Old-Fashioned Peanut Butter Cookies

Total Time

Prep: 15 min. Bake: 10 min./batch

Makes

3 dozen

Updated: Jun. 30, 2023
My mother insisted that my grandmother write down one recipe for her when Mom got married in 1942: the how to make peanut butter cookies from scratch recipe. That was a real effort because Grandma was a traditional pioneer-type cook who used a little of this or that until it felt right. This treasured recipe is the only one she ever wrote down! —Janet Hall, Clinton, Wisconsin

Ingredients

  • 1 cup shortening
  • 1 cup peanut butter
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 cup packed brown sugar
  • 3 large eggs, room temperature
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 375°. In a large bowl, cream shortening, peanut butter and sugars until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Combine flour, baking soda and salt; add to creamed mixture and mix well.
  2. Roll into 1-1/2-in. balls. Place 3 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Flatten with a meat mallet or fork if desired. Bake 10-15 minutes. Remove to wire racks to cool.
Test Kitchen tips:
  • Use a glass with a pretty pattern on the bottom to add flair to these cookies.
  • Dark brown sugar contains more molasses than light or golden brown sugar. The types are generally interchangeable in recipes. But if you prefer a bolder flavor, choose dark brown sugar.
  • Check out 55 of our most impressive cookie recipes.
  • Nutrition Facts

    1 cookie: 180 calories, 9g fat (2g saturated fat), 18mg cholesterol, 128mg sodium, 21g carbohydrate (12g sugars, 1g fiber), 3g protein.