Indulge in the comforting nostalgia of homemade Old Fashioned Peanut Butter Cookies with this delicious recipe. Baked with love, these classic treats capture the essence of simpler times when a few staple ingredients created a timeless, irresistible dessert.
Old-Fashioned Peanut Butter Cookies
If you’re looking for more delicious treats, Old-Fashioned Lemon Bars and Easy Chocolate Pudding are the perfect recipes to make your taste buds happy.
With their rich, nutty flavor and signature crisscross pattern, these cookies will transport you back to grandma’s kitchen and fill your home with the sweet aroma of childhood memories.
Whether you’re a seasoned baker or just starting your culinary journey, these old fashioned peanut butter cookies are a perfect way to experience the magic of baking from scratch.
What makes these peanut butter cookies so much better than other recipes is the addition of salted roasted peanuts and dark brown sugar. Once you try this recipe, you’ll never go back to any other.
Old fashioned peanut butter cookies never fail to bring joy with every bite, whether enjoyed as an afternoon snack, lunchbox surprise, or a simple dessert.
I found the original recipe in the New York Times and I tweaked it a bit to make it even better!
Ingredients to Gather
- All-Purpose Flour – helps bind the ingredients together and provides structure to the cookies, resulting in a deliciously chewy texture.
- Baking Powder – ensures that the cookies rise evenly while baking, creating a light and fluffy texture that complements the rich flavor of the peanut butter.
- Baking Soda – helps to neutralize acidity and promote browning, resulting in cookies with a beautiful golden color and a slightly crisp exterior.
- Salt – enhances the peanut butter cookie’s flavor by balancing the dough’s sweetness and intensifying the nutty notes.
- Salted Roasted Peanuts – adds a delightful crunch to the cookie and enhances the savory-sweet contrast.
- Salted Butter – enriches the flavor profile with a subtle savory undertone.
- Dark Brown Sugar – imparts a rich molasses flavor and a soft, chewy texture to the cookie.
- Granulated Sugar – not only sweetens the dough of the peanut butter cookie but also contributes to its texture by promoting a tender crumb.
- Extra Crunchy Peanut Butter – introduces additional texture and nutty flavor to the cookie.
- Eggs – binds the ingredients together, provide structure, and contribute to the cookies’ soft and chewy texture while enhancing their richness.
- Vanilla Extract – imparts a warm, aromatic flavor that enhances the overall taste profile, providing a delightful contrast to the nuttiness of the peanut butter and adding depth to the cookies’ sweetness.
Creating a Cozy Life Group
Since you found this recipe for Old Fashioned Peanut Butter Cookies, I’m guessing you love all things cozy living. I created a Facebook group called Creating a Cozy Life with over 183,000 like-minded souls.
It’s a group where we share recipes, photos of things that leave you in awe, and ideas on how to make your life just a little bit more snug. Join here to be part of the virtual cozy cottage.
Directions for Making Old Fashioned Peanut Butter Cookies
Ingredients
2 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup salted roasted peanuts
2 sticks salted butter (1/2 pound), softened
1 cup dark brown sugar
1 cup granulated sugar
1 1/2 cups extra crunchy peanut butter
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- In a medium bowl, sift flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together. Set aside.
- Place roasted peanuts in a food processor and pulse until they resemble bread crumbs. Set aside.
- In a separate bowl, beat butter with an electric mixer until creamy. Add both sugars and beat until fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in the peanut butter, eggs, and vanilla until thoroughly mixed, scraping the sides of the bowl when needed.
- Fold in the dry ingredients with the peanut mixture until blended. Add the dry peanuts and mix.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Drop dough in balls (approximately the size of golf balls) on the baking sheet and space them about 2 inches apart. Dip a fork in cold water, press down the cookie balls, and make crisscross marks on the dough.
- Bake the cookies for 11-12 minutes at 350 degrees until the cookies are puffed and slightly brown along the edges. You don’t want the top to be brown; they will not look completely baked. Cool the cookies until set, about 4 minutes. Transfer the old fashioned peanut butter cookies to a wire rack to cool completely. Repeat with the remaining dough.
Tips for Making Peanut Butter Cookies
- If you want to make these cookies even more crunchy, bake them for 8 minutes and remove them from the oven. Let them cool completely, then put them back in the oven for 2-3 minutes. Cool on a wire rack.
- Place half the cookie dough in an airtight container to be ready for unexpected guests.
- Be sure to use parchment paper to ensure that the cookies are evenly cooked.
- For salted peanut butter cookies, sprinkle flaky salt on top of the cookie before baking.
- You can use unsalted butter if you want to decrease the sodium content.
How to Package Cookies for Gifts
- Clear cellophane bags tied with a colorful ribbon.
- Mason jars decorated with fabric and twine.
- Small cardboard boxes with personalized labels.
- Decorative paper cookie sleeves sealed with a sticker.
- Cellophane-wrapped cookie trays.
- Cookie boxes with a clear window.
- Ceramic cookie jars with airtight lids.
- Vintage plate with cellophane.
How long will peanut butter cookies last?
When stored in an airtight container, the old fashioned peanut butter cookies will last up to 7 days in the refrigerator. In the freezer, they will last up to 2 months when properly stored.
We’ve reached the end of Old Fashioned Peanut Butter Cookies. I hope you enjoyed it.
Let me know in the comments below how you liked the recipe.
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More Delicious Recipes You’ll Love!
- Homemade Vanilla Pudding
- Old Fashioned Butterscotch Pudding
- Wine Soaked White Peaches
- Homemade Lemon Ice
- Creamy Pineapple Fluff – Midwestern Favorite Recipe!
Printable Old Fashioned Peanut Butter Cookie Recipe with Nutritional Information
Yield: 4 Dozen Cookies
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 11 minutes
Additional Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
Indulge in the comforting nostalgia of homemade Old Fashioned Peanut Butter cookies with this delightful recipe. These classic treats capture the essence of simpler times, where a few staple ingredients came together to create a timeless, irresistible dessert.
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups unbleached all purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 cup roasted salted peanuts
- 2 sticks salted butter (1/2 pound), softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup dark brown sugar
- 1 1/2 cups extra crunchy peanut butter
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- In a medium-size bowl, sift flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together. Set aside.
- Place roasted peanuts in a food processor and pulse until they resemble bread crumbs. Set aside.
- In a separate bowl, beat butter with an electric mixer until creamy. Add both sugars and beat until fluffy, about 3 minutes. Then, beat in the peanut butter, eggs, and vanilla until thoroughly mixed together, scraping the sides of the bowl when needed.
- Fold in the dry ingredients with the wet ingredients until blended. Add the dry peanuts and mix.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Drop dough in balls (approximately the size of golf balls) on the baking sheet and space them about 2 inches apart. Dip a fork in cold water, press down the cookie balls, and make crisscross marks on the dough.
- Bake the cookies for 11-12 minutes until puffed and slightly brown along the edges. You don't want the top to be brown; they will not look completely baked. Cool the cookies until set, about 4 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Repeat with the remaining dough.
Notes
The old fashioned peanut butter cookies will keep for up to seven days when stored in an airtight container.
If you want to make these cookies even more crunchy, bake them for 8 minutes and remove them from the oven. Let them cool completely, then put them back in the oven for 2-3 mintues. Cool on a wire rack.
Place half the dough in an airtight container in the freezer to prepare for unexpected guests.
Be sure to use parchment paper to ensure that the cookies are evenly cooked.
For salted peanut butter cookies, sprinkle on flaky sea salt on top of the cookie before baking.
Nutrition Information
Yield
48Serving Size
1
Amount Per ServingCalories 314Total Fat 19gSaturated Fat 7gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 11gCholesterol 36mgSodium 253mgCarbohydrates 31gFiber 2gSugar 17gProtein 7g
