Chewy peanut butter cookies stacked on a plate
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Chewy Peanut Butter Cookies

by Megan Lange
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(vegetarian, soy free, can be vegan, can be gluten free, can be nut free)

These chewy peanut butter cookies are one of the most popular recipes on my website! They’re chewy yet crunchy, sweet yet salt, and simple to make. And the peanut butter can even be swapped out for any nut/seed butter you have on hand!

What you need for these Chewy Peanut Butter Cookies:

  • unsalted butter
  • smooth peanut butter
  • brown sugar
  • white sugar
  • one whole egg
  • all-purpose flour
  • baking soda
  • salt
  • chopped peanuts
Chewy peanut butter cookies on a wire cooling rack beside a jar of peanut butter

How do I make these peanut free?

Although it sounds counterintuitive, you can make these peanut butter cookies peanut free! Simply choose any other nut/seed butter (something like a cashew butter, almond butter, sunflower seed butter, hazelnut butter, etc.), and replace the peanut butter with it. You can also substitute the chopped peanuts for any other type of chopped nut, or (especially if your nut/seed butter is not super sweet) add in chocolate chips!

Raw peanut butter cookie dough balls on silicon lined baking sheet

How do I make these nut free?

Choose a seed butter like sunflower seed butter to replace the peanut butter! You can also substitute the chopped peanuts for any other type of chopped nut, or (especially if your nut/seed butter is not super sweet) add in chocolate chips!

How do I make these gluten free?

Easy – Use gluten free all-purpose flour (preferably one with xanthan gum to help with structure).

Stack of peanut butter cookies on a plate with a glass of milk and jar of peanut butter in the background

How long do they last? Can I freeze them?

These cookies last for about one week when stored on the counter in an airtight container, but they also freeze well! Freeze them while they’re still fresh for the best result (i.e. the day of or the day after you bake them).

Peanut butter cookies on a black cooling rack beside a jar of peanut butter and a glass of milk in the background

Other cookie recipes:

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Chewy Peanut Butter Cookies

  • Author: Megan Lange
  • Total Time: 50 mins
  • Yield: 18 cookies 1x
Print Recipe

Description

These peanut butter cookies are the perfect balance of crunchy and chewy! Plus, they are super easy to make, and can be made gluten free or nut free if necessary.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1/2 cup smooth peanut butter
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup white sugar
  • 1 egg, room temperature
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/3 cup chopped peanuts (optional, but highly recommended)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350F. Line two baking sheets with silicon baking mats or parchment paper.
  2. MAKE THE COOKIES: Using a stand or hand mixer, beat the softened butter and peanut butter together for a couple minutes, until smooth.
  3. Add in the brown and white sugar and beat for a few more minutes, until light in colour and fluffy in texture (when you think it’s done…go for one minute longer). Mix in the egg until well combined.
  4. Mix in the flour, baking soda, and salt until a smooth dough forms. Fold in the chopped peanuts, if you’re using them. 
  5. Cover and CHILL the dough in the fridge for 30 minutes.
  6. FORM THE COOKIES: Using 1.5 tbsp dough for each cookie, form the dough into balls and place on the prepared baking sheets a couple inches apart. No need to press down on the cookies! Keep one sheet of cookie dough balls in the fridge while the other bakes.
  7. BAKE for 10 minutes. Let cool on baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring to cooling racks. Store in an airtight container for up to a week!

Notes

For a thinner, snappier texture (rather than chewy), chill the dough for less time (~20 minutes) and press down very slightly on the cookies before baking.

Feel free to add in other mix-ins like chocolate chips, pretzels, or peanut butter chips!

Make it Gluten Free: Use gluten free all-purpose flour.

Make it Peanut Free: Use a different nut/seed butter (almond, cashew, hazelnut, sunflower)

Make it Nut Free: Use a seed butter like sunflower seed butter. You may want to add in some chocolate chips if your seed butter isn’t super sweet in order to balance the flavours.

  • Prep Time: 10 mins
  • Chill Time: 30 mins
  • Cook Time: 10 mins
  • Category: Cookies

Keywords: cookies, peanut butter cookies, chewy peanut butter cookies, peanut butter chew cookies, gluten free peanut butter cookies, crunchy peanut butter cookies, peanut butter crunch cookies, easy baked desserts, easy baked sweets, easy baked cookies, the best peanut butter cookies

Enjoy!

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