Dessert

Old Fashioned Peanut Butter Cookies Recipe

ByJulian Dempsey December 9, 2025December 9, 2025

Introduction

These Old Fashioned Peanut Butter Cookies are soft, chewy, and packed with rich peanut butter flavor. Chilling the dough overnight helps develop their classic texture and taste. Perfect for a nostalgic treat that’s simple to make and always satisfying.

A stack of seven light brown cookies with a textured criss-cross pattern is placed on a pale green cake stand with a scalloped edge and a smooth pedestal base, set against a white marbled surface. Around the stand, several more cookies lay flat, one in the front with a single bite taken out, showing a soft, crumbly inside. In the background, more cookies are cooling on a metal rack and a folded dark blue cloth with white patterns rests nearby. The overall scene has soft lighting with a clean, simple look. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

¾ cup creamy peanut butter
½ cup unsalted butter (1 stick)
1 ¼ cups brown sugar (packed)
3 tablespoons milk
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
1 large egg (room temperature)
1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
¾ teaspoon salt
¾ teaspoon baking soda
Granulated sugar (for rolling cookies)

Instructions

Step 1: In a large mixing bowl, beat together peanut butter, butter, brown sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until well blended. Then beat in the egg until fully incorporated.
Step 2: In a separate small bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, and baking soda.
Step 3: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the peanut butter mixture and mix until well blended.
Step 4: Transfer the dough to a bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and chill in the refrigerator for at least 3 hours or overnight for best results.
Step 5: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats.
Step 6: Remove the chilled dough and roll it into 36 to 40 balls. Roll each ball in granulated sugar.
Step 7: Place the sugar-coated dough balls on the prepared baking sheets, spacing them evenly.
Step 8: Dip a fork in water and gently press a crisscross pattern onto each cookie.
Step 9: Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the edges begin to turn lightly golden brown.
Step 10: Remove from oven and allow cookies to cool completely on a wire rack before serving.

Tips & Variations

For extra chewiness, chill the dough overnight to allow the flavors to deepen and the texture to improve.
Try adding a handful of chocolate chips or chopped peanuts to the dough for added texture and flavor.
If you prefer crunchy peanut butter, it works well here to add a bit more bite.
Rolling the cookies in coarse sugar instead of granulated sugar gives a nice crunch and sparkle.

Storage

Store cooled cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week. To keep them fresh longer, freeze the baked cookies for up to three months. Reheat frozen cookies briefly in the microwave or oven to regain softness and warmth before serving.

How to Serve

A stack of six light brown cookies with a sugar-dusted, slightly rough texture sits on a white plate with a curved edge. Each cookie is thin and evenly round. The background features more cookies cooling on a black wire rack against a white marbled surface. The focus is on the front stack with the background softly blurred. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use natural peanut butter?

Yes, natural peanut butter can be used, but because it contains more oil and less stabilizers, the texture of the cookies may be a bit softer or more crumbly. Adjust chilling time to help firm the dough if needed.

Do I have to chill the dough?

Chilling is highly recommended as it helps the flavors develop and prevents the cookies from spreading too much while baking. If you’re short on time, chilling for at least 1 hour can still improve the results.