Description
Classic peanut butter and jelly cookies merge childhood nostalgia with sweet bakery magic. Crisp edges, jammy centers, and nostalgic flavors invite home bakers to savor comfort in every delightful crumb.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1 large egg
Sweeteners:
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
Dry Ingredients and Seasonings:
- 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup jelly or jam (strawberry, grape, or your favorite flavor)
Instructions
- Prepare the baking workspace by positioning oven racks in the center and warming the oven to 350°F. Cover baking sheets with parchment paper for smooth cookie release.
- In a spacious mixing bowl, transform butter and sugars into a creamy, aerated mixture by vigorously blending until the texture becomes light and fluffy.
- Incorporate peanut butter, egg, and vanilla extract into the sugar mixture, whisking thoroughly to create a uniform, glossy base.
- Create a separate container for dry ingredients, carefully combining flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt through gentle whisking.
- Merge dry ingredients with the wet mixture, folding gently until ingredients are just integrated – avoiding overmixing which can toughen the dough.
- Craft uniform dough balls using a tablespoon, strategically placing them across the prepared baking sheets with adequate spacing to prevent merging.
- Using your thumb or a rounded utensil, delicately craft a small depression in the center of each cookie dough sphere.
- Carefully spoon jelly or jam into the created wells, ensuring precise and even distribution across each cookie.
- Slide the trays into the preheated oven, monitoring cookies until edges transform to a delicate golden hue – approximately 10-12 minutes.
- Remove cookies and allow them to rest momentarily on the baking sheet, then transfer to a cooling rack, permitting complete temperature reduction before serving.
Notes
- Swap traditional peanut butter with almond or sunflower seed butter for nut-free alternatives, making these cookies perfect for school lunches and allergy-sensitive gatherings.
- Use low-sugar or sugar-free jelly to reduce overall sweetness and create a more health-conscious version of the classic cookie.
- Chill the dough for 30 minutes before baking to prevent spreading and ensure a more uniform, perfectly shaped cookie with crisp edges.
- Create a gluten-free version by replacing all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free baking blend, maintaining the same delicious texture and flavor profile.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 190
- Sugar: 14 g
- Sodium: 90 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 26 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg