The Ultimate Recipe for Soft, Thick, & Chewy Peanut Butter Cookies (Plus an Optional Chocolate Dip!)

After countless batches and a bit of kitchen experimentation, I am thrilled to finally share with you what I confidently declare are the best soft, thick, moist, chewy, and utterly delicious peanut butter cookies to ever come out of my kitchen. This isn’t just another cookie recipe; it’s a game-changer, promising a texture and flavor profile that will make these your new go-to treat.

While I’ve shared a few peanut butter cookie recipes before, this particular one stands head and shoulders above the rest. The previous versions were certainly tasty, but these cookies have reached an entirely new level of perfection. My journey to this ultimate recipe was heavily inspired by a truly exceptional bakery in Salt Lake City called Ruby Snap. Their cookies are legendary, and for good reason! The sheer proximity of this culinary gem to my home has, let’s just say, challenged my healthy eating habits. It’s practically impossible to resist stopping by when I’m in the downtown area.

Among their incredible selection, there’s a specific cookie named “Penelope” that captivated my heart (and taste buds). It’s a wonderfully thick peanut butter cookie, generously dipped in rich chocolate, and it is SO incredibly good. While all their cookies are fantastic, Penelope consistently ranks in my top three. Its unique blend of flavors and textures became the benchmark for my own quest to create the perfect homemade peanut butter cookie.

Honestly, if everyone lived near me, I might not even bother posting this recipe. Instead, I’d simply advise you to move next door to Ruby Snap and embrace cookie bliss daily! And for those who *do* live in Salt Lake, I still urge you to visit their bakery whenever possible. Places like Ruby Snap deserve to thrive for eternity (I would genuinely be heartbroken if they ever closed their doors). But for the rest of us, or for those days when a trek downtown feels like an epic journey, I’m delighted to share my rendition of this delectable cookie, bringing that bakery-quality experience right into your own kitchen.

My Secret to the Perfect Cookie: Softness and Thickness

Let’s lay down my non-negotiable cookie criteria: a truly great cookie absolutely *must* be two things – soft and thick. Occasionally, I might bend the rules for a particularly exceptional soft, thin cookie, but 9 times out of 10, thin cookies just don’t make the cut. So, when developing this recipe, I started with one of my favorite chocolate chip cookie recipes and meticulously adapted it to highlight that wonderful peanut butter flavor while ensuring it hit those essential soft and thick notes.

One of the key secrets to achieving this incredible texture lies in using melted butter. Melted butter creates a dough that is unbelievably soft, incredibly easy to work with, and holds its shape beautifully when rolled into perfect balls. This method bypasses the need for chilling the dough, getting you to your cookie reward faster! And let’s be real, who hasn’t been tempted to sneak a spoonful of raw cookie dough? (Don’t worry, I’m only mostly kidding… mostly.)

The Trick to Thick, Disc-Shaped Cookies

These cookies are intentionally designed not to spread too much, thanks to a carefully measured amount of baking soda. This low baking soda content is crucial for maintaining their signature thickness. However, there’s a simple yet vital trick to ensure your cookies bake into those beautiful, thick discs of goodness rather than remaining as lumpy scoops. Before baking, you need to gently flatten each dough ball. If you skip this step and simply drop the scoops onto the baking sheet, you’ll end up with baked lumps instead of perfectly shaped cookies. And let’s be honest, nobody has time for lumpy cookies, right?

This flattening technique is what gives these peanut butter cookies their characteristic substantial feel and ensures an even bake throughout, resulting in that wonderfully moist and chewy interior we’re striving for. It’s a small step that makes a huge difference in the final product, transforming them from good to truly exceptional.

The Irresistible Chocolate Dip

After baking, these cookies are absolutely phenomenal eaten warm, straight from the oven. The aroma alone is enough to make your knees weak! But if you’re feeling adventurous – and trust me, you should be – let them cool completely, then take them to the next level by dipping them in chocolate. Since my favorite bakery (Ruby Snap, of course!) dips their “Penelope” cookie in chocolate, it only felt right to replicate that divine experience. For my chocolate dip, I used Guittard Milk Chocolate melting wafers. I found this brand to be perfect because it melts down beautifully thin, making the dipping process incredibly easy and ensuring a smooth, even coating on each cookie.

The combination of the rich, creamy peanut butter cookie with a crisp, sweet chocolate shell is simply heavenly. It adds an extra layer of indulgence that makes these cookies truly unforgettable, reminiscent of a gourmet bakery treat.

A Perfectly Balanced Peanut Butter Flavor and the Key to Softness

This recipe calls for only ½ cup of peanut butter, which is a deliberate choice. It ensures that the peanut butter flavor is present but not overpowering, resulting in a lighter, buttery, and utterly delectable cookie experience – truly a “walk on the clouds” type of peanut butter sensation. This balanced flavor profile allows the other elements of the cookie, like its softness and chewiness, to shine through beautifully.

The absolute key to their unparalleled softness is the baking time: only 8 minutes at 350°F. Yes, they will look notably underdone when you pull them out of the oven. This is exactly what you want! The magic happens as they continue to bake and set on the hot cookie sheet after being removed from the oven. This “carry-over” baking ensures they retain their incredible moisture and achieve that perfect soft, chewy center. Of course, oven temperatures can vary, so always use your best judgment; if they appear severely underbaked, a minute or two longer won’t hurt, but resist the urge to overbake!

Oh baby, baby, who wants one?! Or five? Or twenty? Or 39,292,291? Get ready to bake a batch (or ten) because once you try these, you’ll understand why they’re my absolute favorite. Serve them with a cold glass of milk for the ultimate nostalgic treat!

Homemade Soft and Thick Peanut Butter Cookies

The Best Soft and Thick Peanut Butter Cookies

The best peanut butter cookies – perfectly soft, thick, moist, chewy, and delicious! These irresistible treats are easy to make and guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser.

4.91 from 10 votes

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Total Time: 25 minutes

Servings: 12 -13 Large Cookies

By: Melissa Rose

Ingredients

½ cup unsalted butter i.e. 1 stick
¼ cup granulated sugar
½ cup light brown sugar
½ cup creamy peanut butter
1 large egg
1 ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
½ teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon salt
1 ½ cup all-purpose flour
Chocolate For Dipping I used Guittard Milk Chocolate melting wafers

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Before you begin! If you make this, will you do me a huge favor and leave a review and rating letting me know how you liked this recipe? This helps my small business thrive so I can continue providing free recipes and high-quality content for you.

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350℉. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure easy cleanup.
In a small, microwave-safe glass bowl, melt the unsalted butter (½ cup, or 1 stick). Once melted, pour it into a large mixing bowl.
To the melted butter, add the granulated sugar (¼ cup), light brown sugar (½ cup), and creamy peanut butter (½ cup). Mix these ingredients together for about 10 seconds until well combined.
Next, incorporate the egg (1 large) and vanilla extract (1 ½ teaspoons). Mix on medium speed for approximately 20 seconds, ensuring everything is thoroughly blended.
Reduce your mixer to low speed, then add the baking soda (½ teaspoon) and salt (¼ teaspoon). Mix for another 10 seconds to distribute these leavening agents evenly.
Gradually add the all-purpose flour (1 ½ cups), about half a cup at a time. Mix only until the flour is just incorporated into the dough (this usually takes 10-20 seconds). Be careful not to overmix, as this can lead to tough cookies.
Scoop the dough into approximately 3-tablespoon sized balls. Before placing them on the parchment-lined cookie sheet, lightly flatten each ball with the palm of your hand or a spatula. This step is crucial for achieving thick, disc-shaped cookies.
Bake at 350℉ for exactly 8 minutes. It’s important to note that they will appear slightly underdone in the center when you pull them out. This is intentional! They will continue to firm up and finish baking on the hot cookie sheet. (Remember, ovens can vary, so use your best judgment. If they look severely underbaked, an additional minute can be added, but resist overbaking them.)
After removing them from the oven, allow the cookies to cool and set on the hot baking sheet for 10 minutes. Then, transfer them to a wire cooling rack to cool completely. If you plan on dipping them in chocolate, ensure they are entirely cooled before proceeding.
For the optional chocolate dip: Place your desired amount of chocolate melting wafers into a microwave-safe bowl. Melt the chocolate in the microwave at 50% power, stirring thoroughly after each 30-second increment until it is smooth and fully melted. This gradual method prevents scorching.
Immediately dip half of each cooled peanut butter cookie into the melted chocolate. Place the dipped cookies on wax paper or parchment paper to dry. If you’re short on time or want to speed up the hardening process, pop the cookies into the refrigerator for a few minutes.

Last Step! Please leave a review and rating letting me know how you liked this recipe! Your feedback helps my small business thrive so I can continue providing free recipes and high-quality content for you.

Nutrition

Join the Sweet Conversation!

As a self-proclaimed bakery enthusiast whose life’s ambition includes a worldwide bakery tour, I am always on the hunt for new culinary delights. Your recommendations are gold to me! So, please do me a huge favor and leave a comment below sharing your absolute favorite bakery item and its location. I’m genuinely serious – I need to know! I’m always happy to trade recommendations for cookies (or any other sweet treat you can imagine).

And if you ever find yourself in Salt Lake City or Des Moines, Iowa (my last two cherished homes), feel free to email me! I’d be delighted to share all my must-have bakery recommendations in those areas, ensuring you don’t miss out on any local gems. Happy baking, and happy eating!