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Easy Peanut Butter Cookies: The Best Simple Recipe

A close-up shot of a pile of freshly baked Easy Peanut Butter Cookies with classic fork cross-hatch marks on a white plate.

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Make perfect, soft peanut butter cookies quickly with this simple recipe. You only need a few pantry staples for these classic crosshatch treats.

Ingredients

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  • 1 cup creamy peanut butter
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking soda

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
  2. In a medium bowl, combine the peanut butter, sugar, egg, and vanilla extract. Mix until you have a uniform dough.
  3. Stir in the baking soda until it is just combined. Do not overmix.
  4. Scoop the dough into rounded tablespoons and roll them into balls. Place the balls about 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets.
  5. Use a fork to press down on each dough ball, creating a crisscross pattern. This step helps the cookies bake evenly.
  6. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly set. They will look slightly underdone in the center.
  7. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before moving them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Notes

  • For a chewier cookie, slightly reduce the baking time to 10 minutes.
  • If your dough seems too soft, chill it for 15 minutes before rolling. This prevents spreading.
  • You can substitute brown sugar for half of the granulated sugar for a slightly richer flavor.

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