Peanut Butter Cookie Recipe

I’m glad I have people in my life because I love to share cookies with friends and neighbors. Sharing cookies is a great way to bring people closer and show them you’re thinking of them. Today I’m going to share these peanut butter cookies with the local volunteer fire department in my area. They do so much for so many people and I want to show them the community cares for them.

Soft and Simple Peanut Butter Cookie Recipe | The Bearfoot Baker

Have you watched the news lately? If you have, I’m sure you’ve seen all the weather-related issues that are causing destruction all over the world. Our prayers are with Houston, Florida, and Puerto Rico after the devastating hurricanes.  Also, those that have suffered from the earthquake in Mexico and the fires in California. My area is still recovering from the fires from last year so I’ve seen what this kind of devastation can do to a community.

Weather isn’t the only thing affecting us. The tragic events that occurred in Las Vegas and Texas are beyond words. So many people lost their lives and we can’t understand why it happened. We all want to help so we’ve donated money, volunteered, collected food and water, and yet it seems like we need to do something more. People are suffering and trying to rebuild their lives and we all ask what else can we do to help.

We can all bake a little love. Cookies are powerful. Sure, everyone needs food and water, and a simple cookie isn’t going to solve problems, but it will let someone know you’re thinking of them. It will fill their heart with love and joy because you took the time to bake something to let them know you care and you’re thinking about them.

So, as I bake these cookies for the men and women at the fire department, I encourage you to bake cookies for your friends and neighbors. Or make some for some random people. Add a little note to let them know how much you want to support and encourage them. It’s a great way make them feel loved and to show you care.

Take a picture of your cookies and use this hashtag #GiveAFriendACookie and post it on social media. Let’s all give someone a cookie hug this week.

Do you want a peanut butter cookie? If you lived close, I’d make some for you. But for now, let’s make some for the hardworking men and women at the fire department.

Peanut Butter Cookies
(may contain affiliate links)

Soft and Simple Peanut Butter Cookie Recipe | The Bearfoot Baker

Peanut Butter Cookies

Everyone needs a good soft peanut butter cookie recipe and I think you'll like this one. It's easy to follow and once the cookies are soft and delicious.
Print Pin Rate
Course: Christmas
Keyword: Christmas Cookies, Cookie Recipe, give a friend a cookie, imperial sugar, peanut butter cookies
Prep Time: 6 hours 30 minutes
Cook Time: 8 minutes
Total Time: 6 hours 38 minutes
Author: Lisa

Ingredients

  • 1 ⁄2 cup 4 ounces unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
  • 1 ⁄2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 ⁄2 cup light brown sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1 ⁄2 cup creamy peanut butter
  • 1 1 ⁄2 cup + 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
  • 1 ⁄2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 ⁄2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 ⁄4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 ⁄4 cup granulated sugar for rolling

Instructions

  • You can use a sand mixer or a hand mixer for this recipe.
  • Place the butter in a bowl and mix the butter for about 30 seconds.
  • Add the light brown and granulated sugar to the butter and cream for about 3 minutes.
  • Add the egg and mix on medium scrapping down the sides of the bowl once.
  • Add the vanilla extract and the peanut butter and mix until combined.
  • In a separate bowl add the flour, bakings soda, baking powder, and salt. Mix it well and add it to the wet ingredients mix on low until all the ingredients are combined.
  • The cookie dough will be thick and that is what we need for delicious peanut butter cookies.
  • Wrap the dough or cover the bowl with plastic wrap and place it in the fridge for at least two hours or you can leave it in overnight.
  • Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
  • Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a Silcone mat.
  • Use a small cookie scoop to make 1⁄2” dough balls.
  • Roll the dough balls in granulated sugar and place them on a lined cookie sheet about one inch apart.
  • Gently press a fork into the top of each cookie to make a criss-cross pattern.
  • Bake for 8-11 minutes.
  • The sides will turn a nice light golden brown, but the tops will look a little underbaked. They will continue to cook after you remove them from the oven so go ahead and take them out now.
  • Let them cool for about 5 minutes and then place them on a wire rack to cool completely.
  • These peanut butter cookies will stay fresh for up to one week in an airtight container.
Simple Peanut Butter Cookie Recipe | The Bearfoot Baker

  • Bring the unsalted butter to room temperature.
  • Gather all the other ingredients you need so once you start making the cookies, it will be fun and easy.
  • Place the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a bowl and mix well. Set it aside.
  • Gather the other ingredients and get ready to have some fun!

Delicious Peanut Butter Cookie Recipe | The Bearfoot Baker

  • Place the room temperature butter in a bowl and mix it for about 30 seconds.
  • Add the granulated sugar and the light brown sugar.
  • Mix well scraping the bowl to make sure you get it all combined well.
  • Add the egg and mix.

Soft Peanut Butter Cookie Recipe | The Bearfoot Baker

  • Add the peanut butter and mix until it’s combined.
  • Add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients and mix. The cookie dough should be nice and thick.

Easy Peanut Butter Cookie Recipe | The Bearfoot Baker

See how thick it is. Here is one of the tips you need to know for this peanut butter cookie recipe. You need to chill the dough for three hours before you bake the cookies. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and place it in the fridge.

Super Simple Peanut Butter Cookie Recipe | The Bearfoot Baker

Or you can wrap the peanut butter cookie dough in plastic wrap and place it in the fridge for at least three hours. You can leave the dough overnight, just keep it covered.

  • Now you need a small cookie scoop, a bowl with a 1⁄2 cup of sugar to roll for rolling the cookie.
  • My small cookie scoop disappeared so I used the smallest size I had and cut the dough balls in half before I rolled them in the sugar.
  • Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a Silpat.
  • Bake them at 375 degrees for 5-8 minutes.
  • The sides will start to turn a nice golden brown but the top of the cookie will look like it needs to bake longer. Remove them from the oven because they will continue to bake even after you remove them.
  • Leave them on the baking sheet for about five minutes and then place them on a wire rack to cool completely.

Peanut Butter Cookies:

 

Soft and Simple Peanut Butter Cookie Recipe | The Bearfoot Baker

This post is sponsored by Imperial Sugar and the amazing Bridget of Bake at 350. They came up with this idea to #GiveAFriendACookie and I love their idea. With all the hard things happening in the world today, it’s great to slow down, bake some cookies, and share them with people we want to encourage and support. Thank you for letting me a part of this amazing challenge!

Now we want to encourage you to bake cookies for a friend, neighbor, or anyone you want to encourage. It’s not hard. All you have to do is bake a batch of cookies and let them know you appreciate everything they do. Let’s fill the world with some cookie hugs and love! Don’t forget, use #GiveAFriendACookie so we can see what you baked!

Snickerdoodles from The Nifty Foodie
Fall Flower Cookies from The Decorated Cookie
Peanut Butter Cookies from The Bearfoot Baker
Spiced Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars from Baked Bree
Apple Pie Wedge Cookies from Munchkin Munchies
Peppermint Crunch Sugar Cookies from The Domestic Rebel
Pecan Chocolate Fudge Chunk Cookies from Country Cleaver
Everything Cookies from Confessions of a Cookbook Queen
Chocolate Chip Cookies from LilaLoa
Lemon Cardamom Crinkle Cookies from Fifteen Spatulas
Apple Cinnamon Cookies from Dine and Dish
Triple Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies with Sea Salt from A Farmgirl’s Dabbles
Fall Wreath Sugar Cookie from Tikkido
Homemade Oatmeal Cream Pie Cookies from A Southern Fairytale
Chocolate Turtle Cookies from Bake at 350

Here are other bloggers doing the same thing. Let’s use a cookie and show the world we care!

For nearly 175 years, Imperial Sugar has been helping people communicate thanks, appreciation, love, and sympathy through home-baked treats. At the heart of baking for others is the very act of giving, and Imperial Sugar encourages everyone to bake and share, both in times of celebration and in times of crisis. Together we can make someone’s day just a little bit sweeter. If you are looking for cookie inspiration, visit the Imperial Sugar website for 350+ time-tested cookie recipes.

Bear hugs,

Soft and Simple Peanut Butter Cookie Recipe | The Bearfoot Baker

Peanut Butter Cookies

Everyone needs a good soft peanut butter cookie recipe and I think you'll like this one. It's easy to follow and once the cookies are soft and delicious.
Print Pin Rate

Ingredients

  • 1 ⁄2 cup 4 ounces unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
  • 1 ⁄2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 ⁄2 cup light brown sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1 ⁄2 cup creamy peanut butter
  • 1 1 ⁄2 cup + 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
  • 1 ⁄2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 ⁄2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 ⁄4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 ⁄4 cup granulated sugar for rolling

Instructions

  • You can use a sand mixer or a hand mixer for this recipe.
  • Place the butter in a bowl and mix the butter for about 30 seconds.
  • Add the light brown and granulated sugar to the butter and cream for about 3 minutes.
  • Add the egg and mix on medium scrapping down the sides of the bowl once.
  • Add the vanilla extract and the peanut butter and mix until combined.
  • In a separate bowl add the flour, bakings soda, baking powder, and salt. Mix it well and add it to the wet ingredients mix on low until all the ingredients are combined.
  • The cookie dough will be thick and that is what we need for delicious peanut butter cookies.
  • Wrap the dough or cover the bowl with plastic wrap and place it in the fridge for at least two hours or you can leave it in overnight.
  • Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
  • Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a Silcone mat.
  • Use a small cookie scoop to make 1⁄2” dough balls.
  • Roll the dough balls in granulated sugar and place them on a lined cookie sheet about one inch apart.
  • Gently press a fork into the top of each cookie to make a criss-cross pattern.
  • Bake for 8-11 minutes.
  • The sides will turn a nice light golden brown, but the tops will look a little underbaked. They will continue to cook after you remove them from the oven so go ahead and take them out now.
  • Let them cool for about 5 minutes and then place them on a wire rack to cool completely.
  • These peanut butter cookies will stay fresh for up to one week in an airtight container.

Lisa