Old Fashioned Peanut Butter Cookies

There’s something undeniably comforting about a batch of Old-Fashioned Peanut Butter Cookies fresh from the oven.

These nostalgic cookies, often tucked inside Grandma’s cookie jar, bring back warm childhood memories and love at first bite.

Made with creamy peanut butter, a mix of brown and white sugar, and a few pantry staples, these cookies are crisp on the edges, soft in the center, and packed with rich peanut butter flavor.

Whether you’re craving a classic treat or want to fill your cookie jar with something homemade, these vintage peanut butter cookies are the perfect go-to.

They’re simple, satisfying, and just like the ones mom or grandma used to make..

One of my fondest cookie memories of baking with mom was the comforting sweet smell of peanut butter, and that aroma still brings back that smile of several years past.

As soon as I opened the door after school and smelled those cookies, I couldn’t wait for them to cool to devour some.

In this recipe, simple pantry ingredients are used to produce a crunchy yet sweet, buttery, nutty flavor.

This versatile dough can even be gourmet with a few mix-ins we’ve adapted by adding some chocolate chips or some of the other suggestions below you may like to try.

Classic cookies are a great little gift to give family, friends, plus the perfect addition to your holiday cookie tray that never goes out of style.

Our printable recipe is at the bottom of our page, just scroll down and hit print to avoid ads.

Why Make This Recipe

• Timeless Taste: My Mom made this tried-and-true vintage peanut butter cookie recipe and has been passed down through generations.
• Simple Ingredients: No fancy tools or ingredients, always easy to find in the local markets, including creamy peanut butter, sugar, egg, butter, and flour.
• Perfect for Cookie Jars or Gifts: These cookies stay fresh for days and are ideal for holiday gifting or keeping stocked in your favorite cookie tins.
• Make-Ahead Friendly: You can freeze the dough and just bake it when the craving for peanut butter cookies strikes you.
• Kid-Approved: A great family fun learning experience for kids and young at heart, making and eating!

Some Mix-Ins you may like to add:

1. peanut butter chips or butterscotch
2. pinch of cinnamon 
3. toffee chips
4. dried fruits like raisins
5. top with sprinkles instead of sugar
6. white, milk, or dark chocolate chunks
7. chopped peanuts
8. chopped pistachios, pecans, macadamia nuts, coconut
9. pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds for nut allergies
10. cookies cant be left plain with granulated sugar or sprinkled with cinnamon sugar before baking
11. try some other flavored extracts: coffee, orange, or almond
12. chocolate chips of any kind milk, dark or semi-sweet

Shopping List

1. flour
2. creamy peanut butter
3. baking soda
4. salt
5. egg
6. butter
7. regular granulated and light brown sugar
8. vanilla extract

Tips for Making Peanut Butter Cookies

• roll into uniform-sized balls then use fork tines to flatten them in a crisscross formation
• cookie flavors can be changed with any extracts for a unique flavor
• use a lined cookie sheet (or Silpat mat, or parchment paper
• crunchy peanut butter can be substituted for creamy
• cool for at least 10 minutes before attempting to remove it from the baking sheet
• keep them covered in a jar or plastic container
• don’t overbake: The key to soft cookies is taking them out just before they’re fully set.
• use creamy peanut butter: Classic brands like Jif or Skippy work best for texture and flavor. Avoid natural peanut butters, which can separate and affect the consistency.
• add-ins: Want a twist? Mix in chocolate chips, chopped peanuts, or a sprinkle of sea salt on top before baking.
• chill the dough: If your kitchen is warm or the dough feels sticky, chill it for 30 minutes to prevent spreading.
• for crispier cookies: Bake a minute or two longer, just until the edges are firm.
• cookies can be sandwiched together and filled with your favorite jelly
• these cookies freeze in an airtight container for up to 4 months

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Cucidati Fig Sicilian Cookies

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25 Holiday Cookies

Old-Fashioned Peanut Butter Cookies

These old-fashioned peanut butter cookie jar cookies are the definition of a feel-good dessert.

They’re simple to make, store beautifully, and deliver that classic peanut butter taste we all grew up loving.

Whether you bake them for holidays, after-school snacks, or late-night cravings, they’ll become a staple in your kitchen—and your heart..

Mom would whip up a batch once a week alternating from peanut butter cookies to snickerdoodles, oatmeal, and of course, the classic chocolate chip, it was really hard to have just one favorite they were all delicious and of course, made with love.

If you’re a peanut butter lover, this is foolproof and the last recipe you’ll ever need to try.

Old-Fashioned Peanut Butter Cookies, Vintage Peanut Butter Cookie Recipe, Cookie Jar Peanut Butter Cookies. Classic Peanut Butter Cookies. Homemade Peanut Butter Cookies. Easy Peanut Butter Cookies, Soft and Chewy Peanut Butter Cookies

cookie recipes, vintage cookies, peanut butter recipes, peanut butter cookies

American

Yield: 30

Author: Claudia Lamascolo

Print

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Old Fashioned Peanut Butter Cookies

These nostalgic cookies, often tucked inside Grandma’s cookie jar, bring back warm childhood memories with every bite. 

Prep time: 15 MinCook time: 12 MinTotal time: 27 Min

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup of butter (1 stick)
• 3/4 cup of creamy peanut butter (any brand)
• 3/4 cup of light brown sugar
• 1/4 cup of granulated sugar ( and a few tablespoons more for garnishing the tops before baking)
• 1 egg
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• pinch of salt
• 1 – 3/4 cups of all-purpose flour

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line your baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. In a large bowl, add the butter and sugars together and beat them together for about 1 minute using an electric mixer.
3. Add in the eggs and vanilla until well blended.
4. Stir in the flour, baking soda, and salt until a ball forms.
5. Note: If the climate and area need more moisture in the dough a few drops of milk.
6. Roll into balls, crisscross each cookie using fork tines to flatten, then sprinkle with granulated sugar.
7. Bake in the preheated oven until the edges are brown, around 12 to 15 minutes.
8. Cool and enjoy.
9. Store in a covered cookie jar.

Notes

Tips for Making Peanut Butter Cookies

• roll into uniform-sized balls then use fork tines to flatten them in a crisscross formation
• cookie flavors can be changed with any extracts for a unique flavor
• use a lined cookie sheet (or Silpat mat, or parchment paper
• crunchy peanut butter can be substituted for creamy
• cool for at least 10 minutes before attempting to remove it from the baking sheet
• keep them covered in a jar or plastic container
• don’t overbake: The key to soft cookies is taking them out just before they’re fully set.
• use creamy peanut butter: Classic brands like Jif or Skippy work best for texture and flavor. Avoid natural peanut butters, which can separate and affect the consistency.
• add-ins: Want a twist? Mix in chocolate chips, chopped peanuts, or a sprinkle of sea salt on top before baking.
• chill the dough: If your kitchen is warm or the dough feels sticky, chill it for 30 minutes to prevent spreading.
• for crispier cookies: Bake a minute or two longer, just until the edges are firm.
• cookies can be sandwiched together and filled with your favorite jelly
• these cookies freeze in an airtight container for up to 4 months

Some Mix-Ins you may like to add:

1. peanut butter chips or butterscotch
2. pinch of cinnamon 
3. toffee chips
4. dried fruits like raisins
5. top with sprinkles instead of sugar
6. white, milk, or dark chocolate chunks
7. chopped peanuts
8. chopped pistachios, pecans, macadamia nuts, coconut
9. pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds for nut allergies
10. cookies cant be left plain with granulated sugar or sprinkled with cinnamon sugar before baking
11. try some other flavored extracts: coffee, orange, or almond
12. chocolate chips of any kind milk, dark or semi-sweet

Nutrition Facts

Sodium (milligrams)

75 mg

Cholesterol (grams)

14 mg

The default measuring system for this website is US Customary. Unit conversions are provided for convenience and as a courtesy only. While we strive to provide accurate unit conversions, please be aware that there may be some discrepancies.

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Recipe was first pubished in 2023 and updated in 2025