Author Notes: My mother used to make these cookies regularly when I was growing up, and they continue to be the standard to which I compare all other peanut butter cookies. This recipe is adapted from one of my favorite cookbooks, The Fannie Farmer Cookbook (First Edition). —Merrill Stubbs
Makes: about 4 dozen cookies
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 10 min
Ingredients
-
1/2
cup softened unsalted butter
-
1/2
cup creamy peanut butter (not the unsweetened kind)
-
1/2
cup sugar
-
1/2
cup light brown sugar
-
1
large egg
-
1/2
teaspoon vanilla extract
-
1/2
teaspoon kosher salt
-
1/2
teaspoon baking soda
-
1
cup all-purpose flour
Directions
- Heat the oven to 350° F. In the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or using a hand blender, cream together the butter and peanut butter. Beat in the two sugars until light, about 3 minutes.
- Beat in the egg and vanilla, scraping down the sides of the bowl once to make sure they’re evenly incorporated. Add the salt, baking soda and flour and beat just until combined.
- Give the dough one last fold with a spatula. You can chill the dough and then roll it into balls (about 3/4-inch in diameter), or arrange heaping teaspoonfuls of the soft dough directly on parchment-lined baking sheets, spaced 2 inches apart. Use the back of a fork dipped in flour to gently flatten each cookie and make a crosshatch pattern
- Bake the cookies for about 10 minutes, until lightly golden and just firm around the edges. Let them cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes, then transfer to a baking rack to cool completely. These will keep in an airtight container for several days, but they are best while fresh!
Photo by James Ransom