The Best Fluffy Peanut Butter Cookies: A Step-by-Step Guide

Tired of flat, crispy peanut butter cookies? This is the ultimate guide to making incredibly fluffy peanut butter cookies. With a secret ingredient and a few simple techniques, you'll get perfectly soft, chewy, and thick cookies every time.

Do you have a core memory of a perfect cookie? For me, it was a peanut butter cookie from a little bakery I visited as a kid. It wasn’t like the others I’d had—it wasn’t thin, crispy, or sandy. It was thick, pillowy-soft, and packed with the most incredible peanut butter flavor. For years, I tried to recreate that cookie, but my attempts often came out flat and disappointing.

After countless batches and a few “happy accidents” in my kitchen, I finally cracked the code. This recipe is the result of that journey. These are the fluffy peanut butter cookies I’ve been chasing for years. They are delightfully soft, wonderfully chewy in the center, and they stay that way for days. I’m sharing all my secrets with you today so you can skip the trial and error and go straight to baking the best peanut butter cookies of your life. Let’s get baking!

Quick Recipe

What Makes These Peanut Butter Cookies So Fluffy?

The difference between a flat, crispy cookie and a soft, puffy one comes down to a few key details. I’ve tested every variable so you don’t have to! Here’s what makes this recipe special.

The Ingredients You’ll Need

Think of this as your shopping list. I’ve found that using the right ingredients is half the battle. Here’s what you’ll need and why:

Ingredients for fluffy peanut butter cookies
Ingredients for fluffy peanut butter cookies

A Note on Peanut Butter

A lot of people ask if they can use natural peanut butter. While I love it for sandwiches, it can be tricky in this recipe. The natural oil separation can make the dough oily or crumbly, leading to cookies that spread too much. For a guaranteed fluffy outcome, I highly recommend sticking to a conventional brand.

How to Make Fluffy Peanut Butter Cookies: Step-by-Step

This is an easy peanut butter cookie recipe, but following the steps in order is key. I’ll walk you through it.

Step 1: Whisk the Dry Ingredients

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cornstarch, baking soda, and salt. Whisking is better than stirring with a spoon because it distributes everything evenly and aerates the mixture. Set this bowl aside for later.

Step 2: Cream the Butter, Peanut Butter, and Sugars

Creamed texture in bowl
Creamed texture in bowl

Step 3: Add the Egg and Vanilla

Add the room-temperature egg and vanilla extract to the creamed mixture. Mix on medium speed until just combined. Don’t overmix here; you just want everything to come together.

Step 4: Combine the Wet and Dry Ingredients

With the mixer on its lowest speed, gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients. Mix until the flour is almost gone. It’s okay to see a few streaks of flour. Overmixing develops gluten, which can make the cookies tough instead of soft and tender. I often finish mixing the last little bit by hand with a spatula.

Step 5: Chill the Dough (Don’t Skip This!)

Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and chill the dough in the refrigerator for at least 60 minutes. You can even chill it for up to 3 days. This step is non-negotiable for thick, fluffy peanut butter cookies. It prevents them from spreading into sad, flat discs in the oven.

Step 6: Shape and Bake

Essential Tools
Stand Mixer or Hand Mixer
Mixing Bowls
Whisk & Spatula
Baking Sheets
Parchment Paper
Cookie Scoop (optional, but great for uniform cookies)

A Cookie Worth Keeping

There is something so comforting about a truly great peanut butter cookie. This recipe has become a staple in my home, perfect for everything from after-school snacks to holiday cookie swaps. It’s reliable, it’s delicious, and it delivers that perfect fluffy, soft texture every single time.

I hope you love these fluffy peanut butter cookies as much as my family and I do. Happy baking!

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