I was recently challenged to make peanut butter cookies by someone who has sampled many varieties. I readily accepted and went home to find just the right recipe. Do you have any idea how many recipes there are out there for peanut butter cookies? I was a tad overwhelmed, to say the least.
After pouring myself into studying recipe after recipe, I finally decided on this one from The Magnolia Bakery Cookbook: Old-Fashioned Recipes From New York’s Sweetest Bakery. I have made several recipes from their cookbooks with wonderfully delicious results.
I liked the slight break from traditional peanut butter cookies with the addition of peanut butter chips. I had recently procured a rather large bag of miniature ones that were just begging to be used. I don’t think the chips really added that much extra peanut butter flavor, but I still liked the idea.
They were a bit crispier than I would have liked. I adjusted the baking time down by a minute or so on later batches and was much more pleased with those. I would have liked to experiment with a little sprinkling of salt on top, but in the end I didn’t vary from the recipe.
These cookies received raves from everyone who tried them. My challenger declared them the best she’s ever had. In that respect, I feel as if I accomplished something big.
I’m not sure I would choose this recipe as my staple recipe for peanut butter cookies. That’s not to say that they are anything less than delicious. But, there are many more variations to be tried. I am officially on the hunt for the best!
April 3rd, 2009 at 3:11 pm
I adore peanut butter cookes. I also use peanut butter chips in my cookies. They make such a big difference, IMO, with the different textures. Those are beautiful!
April 3rd, 2009 at 3:15 pm
They look really good!! I am always up for a PB cookie!
April 3rd, 2009 at 3:20 pm
I love peanut butter and those look delicious. I have never used peanut butter chips, I am intrigued!
April 3rd, 2009 at 4:00 pm
Mmmm peanut butter. I recently found out I am allergic to some nuts and I was sooo happy to find that peanuts wasn’t on of them. I love love peanut butter. I am definitely going to try out this recipe along with all the other peanut butter recipes you post.
April 3rd, 2009 at 4:36 pm
I love peanut butter cookies but you do have to be careful about them being too crisp. Honestly, one of the best ones I’ve had is one that uses peanut butter and eggs as the fats (no butter or oil) and banana for moisture. It is SO good!
April 3rd, 2009 at 7:14 pm
Peanut butter cookies are great and I didn’t even know peanut butter chips existed. Sometimes they can be a bit too crisp for me though. Yours (and their pictures) look great though.
April 4th, 2009 at 4:49 am
congrats :p
April 4th, 2009 at 2:51 pm
Those cookies look incredible! And I love the idea of sprinkling the tops with salt. Thanks for sharing!
April 4th, 2009 at 3:41 pm
I dont like peanut butter but warm peanut butter cookies with ice cold milk is so goood.I’m gonna have to go bake these now.
April 4th, 2009 at 4:15 pm
I love peanut butter cookies, they’re awesome. My fave is a recipe from Everyday Food that has a Reese’s Peanut Butter cup right in the center. Yum!!
P.S. – Here’s the link to the “Peanut Butter Surprise Cookies”: http://www.pbs.org/everydayfood/baking/recipes/peanut_butter_surprise_cookies.html
April 4th, 2009 at 8:54 pm
Definitely going to try these soon!
April 5th, 2009 at 8:41 am
there are sooooo many PB cookie recipes out there, I agree! I finally found that I just like to mix up my own personal batch with my favorite things inside. I like to use a mix of butter and shorterning, and crunchy pb, with extra honey-roasted crushed peanuts. I also substitute a bit of the sugar with honey for more depth and subtler sweetness.
April 5th, 2009 at 9:12 am
Type A Mommy, I’ve made those before, and they’re wonderful! One of my favorites. Here’s the link to my post.
Peanut Butter Surprise Cookies
April 5th, 2009 at 9:47 pm
I like the old fashioned ones you used to get in the school cafeterias. Peanut buttery, crisp along the edges, and slightly chewy in the center. And marked perfectly with the criss cross of the fork. So yum!
April 6th, 2009 at 2:49 pm
did you give the ones from “baked” bakery in nyc a go? those are my fav’s so far.
haven’t tried this recipe…yet.
April 6th, 2009 at 3:13 pm
There are 1.56789 million recipes for them. I checked. And every time I make one I declare it better than the last.
Thanks for adding to my list! Ha.
April 6th, 2009 at 6:26 pm
dawn, I haven’t tried those yet, but I do have that cookbook. I’ll add them to the list. Thanks!
April 8th, 2009 at 10:05 am
I love peanut butter and these look so yummy. I have never used peanut butter chips, I am excited to try!
April 9th, 2009 at 12:58 pm
A good peanut butter cookie is worthy of a prize. They are irresistible!
April 25th, 2009 at 7:53 am
The looks sooooo good!! I love your blog its so cute!
April 28th, 2009 at 2:15 pm
This recipe came right in time. I was challenged to make some peanut butter cookies and was trying to find a really good recipe that didn’t appear toooo sweet….Thank you!
May 10th, 2009 at 7:13 pm
I had never thought of adding peanut butter chips to peanut butter cookies – I’ve just recently started baking quite a bit more. I’ll ahve to try something like this!
Mark Garso 2325
May 12th, 2009 at 10:52 am
You had me with Peanut, I am a sucker for any peanut based snack! Like you blog, I have added it to the blog list/blogroll or whatever it is called on the food blog my friend and I write.
– http://bagsofflavour.blogspot.com/
May 17th, 2009 at 9:35 pm
I made these with my grandchildren today. It was the perfect rainy-Sunday-afternoon activity. Thank you for sharing.
May 19th, 2009 at 7:08 pm
I was inspired to make these cookies after seeing the picture. I added chopped up dry roasted peanuts as well as peanut butter chips and made half the batch with salted (kosher) tops. They were great!! I really enjoy your site and trying your recipes-all the pictures are sooo awesome! Thank you for doing what you do!
June 20th, 2009 at 9:03 am
Jennifer: The recipe says 10-12 mins. as bake time. Does this reflect your one-minute adjustment? Any tips you can provide re: the baking time would be much appreciated, as I’m aiming for less-crispy cookies myself …
Thanks, as always, for this wonderful resource!
June 20th, 2009 at 9:23 am
Lindsay, 10-12 minutes is the recommended baking time in the original recipe. I baked the first couple of sheets using that guideline, then reduced it with the rest of the cookies.
June 22nd, 2009 at 5:00 pm
Strangely enough – I’ve stumbled into your blog, and I too made the same PB cookies a couple of days ago. Unfortunately, I’m in Oz so have no easy access to PB Chips and left them out – they still were pretty much the best cookies I’ve made… am guessing that the cookies are even better with them. Love the blog – will be back for more!
December 8th, 2009 at 9:25 pm
These peanut butter cookies look incredibly delicious! I would love to be able to duplicate these cookies for special occasions.
Thanks for sharing this post.