Old Fashioned Peanut Butter Cookies: Crispy Chewy

Homemade peanut butter cookies are just like you remember them when you make this classic, old fashioned recipe! Crispy and chewy — full of the best peanut butter flavor ever! They’ve got a texture that has to be experienced– it can’t be described. Best of all – no pre-chilling needed. Just mix and bake! 

If you’re looking for a bar cookie these Oh Henry Bars are some of my favorites!

Ingredients for this recipe – butter, creamy peanut butter, crunchy peanut butter, sugar, dark brown sugar, egg, honey, vanilla, flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt

Peanut Butter Cookies Are A Classic

In the cookie wars I really can’t give you my favorite but I can tell you that perfect old fashioned peanut butter cookies, crispy around the edges and chewy in the middle, is at the top of my cookie list!

There is something about the sweet, saltiness of a peanut butter cookie that is addictive.

Peanut butter cookies are relatively new. They first appeared in Pillsbury’s “Balanced Recipes” in 1933. They were followed by a version more like what we think of today in Ruth Wakefield’s Tollhouse cookbook in 1936.

Why Do Peanut Butter Cookies Have Fork Marks?

I have heard a lot of ideas about why the cookies have ridges. No one really seems to know for sure.

The reason that makes the most sense as far as I am concerned is that it makes them have a better texture.

I wanted to see if it was true so I baked half of this batch of dough with the traditional criss cross pattern and the other half just rolled in sugar and placed on the baking sheet.

As you can see, the plain ones came out looking something like a gingersnap.

They were softer and cakier than the  ridged ones. Oddly enough, and it could just be my imagination, I thought they lacked flavor.

The ridged ones were exactly how I like peanut butter cookies — delicately crispy around the edges and chewy in the middle. I have my answer. For me, it’s the ridged old fashioned peanut butter cookies all the way.

Cookie FAQs

Here are the questions I am most frequently asked about this recipe.

How do you know when peanut butter cookies are done?

Peanut butter cookies are done when the edges are light brown. If you take them out when the middle is still soft and let them cool you’ll have a chewy cookie and if you take them out when the middle is firm then it will cool to a crunchy cookie.

The trick is to experiment to see the exact moment that a homemade peanut butter cookie is the perfect texture for you!

How long to homemade peanut butter cookies last?

If you store the cookies in a covered container they will last about 2 weeks if the kids don’t find them.

Is it better to freeze cookie dough or baked cookies?

This peanut butter cookie dough freezes well baked or unbaked. Personally I prefer to freeze it unbaked. I use parchment paper on a baking sheet, form the cookies as if I was baking, and then put them in the freezer.

When they’re frozen I put them into a freezer bag. When it’s time to bake just lay them right on the silpat lined cookie sheet and bake. The house smells great, the cookies taste fresh, and there’s no mess to clean up.

Should you chill cookie dough before baking?

If you chill the cookies before baking they will spread less. I’ve never had a problem with this recipe spreading too much but if you do try chilling them for 15 minutes or so before you put them in the oven.

Tips for Perfect Chewy Peanut Butter Cookies

This classic recipe has been time tested but I’ve made a few adjustments. Here are tips for perfect homemade peanut butter cookies.

• I use a combination of creamy and crunchy peanut butter because I like the texture. If you prefer to use all creamy or all crunchy that’s fine.
• The honey is an important part of these cookies. It gives them flavor and helps the texture. Use a strong honey like buckwheat honey so that it doesn’t get lost in the peanut butter flavor.
• Dip the fork in flour before pressing in the dough or it will stick.
• Use a shorter baking time for chewy cookies but be sure to let them cool when you take them out of the over or they will fall apart on you.
• Use a longer baking time for crispy cookies.
• I like to make these peanut butter cookies a little bigger than normal and make ice cream sandwiches with them in the summer.
• Make them extra special by dipping half the cookie in melted chocolate then sprinkling with chopped peanuts.
• Check out this fascinating article on the science of cookies!

More of My Favorite Cookies

I love cookies and bars of all kinds! Here are some of my favorite here on Restless Chipotle.

• Butterscotch Buckaroons are chewy and soft with crisp edges that crumble a little with each nibble. Each bite is a new flavor combination of buttery pecans, sweet toffee, and rich butterscotch chips. They are a lunchbox favorite… if they last long enough to make it to school.
• Fluffer Nutter Whoopie Pies are giant cookies that are not only the size of a kiddo’s face but they are a delicious combination of peanut butter and marshmallow.
• Classic Oatmeal Cookies are the Quaker back of the box classic everyone remembers from when they were kids.
• Chocolate Chip Cookies are chewy on the inside with crisp golden brown edges. Pecans add crunch and flavor to these old-fashioned favorites.
• Brownies are the best in the world if you love dark chocolate, fudgy and chewy brownies that have that addictive, crackly top. I’ve added plenty of toasted pecans and bittersweet chocolate chips to give these old fashioned bar cookies a little extra pizzazz. They’re so quick and easy that you’ll never use a mix again.

Click here for more cookie recipes.

You May Need

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What’s new? Check out my Restless Chipotle & Co. Store on Amazon where you’ll find all kinds of nostalgic goodness!  Thanks so much for being a part of Restless Chipotle!

I don’t know about you but I love my silicone baking mats. No need to grease pans and my cookies sheets last longer — plus no more burnt bottoms or stuck on cookies!

Another tool that comes in handy when you’re making cookies is a cookies scoop. It allows you to create uniform sized cookies so that they are all done at the same time. Goodbye over baked little cookies next to half raw big cookies! Makes it super easy for the kids to help, too.

Peanut Butter Cookie Recipe

There’s absolutely nothing like a perfectly baked peanut butter cookie (or two) and a glass of ice cold milk. This old fashioned peanut butter cookies recipe is about to be your favorite!

If you love this recipe please give it 5 stars!

4.74 from 15 votes

Crispy Chewy Peanut Butter Cookies

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Chewy, crispy, salty, sweet – these traditional peanut butter cookies come out perfectly every time. Use a shorter baking time for chewier cookies and a longer baking time for crunchier cookies.

Course Dessert

Cuisine Amercian Heritage

Keyword back to school,chewy,classics,crispy,peanut butter

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes

Cooling Time 5 minutes

Total Time 20 minutes

Servings 48

Calories 84

Author Marye Audet-White

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Equipment Needed

• Stand mixer

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup butter, room temperature
• 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
• 1/2 cup crunchy peanut butter
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup dark brown sugar, firmly packed
• 1 egg, room temperature
• 1 tablespoon honey, a strongly flavored honey like buckwheat is best
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350F.
• Blend flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Set aside
• Beat together butter and peanut butters until well combined.
• Add sugars and beat until fluffy.
• Add egg, honey, and vanilla extract and mix until smooth.
• Add flour mixture and mix just until blended.
• Roll balls of dough in white sugar before placing on an ungreased baking sheet.
• Bake for 8 to 10 minutes. Bake longer for crunchier cookies, shorter time for chewier.
• Do not over bake. Cookies should be a little soft in the center and will firm up as they cool.

Notes

This classic recipe has been time tested but I’ve made a few adjustments. Here are tips for perfect homemade peanut butter cookies.

• I use a combination of creamy and crunchy peanut butter because I like the texture. If you prefer to use all creamy or all crunchy that’s fine.
• The honey is an important part of these cookies. It gives them flavor and helps the texture. Use a strong honey like buckwheat honey so that it doesn’t get lost in the peanut butter flavor.
• Dip the fork in flour before pressing in the dough or it will stick.
• Use a shorter baking time for chewy cookies but be sure to let them cool when you take them out of the over or they will fall apart on you.
• Use a longer baking time for crispy cookies.
• I like to make these peanut butter cookies a little bigger than normal and make ice cream sandwiches with them in the summer.
• Make them extra special by dipping half the cookie in melted chocolate then sprinkling with chopped peanuts.

Nutrition

Calories: 84kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 8mg | Sodium: 73mg | Potassium: 47mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 64IU | Calcium: 8mg | Iron: 1mg

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