By Kim Gehling    March 8, 2025

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I recently revisited a classic cookie recipe that has been a favorite for generations. These Old-Fashioned Peanut Butter Cookies are one of those comforting treats that bring back memories of childhood, family gatherings and simple joys. They’re packed with rich peanut butter flavor, slightly crisp on the edges and wonderfully dense without being overly sweet.

These cookies take me straight back to my childhood when I first made them as part of a 4-H cooking project. I remember carefully measuring each ingredient and selecting three perfect cookies to present for judging. It was a small but meaningful lesson in precision, patience and the reward of homemade baking.

This week I baked a double batch for my family. My older son let me know that he really loved these, noting how much peanut butter flavor they had. After years of not having these cookies, I was reminded just how simple yet tasty they are.

The internet tells me that the signature crisscross pattern on top isn’t just for looks—it helps the cookies bake evenly. This easy step, achieved with the back of a fork, makes these cookies instantly recognizable.

Whether you’re baking for nostalgia or trying them for the first time, this recipe is sure to become a favorite in your home.

From our kitchen to yours — enjoy!

Old-Fashioned Peanut Butter Cookies

Makes Around 20 Cookies

Ingredients:

• 1/2 c. butter, room temperature
• 1/2 c. sugar
• 1/2 c. brown sugar, packed
• 1 c. peanut butter
• 1 egg
• 1 t. vanilla extract
• 3/4 t. baking powder
• 1 1/2 c. flour

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
2. In a stand mixer, cream together the butter, sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy.
3. Add peanut butter and mix until incorporated.
4. Mix in the egg, vanilla extract, and baking powder.
5. Slowly add the flour, mixing until a thick dough forms.
6. Roll the dough into 1 1/4-inch balls and place them on a baking sheet.
7. Flatten each cookie with a fork in a crisscross pattern.
8. Bake for 10 minutes, then let them sit on the baking sheet for a few minutes to set.