Peanut Butter Cookies - The Salty Marshmallow (2024)

Peanut Butter Cookies are a classic and this recipe is quick and easy to make! These cookies are perfectly soft with rich peanut butter flavor every time!

Baking season is my favorite, and you just can’t skip out on a good peanut butter cookie! They come out perfect every time, and you don’t even need to refrigerate the dough! I’ve been making these for years, they’re tried and tested. Another fave is our Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies! If you’re here looking for more cookies to make this season, don’t miss out on our best Sugar Cookies, the perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies, and our Christmas Sprinkle Cookies!

Why Do You Put Fork Marks On Peanut Butter Cookies?

Peanut butter cookies differ from other types in that they are super dense, more fatty and heavy…because of all that peanut butter! Using a fork simply flattens the cookies out so that they are more uniform and cook evenly. It also looks pretty. I can tell you that for my recipe, these cookies don’t spread much, but you don’t have to flatten them if you want a super thick cookie. You can also flatten using the bottom of a drinking glass if preferred.

Making Peanut Butter Cookies:

You can do this in two large bowls, or one large bowl and then your stand mixer with the paddle attachment.

1. Whisk together all of your dry ingredients just for a few seconds until everything is mixed together well.
2. Cream together your peanut butter, softened butter, both sugars for a full 3 minutes until fluffy and pale in color. Then, you will beat in your eggs and vanilla until no yellow egg streaks remain.
3. Add the dry ingredients to the wet in 2-3 additions (so that you don’t spray flour everywhere) just until incorporated.
4. Drop the cookies onto a large baking sheet in Tablespoonfuls about 2 inches apart. I have a good non-stick baking sheet so I didn’t need to use parchment paper, but you definitely can if you’re worried about the cookies sticking to the pan.

Room Temperature Ingredients:

This is something I talk about in my sugar cookie post as well. I can’t stress enough, that room temperature eggs and butter do make a difference! Your butter should sit out for only 30 minutes to 1 hour. Longer than that, and your butter will be too soft and cookies may be greasy. To bring eggs to room temp quick, you can place in a bowl of warm (not hot) water for a few minutes.

How to Tell if Peanut Butter Cookies are Done:

These cookies only take 8-10 minutes in the oven. They will be lightly golden around the edges and on the bottom when they are done. Don’t cook them for too long, or they may crumble. You will want to let them sit on the pan for a good 5 minutes before transferring to cool.

Enjoy!

~Nichole