19 Peanut Butter Cookie Recipes That Take Rich Flavor Seriously

Peanut Butter Blossoms
Photo: Scott Little

We love peanut butter cookies. And while it's hard to beat a traditional homemade peanut butter cookie recipe, we're smitten by variations. With these recipes, you can make peanut butter cookies all kinds of ways—from scratch, from mixes, and in some cases, without even turning on the oven. With our best peanut butter cookie recipe for peanut butter purists, plus twists like pinwheels and jammy thumbprints, these peanut butter cookies are proven crowd-pleasers.

01 of 19

Classic Peanut Butter Cookies

Classic Peanut Butter Cookies
Jason Donnelly

This is it! Our best peanut butter cookie recipe for those classic, chewy peanut butter cookies you crave. Generations of cooks have learned how to make peanut butter cookies from this very recipe, and you can, too. It's foolproof—we promise.

02 of 19

Peanut Butter Blossoms

Peanut Butter Blossoms
Scott Little

Here's another classic way to make peanut butter cookies. You can customize this peanut butter cookie recipe with different types of chocolate candy in the center. We like to use milk, dark, or caramel-filled chocolates.

Buy It: T-fal Airbake Cookie Sheet ($11, Walmart)

03 of 19

PB&J Sandwich Cookies

PB and J Sandwich Cookies
Jason Donnelly

Lunch just got a whole lot sweeter. Chewy peanut butter cookies take the place for bread with these peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. While they're a far cry from a sandwich substitute, you won't find us complaining about finding one in our lunch boxes.

04 of 19

Peanut Butter and Banana Drops

Peanut Butter and Banana Drops
Blaine Moats

Keep these easy peanut butter cookies in mind whenever you need a speedy dessert to serve. Dried banana chips and creamy chocolate pieces turn purchased cookie dough into a totally new treat. No one will ever notice that these peanut butter banana cookies weren't made from scratch.

05 of 19

Chocolate-Peanut Butter Shortbread Bites

Chocolate-Peanut Butter Shortbread Bites
Blaine Moats

These eye-catching gems rank among our best peanut butter cookies for gift-giving. They start with a rich, buttery shortbread recipe that's flavor-charged with peanut butter and chocolate. What really sells them, though, is the peanut butter and chocolate frostings on top. To make these peanut butter cookies even more enticing, follow the instructions for the pretty drizzles.

06 of 19

Peanut Butter Oat Bites

No-Bake Peanut Butter Oat Bites
Andy Lyons

Anyone can make these no-bake peanut butter cookies—they take just 20 minutes of hands-on prep time. These flourless peanut butter cookies are filled with an uncommon (and delicious) combination of ingredients—chocolate chips, coconut, dried cherries, rolled oats, and of course, peanut butter.

07 of 19

Easy Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Cookies

Easy Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Cookies
Carson Downing

These 3 ingredient peanut butter cookies come together in less than 30 minutes for a dense and delicious gluten-free treat everyone will enjoy. All you'll need is one egg, a cup of sugar, and a cup of peanut butter for an easy batch of gluten-free peanut butter cookies. We promise, no one will miss the gluten.

08 of 19

Peanut Butter and "Oreo" Brookies

Peanut Butter and "Oreo" Brookies on white surface
Jason Donnelly

Brownie cookies? Yes, please! This peanut butter brookie (that's brownie + cookie) recipe marries cookies and cream brownies with a chewy peanut butter cookie recipe for a sweet mashup that begs to be dunked in a glass of milk.

09 of 19

Peanut Butter Cream Sandwich Cookies

Peanut Butter Cream Sandwich Cookies
Andy Lyons

What's better than one peanut butter cookie? Two peanut butter cookies with peanut butter cream in the middle, of course! A mixture of marshmallow creme and chunky peanut butter creates a fluffernutter-style filling for this showstopping take on a traditional peanut butter cookie recipe.

10 of 19

Copycat Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies

Copycat Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies on red surface
Blaine Moats

No Girl Scouts in your neighborhood? No problem. These chocolate-coated peanut butter cookies are based on Girl Scout Tagalongs (also called Peanut Butter Patties), and our recipe makes 46 cookies … which, if you've ever ordered peanut butter Girl Scout cookies before, you know means they'll likely get eaten in exactly one day.

11 of 19

PB&J Ice Cream Sandwiches

PB and J Ice cream sandwiches
Alison Miksch

This recipe shows you how to make peanut butter cookies into a kid-favorite dessert. Simply bake the cookies using purchased dough (or skip that step and use purchased cookies). Fill with ice cream and a touch of jam, and you have sweet and playful take on PB&J.

12 of 19

Peanut Butter, Jelly, and Brownie Cookies

Peanut Butter, Jelly, and Brownie Cookies
Andy Lyons

Peanut butter and jelly is a sacred combination, which is why the addition of fudgy brownies to this peanut butter cookie sandwich recipe is so delightfully sinful. A scoop of fresh-from-the-oven brownie is smashed together with a tablespoon of jam between two layers of peanut butter cookies to make one decadent dessert sandwich. Store-bought peanut butter cookie dough saves time since you'll need to roll the dough out before slicing and baking.

13 of 19

Double Oat Breakfast Cookies

Double Oat Breakfast Cookies
Blaine Moats

Cookies for breakfast? Yes, please! These chewy peanut butter cookies are packed with good-for-you ingredients, such as oats, cereal, and raisins. We also sprinkled a handful of chocolate chips into these easy peanut butter cookies to add just a little indulgence to your morning.

14 of 19

Peanut Butter Munchies

Peanut Butter Munchies
Mark Thomas

Each cookie has a surprise inside: gooey, creamy peanut butter. Happily, these are also super-easy peanut butter cookies to make. Simply wrap cookie dough around balls of creamy peanut butter filling. Then bake, cool, and prepare to swoon.

15 of 19

Giant Triple Threat Peanut Butter Cookies

Giant Triple Threat Peanut Butter Cookies
Andy Lyons

When compared to all the different types of peanut butter cookies, this recipe has a giant advantage. The giant-size cookies start with a homemade peanut butter batter and plenty of peanut butter-filled chocolate chips in the mix. Just before baking, they're topped with ground peanuts for a peanut butter cookie recipe that's all about the peanuts. Grab a glass of milk and start munching.

16 of 19

Peanut Butter and Chocolate Pinwheels

Peanut Butter and Chocolate Pinwheels
Andy Lyons

These twirly peanut butter and chocolate cookies are playful and fun to make. A bit of cocoa powder adds a chocolatey spin to refrigerated sugar cookie dough before swirling together with refrigerated peanut butter cookie dough. After refrigerating the rolled dough, simply slice and bake.

17 of 19

PB&C Cookie Sandwiches

PB and C Cookie Sandwiches
Kim Cornelison

Here we start with our best peanut butter cookie recipe and add cocoa powder plus peanut butter and milk chocolate pieces to the dough. Then we transform the baked treats into rich sandwich cookies. You'll be glad to know that the filling for these peanut butter cookies is purchased chocolate frosting mixed with peanut butter. How easy is that?

18 of 19

Ultimate Tassies

Ultimate Tassies
Jason Donnelly

We bet you've never had peanut butter cookies quite like this before. A buttery cream cheese crust makes a crisp shell for the two-tone peanut butter and chocolate filling. Use a piping bag for the filling to create a gorgeous swirl.

Buy It: Ateco Pastry Bag Kit ($20, Williams Sonoma)

19 of 19

PB&J Thumbprints

PB&J Thumbprint Cookies
Jason Donnelly

Yes, they combined! Here, peanut butter cookies marry thumbprint cookies for one fabulous "happily ever after." Want more to celebrate? This peanut butter cookie recipe takes just three ingredients—and refrigerated cookie dough jump-starts the list.

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