Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter (standard commercial brand works best)
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- 1/2 cup granulated white sugar
- 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats to prevent sticking and ensure even browning. This step ensures your oven is at the perfect temperature the moment your dough is ready.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter, creamy peanut butter, white sugar, and brown sugar together. Use an electric hand mixer or a stand mixer on medium-high speed for about 2 to 3 minutes until the mixture is light, fluffy, and well-combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
- Add the egg and vanilla extract to the creamed mixture. Beat on medium speed until just combined. Be careful not to overmix at this stage; you want the egg fully incorporated without adding too much air into the batter.
- In a separate small bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture while mixing on low speed. Stop mixing as soon as no streaks of flour remain. Overmixing the dough will result in a tough cookie rather than a chewy one.
- Scoop about 1.5 tablespoons of dough and roll it into a ball (roughly the size of a walnut). Place the balls 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets. Use a fork to press a crisscross pattern into the top of each dough ball, slightly flattening the cookie. This helps the cookies bake evenly and gives them their classic look.
- Bake for 9 to 11 minutes. The edges should be lightly golden, but the centers should still look slightly soft and underbaked. Remove from the oven and let the cookies sit on the baking sheet for 5 minutes to firm up. Move them to a wire rack to cool completely for the best chewy texture.
- Cook Time: 25 minutes