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Carla’s Ultimate Soft Peanut Butter Cookies

Close-up of a small stack of four softest peanut butter cookies showing classic fork marks.
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This recipe delivers the softest, thickest peanut butter cookies that stay moist for days. It uses a high ratio of brown sugar to guarantee a chewy, melt-in-your-mouth texture, avoiding dry or crumbly results.

Ingredients

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  • 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 3/4 cup creamy peanut butter
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
  2. In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. This takes about 3 minutes with an electric mixer.
  3. Beat in the peanut butter until fully combined. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition, then stir in the vanilla extract.
  4. In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
  5. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined. Do not overmix the dough.
  6. Scoop the dough using a 2-tablespoon measure. Roll into balls and place them on the prepared baking sheets, leaving 2 inches between each ball.
  7. Use a fork to press down on each ball, creating the classic crisscross pattern. Press lightly to keep the cookies thick.
  8. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes. For the softest cookies, pull them out when the edges are set but the centers still look slightly underdone.
  9. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before moving them to a wire rack to cool completely. This step helps them set without flattening.

Notes

  • To keep these cookies soft, store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
  • For thicker cookies, chill the dough for 30 minutes before scooping, though this recipe is designed to be soft without chilling.
  • If you want peanut butter blossom cookies, press a chocolate kiss into the center immediately after removing them from the oven.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://cookingbycarla.com/softest-peanut-butter-cookies/