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Chewy Peanut Butter Cookies

prep time: 15 min | bake time: 15 min | total time: 30 min

Make these Chewy Peanut Butter Cookies and forget about the world! These cookies are rich and flavorful, with a perfect balance of a slightly crisp exterior and a soft, chewy center. They’re incredibly easy to make, require no chilling time, and can be made dairy-free for an indulgent, melt-in-your-mouth treat that everyone will love.

The Best Chewy Peanut Butter Cookies

Imagine a cookie that has crispy edges, a soft inside and a crackly top filled with peanut butter flavors. Now imagine making them and getting to enjoy them whenever the desire strikes! This recipe for Chewy Peanut Butter Cookies is quite possibly the best one you will ever make! With just a handful of ingredients and less than an hour, you’ll have cookies that the whole household is going to be obsessed with and they will surely beat any store-bought version! There is no chilling time required, but if you have a little extra time, letting the dough rest enhances both flavor and texture. If you’re a cookie monster or a peanut butter lover – you will fall in love with these cookies. They are just everything you could ever wish for in a cookie and they can easily be adapted and customized to fit your personal preferences.

Want to add chocolate chips? Nobody will judge you! Want to make them vegan? No problem – I’ve included all of my recommended substitutions to make things easy for you, no guessing just baking! Enjoy this recipe over and over again and maybe even share a cookie or two with someone you adore! Let’s get baking!

Ingredients for Chewy Peanut Butter Cookies

  • Butter: I used vegan butter sticks but you can use whatever you have on hand. The butter provides a rich, buttery flavor and helps give the cookies their chewy texture.
  • Smooth Peanut Butter: Essential for that classic peanut butter taste, smooth peanut butter also adds to the chewy consistency.
  • Cane Sugar and Light Brown Sugar: The combination of these two sugars gives the cookies their slight crispiness on the edges and a soft, chewy center.
  • Milk: I used plant based milk for this recipe but you can use any type you have on hand. I would suggest using one that has a more neutral flavor like soy or cashew. Milk adds moisture to the dough, creating a softer texture.
  • Vanilla Extract: Enhances the sweetness and adds depth to the peanut butter flavor.
  • All Purpose Flour: Forms the base of the cookies, giving them structure and chewiness.
  • Baking Soda and Baking Powder: These leavening agents help the cookies spread and rise slightly during baking.
  • Salt: Balances the sweetness and enhances the flavor of the peanut butter.

What is the Best Peanut Butter to Use?

Use smooth peanut butter for a soft, chewy texture. Regular creamy peanut butter will work too, but avoid chunky varieties as they can make the cookies dense. 

What Can I Use Besides Peanut Butter?

If you’re looking for a twist, almond butter or sunflower seed butter can be used as substitutes, although the flavor profile will differ slightly.

How To Make Peanut Butter Cookies

Maybe the easiest cookie you will make in a long time. Follow these quick instructions and you’ll be enjoying these darling cookies in no time!

Prepare the Dough

Start by creaming together the butter, cane sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy. This helps achieve a chewy texture with a slight crispiness on the edges. Add the peanut butter, milk, and vanilla extract, mixing until smooth and creamy.

Combine Dry Ingredients

Sift the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt, then gradually mix these dry ingredients into the wet mixture to form a soft, thick cookie dough. If you are opting to rest the dough this would be a good time – but no pressure!

Form and Bake

Scoop the dough into balls, roll them in cane sugar, and place on a baking sheet. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 10-12 minutes, until the edges are slightly golden.

How to Achieve Uniform Size Cookies

  • Use a Cookie Scoop: A cookie scoop or ice cream scoop ensures that each cookie dough ball is the same size. For typical peanut butter cookies, a medium (2 tbsp) scoop works well, but you can adjust the size based on your preference.
  • Weigh the Dough: For ultimate precision, use a kitchen scale to weigh each portion of dough. Aim for equal weights, such as 40 grams each, to get perfectly consistent cookies.
  • Roll Dough Balls by Hand: After scooping or portioning, roll each piece of dough into a ball with your hands and toss it in sugar. This helps to shape the dough evenly and results in a uniform look.
  • Arrange Evenly on the Baking Sheet: Place the cookies at least 3 inches apart on the baking sheet. This spacing allows them to spread evenly and bake without merging.
  • Use Multiple Baking Sheets: For consistency, bake only one sheet at a time. If you’re making a big batch, prepare multiple sheets and rotate them, so each batch has the same baking time and heat distribution.

How to Customize Your Soft Chewy Peanut Butter Cookies

These chewy peanut butter cookies are versatile and can easily be customized to suit your taste! Try mixing in chocolate chips for peanut butter chocolate chip cookies, or use crunchy peanut butter instead of creamy for a different texture. If you prefer a less sweet cookie, adjust the sugar amounts or add a sprinkle of sea salt on top. Drizzle some chocolate on baked cookies and top it with salted peanuts. 

How to Store Leftover Cookies?

Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days. For longer storage, you can freeze them for up to 2 months and thaw them at room temperature and re-heat for freshness before enjoying.

Why I Love This Chewy Peanut Butter Cookie Recipe

This recipe is everything you want in a peanut butter cookie: soft and chewy with just the right amount of crisp around the edges. Plus, they are naturally egg-free and can easily be made dairy-free, so they’re accessible for various dietary preferences. With simple ingredients and easy steps, these cookies are perfect for any occasion, and the dough can be made in advance, making it a convenient, go-to recipe.

FAQ for Chewy Eggless Peanut Butter Cookies

Tips for Making The Best Peanut Butter Cookies

  • Use Room Temperature Ingredients: Room-temperature butter and peanut butter blend more easily, creating a smooth, consistent dough and ensuring even baking.
  • Don’t Overmix the Dough: Mix the ingredients until just combined to avoid incorporating too much air, which can lead to cakier cookies. This step helps maintain the cookies’ dense and chewy texture.
  • Roll in Sugar: Tossing the dough balls in cane sugar before baking adds a slightly crisp, crackly texture to the cookie surface while enhancing caramelization.
  • Shape While Warm: After baking, use a round cookie cutter to gently reshape the cookies for a perfectly round appearance. Do this while they’re still warm for the best results.
  • Bake at the Right Temperature: Make sure your cookies are already at room temperature before baking and use 350°F (175°C) for the perfect balance between chewy centers and crispy edges. Remove the cookies when the edges are just set, and the centers look soft—they’ll continue to firm up as they cool.
  • Rest the Dough (Optional but Recommended): Letting the dough rest for 30–45 minutes, or even overnight, allows the flavors to develop and improves the texture, resulting in more pronounced crackles and a deeper flavor profile.

Did you make these cookies?

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Meet Saloni

I’m a former pastry chef with a love for breads, cakes and everything in between! My recipes are easy to follow, egg free and are designed to be shared with others!

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Chewy Peanut Butter Cookies 

Make these Chewy Peanut Butter Cookies and forget about the world! These cookies are rich and flavorful, with a perfect balance of a slightly crisp exterior and a soft, chewy center. They’re incredibly easy to make, require no chilling time, and can be made dairy-free for an indulgent, melt-in-your-mouth treat that everyone will love.
Author: Saloni Mehta
Rate
Yield: 17 cookies
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 15 minutes
Total: 30 minutes

Ingredients

  • 110 g Butter*
  • 130 g Smooth Peanut Butter
  • 110 g Cane Sugar*
  • 100 g Light Brown Sugar
  • 40 ml Milk* room temp
  • 2 tsp Vanilla Extract
  • 210 g All Purpose Flour
  • ½ tsp Baking Soda
  • ½ tsp Baking Powder
  • ½ tsp Salt
  • 60 g Cane Sugar* for coating the cookies
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Instructions

  • In a mixing bowl cream together butter and sugars (both brown and cane) until light and fluffy, using a handheld electric whisk or a paddle attachment fitted in a stand mixer.
  • Add smooth peanut butter and mix until well combined.
  • Add milk and vanilla, mix to form creamy consistency.
  • Scrape down the sides with a spatula so that there are no lumps of butter.
  • Combine all the dry ingredients (flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt) in a separate bowl and add it to the butter mixture.
  • Mix on low speed to form cookie dough.
  • Cover with plastic wrap and allow the cookie dough to rest at room temperature for 30 minutes.
  • Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with baking paper.
  • Use a 2-tablespoon cookie scoop or a measuring spoon to portion the dough approximately (40g for each cookie dough).
  • Roll the scooped cookie dough round by hand and toss it in cane or castor sugar.
  • Place them at least 2-3 inches apart on the baking sheet.
  • Bake for 10-12 minutes.
  • Use a round cookie cutter to re-shape the cookies in a perfect round shape while they’re straight out of the oven and warm.
  • Sprinkle sea salt If desired.

Notes

  • Cup vs weighing scale: The US customary cup measurement serves as a rough estimate, as it can have uncertainties, so for precise results, it's recommended to weigh your ingredients using a digital scale in grams.
  • Before you start to make any recipe, measure and prepare your ingredients so the process will go smoothly and easily.
  • For teaspoon (tsp) and tablespoon (tbsp) measurements, please use measuring spoons and not the type of spoons you eat with for accuracy.
  • Milk: You can use any dairy-free unsweetened milk (like almond, soy, oat) or dairy based whole milk.
  • Butter: Dairy-free butter sticks or any butter of your choice.
  • Sugar: Cane sugar can be substituted with granulated sugar or castor sugar. Ensure the sugar is vegan-friendly (some sugars are processed with bone char) or use organic cane sugar.

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