Classic Peanut Butter Cookies

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🥜🍪 Classic Peanut Butter Cookies
Soft centers, lightly crisp edges, and that rich, nostalgic peanut butter flavor everyone loves.

🌟 Introduction

Classic Peanut Butter Cookies are one of the most beloved homemade treats of all time. Simple, comforting, and full of rich peanut flavor, these cookies are perfect for everyday baking, holiday trays, lunchboxes, or late-night cravings. With pantry-friendly ingredients and an unmistakable crisscross pattern, this cookie proves that the simplest recipes are often the most memorable.

🥜 Ingredients

Makes about 18–24 cookies

  • 1 cup creamy peanut butter
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg (room temperature)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1½ cups all-purpose flour
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ¼ teaspoon salt

Optional Add-ins:

  • Chocolate chips
  • Chopped peanuts
  • Sea salt for topping

🧁 Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. In a large bowl, mix peanut butter and sugar until smooth and creamy.
  3. Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until fully combined.
  4. In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt.
  5. Gradually add dry ingredients to the peanut butter mixture. Mix just until combined.
  6. Scoop tablespoon-sized portions and roll into balls.
  7. Place on baking sheet and gently flatten with a fork in a crisscross pattern.
  8. Bake for 10–12 minutes, until edges are lightly golden.
  9. Cool on the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack.

🔥 Methods (Ways to Make Them)

  • Soft & Chewy: Slightly underbake and cool completely
  • Crispy: Bake 1–2 minutes longer
  • Extra Rich: Use brown sugar instead of white sugar
  • Gluten-Free: Substitute with gluten-free all-purpose flour

📜 History

Peanut Butter Cookies rose to popularity in the United States in the early 1900s, shortly after peanut butter became widely available. The famous fork crisscross pattern was first suggested in a 1936 Pillsbury cookbook—meant to help the dense dough bake evenly. Since then, the cookie has become a symbol of homemade comfort and classic American baking.

🧩 Formation (Why This Recipe Works)

  • Peanut butter provides fat, flavor, and structure
  • Sugar creates crisp edges and caramelization
  • Egg binds everything together
  • Flour adds stability without overpowering flavor
  • Fork pattern ensures even baking

❤️ Lovers of This Recipe

This recipe is adored by:

  • Peanut butter lovers 🥜
  • Kids and families
  • Beginner bakers
  • Nostalgia seekers
  • Cookie jar keepers

❤️ Methods with Lovers (How Fans Enjoy Them)

  • Dipped in milk 🥛
  • Sandwiched with chocolate or jam
  • Warm from the oven
  • Packed for school lunches
  • Served during holidays

✨ Conclusion

Classic Peanut Butter Cookies are timeless for a reason. Easy to make, endlessly comforting, and full of rich flavor, they belong in every baker’s collection. Whether you enjoy them soft or crisp, plain or dressed up, these cookies always bring joy with every bite.

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