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Peanut Butter and Jelly Cookies Recipe

4.9 from 140 reviews

These Peanut Butter and Jelly Cookies are a delightful twist on a classic childhood favorite. Soft, chewy peanut butter cookies topped with sweet seedless jam create a perfect balance of creamy and fruity flavors. Ideal for a snack or dessert, these cookies are easy to make and perfect for sharing.

Ingredients

Scale

Cookie Dough

  • 1/2 cup butter (1 stick)
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar (packed)
  • 1 cup creamy peanut butter
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled)
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

Toppings and Garnishes

  • 1/2 cup seedless jam
  • Additional jam for topping baked cookies (optional)
  • Melted peanut butter (for garnish, optional)
  • Chopped peanuts (for garnish, optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats for easy cleanup and to prevent sticking.
  2. Cream Butter: In a large bowl or stand mixer, beat the butter until smooth and creamy, scraping down the sides to ensure even consistency.
  3. Add Sugars: Add both granulated sugar and brown sugar to the butter and beat together until the mixture is light, fluffy, and no butter lumps remain.
  4. Mix Peanut Butter: Incorporate the creamy peanut butter into the sugar and butter mixture. Beat well to combine evenly.
  5. Combine Wet Ingredients: Add the egg and vanilla extract to the mixture, beating thoroughly until well blended.
  6. Prepare Dry Ingredients: In a separate step, add the all-purpose flour to the bowl but do not mix yet. Sprinkle baking soda and kosher salt on top of the flour, then lightly stir to combine the dry ingredients.
  7. Mix Dough: Turn the mixer on low to combine dry ingredients into the wet mixture carefully, stopping as soon as the dough starts coming together but still shows some flour. Scrape the bowl and mix gently again until no flour streaks remain, avoiding overmixing to keep cookies tender.
  8. Shape Cookies: Form the dough into 1 1/2 inch balls using a cookie scoop for uniform size.
  9. Arrange on Baking Sheet: Place cookie balls spaced a few inches apart on the prepared baking sheets, allowing room for spreading. Approximately 12 per 11×17 inch pan.
  10. Flatten Cookies: Dip a fork in sugar or flour to prevent sticking, then gently press each cookie ball down with the fork twice—once in one direction and then perpendicular—to about 1/2 inch thickness. Re-dip fork in sugar as needed.
  11. Add Jam Dollop: Stir the seedless jam until smooth, and carefully place about 1 teaspoon in the center of each flattened cookie, ensuring the jam stays within the edges to avoid spreading onto the pan.
  12. Bake: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 13 to 15 minutes, until the edges are just set with slight browning.
  13. Cool: Allow cookies to cool on the pan for 5 to 10 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
  14. Garnish and Serve: For an elegant presentation, add extra stirred jam on top, drizzle with melted peanut butter, and sprinkle chopped peanuts if desired.
  15. Storage: Store leftover cookies in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
  16. Freezing: To freeze, shape and flatten cookies with the fork, place on a baking sheet, and freeze. Once frozen, transfer to a ziplock bag. They can be baked straight from frozen with 1-3 extra minutes added to baking time. Jam can be added before freezing by flash freezing on a baking sheet.

Notes

  • Do not under bake these cookies; they should have slight browning on the edges for best texture.
  • Use creamy peanut butter for a smoother cookie, but crunchy peanut butter works if preferred.
  • Dipping the fork in sugar or flour keeps it from sticking to the dough during flattening.
  • Keep the jam dollop centered to avoid spreading and creating a gummy mess on the baking sheet.
  • These cookies spread more than typical peanut butter cookies because of the jam, so space them accordingly on the baking sheets.
  • The dough freezes well; prepare in advance by shaping and freezing, then bake as needed.
  • For best flavor experience, enjoy them warm with milk.

Keywords: peanut butter cookies, jelly cookies, peanut butter and jelly, dessert cookies, easy cookie recipe, homemade cookies, classic peanut butter jelly flavor