or maple syrup.
For dark brown sugar, use 2 tablespoons molasses or maple syrup and 1 cup white sugar.
Classic Peanut Butter Cookies
Classic Peanut Butter Cookies
Ingredients
- 1/2 Cup Butter, softened
- 3/4 Cup Brown Sugar
- 1/4 Cup White Sugar
- 1 Cup Peanut Butter
- 1 Large Egg
- 3/4 Teaspoon Vanilla
- 1 Tablespoon Milk
- 1 3/4 Cups All Purpose Flour, make sure you [measure in this way]
- 1/4 Teaspoon Salt
- 1/2 Teaspoon Baking Powder
- 1/2 Teaspoon Baking Soda
- 1/2 Cup Sugar , for rolling
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line 2 baking sheets with parchment or silpat liners.
- In the bowl of a standing mixer, mix the butter and sugars for 1 minute on medium speed, increase to medium high for an additional 30 seconds.
- Add the peanut butter and mix another 30 seconds.
- This allows the sugars and butter to beat against the bowl, incorporating more air for a lighter, fluffier cookie.
- Add the egg, vanilla and milk and mix until smooth.
- In a separate bowl, whisk the flour, salt, powder and soda.
- Add to the wet ingredients and mix until smooth.
- Roll the peanut butter dough into balls and roll in the sugar.
- Use a fork to gently press into the dough and then lift and repeat going the opposite direction.
- Bake for 8-10 minutes.
Notes
Nutrition
Recommended Products
Million Dollar Peanut Butter Cookies
Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
Karen Hagen
I love the dedication you gave to your parents. It was very special and I’m sure they are proud of you for all your great recipes that touch everyone’s taste buds! The cookies are wonderful!!
Sweet Basil
Thank you so much Karen! My mom and dad are seriously the best! I’m so glad you enjoyed the cookie! Happy holidays!
Amina
This is THE best peanut butter cookie recipe! I’ve tried a number of recipe but none of them really stood out. My search for the perfect peanut butter cookie ends here, thank you so much!
Amina
recipes *
Amina
*recipes
Sweet Basil
Happy dancing over here!! Thank you so much for the feedback! I’m a sucker for a peanut butter cookie!!
G.anne
Cookies look great… the ingredients are there.. butt there’s no instructions?
Amanda
Was just thinking the same thing! I have all my ingredients measured out and boom! No recipe! ☹️ Here goes nothing!
Sweet Basil
The instructions are there now!
Sweet Basil
The instructions are there now. Sorry about that! Enjoy!
Geeta Pershad
Wonderful recipe. Tried a few different ones but weren’t impressed but loved yours.
Thank you for sharing. I will be using your recipe from now. Appreciated.
Sweet Basil
Some recipes are far too dry in our opinion. Glad you liked ours!
Barbara
Great recipe! I doubled the recipe and baked for 12 minutes..perfect!
Sweet Basil
Always double pb cookies, they are so good!
Eva
Wow, this looks amazing! Gorgeous photo. Thanks for sharing the recipe 🙂
Sweet Basil
Thank you!
Joy
Just to make sure I’m making correctly, in your Classic PB cookie, are you using regular butter or unsalted butter?
Sweet Basil
unsalted. 🙂
Helen
This recipe is perfect! I made the recipe exactly as given (didn’t weigh the flour as I felt confident about how I measured it) . These are so light in texture and have great peanut butter flavor. I added some chocolate chips to a few and those were equally outstanding.
Sweet Basil
Oh I love adding chocolate chips! So glad you enjoyed them!
Victoria Miles (The Pleasant Kitchen)
Yessssssssss!!! Thank you for an amazing recipe & beautiful pictures =)
Sweet Basil
Thank you so much!
Holly
These were the best peanut butter cookies I ever made. Now I can get rid of that old recipe card I had that used crisco….gross!
Thank you!!
Pat
Just so you know. When the recipe came up for me to print (which I did) the picture of the cookie is the reeses peanut butter cup cookie. Recipe and recipe name is Classic PB cookie but the pic is wrong 🙂
Sweet Basil
Thank you! Trying to fix it
Kayle (The Cooking Actress)
aw I love this-so many sweet memories you’re making! And these pb cookies are so classic and perfect!
Ellen
Approx how many grams is a 1/2 cup of butter?
These look absolutely delicious by the way !!
Sweet Basil
About 113 grams. 🙂 Thank you!