Lately I’ve been so frazzled. Well, more than usual 🙂
I’m not sure if it’s the allergies that are slowly waging World War III on my immune system, or perhaps it’s the fact that it’s only April and Sacramento is already reaching temps of 90 degrees. Maybe it’s the fact that I’m gaining weight like crazy (boo) or the fact that I’m about to start a healthy diet for said weight-gain (boo/yay). Either way, I’m totally, madly, hopelessly frazzled.
So there’s that.
I think my brain needs to pack a suitcase, put on a bikini and go on vacation, because seriously processing an actual, meaningful thought at this point is like performing brain surgery. I need an engineering degree just to formulate a proper sentence.
So without further adieu, methinks I’m starting my mental vacay right about now… but not until after I share the recipe for these fabulous peanut butter cookies. These truly are the best-ever in my not-so-humble opinion. They’re soft, chewy and have crisp edges which I find irresistible and necessary for any good peanut butter cookie. They’re packed with sweet-and-salty peanut butter flavor and have the classic cross-hatch pattern on top like any good cookie should. And they’re flourless, netting a fudgier, denser cookie that’s absolutely marvelous and which happens to make them naturally gluten-free.
I found this recipe years ago and I can’t even remember where, but I’ve been making it regularly since and had it posted on my blog from years ago but was in desperate need of updating the pictures. Pictures = better. Recipe = ain’t broke, so not fixin’ it. Just pure, unadulterated peanut buttery cookie goodness in every crisp, chewy bite. You won’t regret this simple recipe!
And yes, my mental vacay will consist of cramming these cookies in like hunger-fighting soldiers in one-by-one before my diet starts. Calories clearly don’t count on vacation.
The Best Crisp and Chewy Peanut Butter Cookies {Gluten-Free!}
Ingredients
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter
- 1 cup chunky peanut butter* if you prefer a smoother peanut butter cookie, feel free to use 2 cups of creamy peanut butter instead, but I like the texture of crunchy
- 1 cup white sugar plus 1/3 cup for rolling cookies
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 Tbsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp baking soda
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with silicone liners or mist them lightly with cooking spray. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, cream together the peanut butters, 1 cup of the white sugar and brown sugar until blended, about 1 minute. Beat in the eggs, vanilla and baking soda until dough is combined; it will be very thick.
- Using a Tablespoon-sized cookie dough scoop, portion out rounded Tablespoon-sized balls of dough and drop it into the remaining white sugar; roll around to coat. Place 2" apart on the prepared baking sheets and using a fork, make a cross-hatch pattern in the top to lightly flatten the balls.
- Bake for approx. 8-10 minutes, rotating pans halfway through baking time, until golden. Do NOT overbake. Immediately remove from the baking sheets and onto a wire rack to cool completely. Store leftovers airtight at room temperature for up to a week.
I cannot stress enough how tremendous these cookies are! They’re chewy, fudgy and have those buttery, crisp edges without having even a smidgen of butter in them. I love the subtle crunch from the white sugar on top and I love them especially when they’re warm and topped with ice cream…. but you didn’t hear that diet-friendly suggestion from me 🙂
If you like this recipe, be sure to Pin It to save to your favorite board for later!
xo, Hayley
Erin @ Miss Scrambled Egg says
Hayley – I adore peanut butter cookies! I’m sorry about that diet in your near future, but hopefully it’ll help you to feel stronger and better. 🙂
thedomesticrebel says
Erin – it’s okay. In any diet I always leave a little room for cookies 🙂
Jen @ Baked by an Introvert says
These cookies really do look like the best! I love when a gluten free cookie is so tasty that you wouldn’t even know the difference. Gotta try these soon!
thedomesticrebel says
Jen – you’re totally right! You won’t even know they’re GF!
Natalie @ In Natalie's Shoes says
GF cookies that don’t taste GF?! And peanut butter?! I’m in 🙂 These sound delicious!
thedomesticrebel says
Thanks Natalie! They’re pretty delish and you won’t even know they’re GF!
Nicole says
I totally need to go on a metal vacay with you. I can barely function these days. Maybe I just need a stack of these cookies 😀
thedomesticrebel says
Let’s mental vacay together!
Julianne @ Beyond Frosting says
As much as I try and resist, I have TOTALLY been craving cookies ALL THE TIME! I am going through a hard time right now too. Totally lost all motivation to work out and eat healthy. I am hoping I can kick myself in the butt and get back on track.
thedomesticrebel says
You and me both, girl. It’s hard but we can do it!
Jessica @ A Kitchen Addiction says
I could use a mental vacation, too! These peanut butter cookies definitely would need to be a part of it!
thedomesticrebel says
I know, right?! I so need cookies on my mental vacay!
Mir says
Boo for diets. I’m not a fan. I figure that 95% of diets fail and all of them suck, so yeah. Better to make peace with the chocolate!
Or peanut butter cookies. These really do look like the best ever!
thedomesticrebel says
Thanks so much, Mir! You’re totally right about the diets part!
Erin @ The Spiffy Cookie says
Yesss! I have made my flour-free peanut butter cookies with either creamy or crunchy and either white or brown sugar but I love that you have all in one! And they’re huge! Which is right in line with how I’ve been feeling lately since I too made massive peanut butter cookies int he past week.
thedomesticrebel says
Massive Peanut Butter Cookies ROCK, Erin! I’m glad we’re on the same wave-length with this issue 🙂
Kelly - Life Made Sweeter says
I vote yes for any kind of vacation along with a batch of these cookies! They look perfect! Love that they’re GF too!
thedomesticrebel says
Amen! Thanks Kelly 😀
Heather @ Sugar Dish Me says
So I will be making these 911 immediately. I’m taking them on my mental vacation.
thedomesticrebel says
Amen girlfran’!
Tonia says
These looks super amazing and totally perfect for metal vacay days!
thedomesticrebel says
Thanks Tonia! xoxo!
Jocelyn @BruCrew Life says
I’m in need of a mental vacation as well. And if cookies are part of that vacation…sign me up!!! I love a good chewy peanut butter cookie any time!!!
thedomesticrebel says
Cookies are definitely part of my mental vacay, girl! They should definitely be a part of yours, too 🙂 Thanks Jocelyn!
Kayle (The Cooking Actress) says
YES for a mental vacay!!!
and these cookies are a perfect treat-I looove how big and chewy and peanut butteryyyy they are!
thedomesticrebel says
Thanks girl!! xoxo!
SBO says
Thank you ,I will try to do it.
I have never tried cooking , These cookies looks awesome!
WallE says
Made these a few weeks ago and they were YUM! About to make them again but with all crunchy (no creamy) PB. When I did make them that first time, they seemed to crumble a bit when I fork-flattened them so I hand-shaped them back together again. I’m wondering if I was using too much “dough”- considering I couldn’t get them nearly as flat as the ones pictured… I’m making each cookie in this batch a bit smaller so we’ll see!…
thedomesticrebel says
WallE – I’m so glad you loved them! We enjoy using all crunchy PB in these, too 🙂 You may have used more dough or stacked your dough higher than I did. Sometimes I’ll do that for thicker and chewier cookies by stacking the dough high rather than round and squat. Hope that helps, and enjoy!
April says
These are amazing. We’ve made them twice already. Do you think these would work using cookie butter spread instead of peanut butter?
thedomesticrebel says
April – I’d imagine so, yes! That would be divine 🙂
kelly says
I must of done something wrong 🙁 my cookies crumbled when I tried to take them off cookie sheet! They taste wonderful, but just crumble for ice cream toppings now.
thedomesticrebel says
Kelly, are you sure you greased your cookie sheet? That’s the only thing I could think that would be a problem!
Michelle B says
These cookies were great! So rich and peanut butter-y. Going to be saving this recipe for the future. Perfect for when I need gluten free, dairy free, or just really easy delicious peanut butter cookies.
ufabet says
These look super AWESOME and TASTY! Thanks for the recipe.
Angela says
The flavor of these cookies was absolutely amazing however they crumbled apart when transferring to the cooling rack. So I baked the second batch for 12 minutes thinking maybe they needed more time in the oven but still had the same problem. Does type of peanut butter matter? I used all creamy Trader Joe’s brand.
thedomesticrebel says
Hi Angela, I’m so sorry you had this problem! In this case, I would leave the cookies on the baking sheets after baking until cooled to see if that resolves the problem.