George Washington Carver, an American agricultural scientist, created more than 300 products made from peanuts—including food, beverages, medicines, cosmetics, paints and household appliances. One of his discoveries involves tender yet crunchy and subtly rich peanut butter cookies. His historic creation inspires this recipe, and you probably already have most of these ingredients hanging out in your pantry or fridge, making it easy to bake these sweet delights at any time.
Ingredients for Peanut Butter Cookies
- Shortening: We prefer shortening because it’s a fat that contains no water, which prevents steam from being produced when baking these cookies. It also contributes to a delicate and lighter-tasting dessert.
- Peanut butter: In this recipe, we use smooth peanut butter and fold it into the dough to give these cookies a sweet and salty flavor.
- Sugar: We rely on granulated sugar to enhance the sweetness of the peanut butter in this cookie recipe.
- Brown sugar: The brown sugar in this peanut butter cookie recipe is responsible for the caramelized textures and flavors in these peanut butter cookies.
- Eggs: We mix eggs in this dough to help leaven and form the shape of these peanut butter cookies. It’s best to use room-temperature eggs when baking, so as to improve the texture of your baked good.
- All-purpose flour: We prefer using all-purpose flour, which creates a tender and crumbly texture in these peanut butter cookies.
- Baking soda: This leavening agent helps the peanut butter cookies bake evenly.
Directions
Step 1: Make the cookie dough
Preheat the oven to 375°F. In a large bowl, cream the shortening, peanut butter and both sugars until light and fluffy, five to seven minutes. Next, add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Combine the flour, baking soda and salt. Add the dry ingredients to the creamed ones and mix well.
Step 2: Bake the cookies
Roll the cookie dough into 1-1/2-inch balls, and place them 3 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake the cookies for 10 to 15 minutes. Allow them to cool on a wire rack before serving.
Editor’s Tip: Use a fork to flatten and press the dough balls before baking to give them that nostalgic criss-cross imprint.
Peanut Butter Cookie Variations
- Use crunchy peanut butter: If you prefer cookies with some texture, consider adding crunchy peanut butter to the dough.
- Dip the cookies: For a fun decoration idea, melt chocolate or caramel and dip the peanut butter cookies halfway to create a half-moon design.
- Add peanut butter cups: If you’re a serious peanut butter lover, try chopping up some Reese’s cups and mixing them into the dough to make these cookies extra rich and delicious.
How to Store Peanut Butter Cookies
After baking, let the peanut butter cookies come to room temperature, then place them in an airtight container. You can keep them hanging out on your counter for up to a week.
Can you make these peanut butter cookies ahead of time?
These easy peanut butter cookies are a great sweet treat to meal-prep for the week. You can pack them for lunch or eat them for dessert after dinner. We recommend following the recipe and then storing them in an airtight container; they can last for up to a week.
Can you freeze these peanut butter cookies?
If you want to freeze these peanut butter cookies, we recommend making the dough, scooping it into balls and storing them in an airtight container or freezer-friendly bag. You can keep them in the freezer for up to two months.
How long do peanut butter cookies last?
You can store these already-baked peanut butter cookies in an airtight container for up to a week on your counter, or freeze them for 8 to 12 months.
Peanut Butter Cookie Tips
Can I make a vegan version of this peanut butter cookies recipe?
You can whip up a plant-based version of these peanut butter cookies with a few simple tweaks. When you’re shopping for shortening, make sure you grab one that’s vegetable-based. For every egg, swap in 1/4 cup of applesauce. Then follow the recipe directions to bake these delicious bites.
Can I use almond butter for these cookies?
If you prefer almond butter over peanut butter, you can definitely use almond butter in these cookies. Just follow the recipe and swap the peanut butter for almond butter. Keep in mind that the taste may vary slightly, but the cookies will still turn out delicious.
How do I know when the peanut butter cookies are finished baking?
When checking if the peanut butter cookies are ready, observe whether they begin to spread slightly and if their edges turn golden brown, alerting that it’s time to remove them from the oven.
