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Easy Peanut Butter Cookies: The Best Simple Pantry Recipe

Four golden brown Easy Peanut Butter Cookies on a plate, one broken open to show the soft interior.

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You need a quick, reliable recipe for classic peanut butter cookies. This simple recipe uses only pantry staples and results in soft, chewy cookies every time. It is a perfect beginner baking recipe.

Ingredients

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  • 1 cup creamy peanut butter
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
  2. In a medium bowl, combine the peanut butter, sugar, and egg. Mix well with a spoon or spatula until a uniform dough forms. Do not overmix.
  3. Roll the dough into small balls, about 1 inch in diameter, and place them 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets.
  4. Use the tines of a fork to press down on each cookie ball, creating a crisscross pattern. This prevents the cookies from spreading too much.
  5. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden brown. The centers may still look slightly soft.
  6. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before carefully transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Notes

  • For a slightly fudgy texture, use slightly less sugar.
  • If you want perfectly round cookies, chill the dough for 15 minutes before rolling and pressing.
  • This recipe makes classic crosshatch cookies, but you can skip the fork press for a softer, rounder cookie.

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