Soft Peanut Butter Cookies
This Post May Contain Affiliate Links. Please Read Our Disclosure PolicyPeanut Butter Cookies might be one of my favorite classic cookie recipes. These Soft Peanut Butter Cookies with M&Ms are a delicious cookie recipe that’s perfect for spring!
I realize that mid-February is a bit early to be talking about Spring, but right now I’m thinking “The sooner it comes, the better!” This weekend I plan to start working on a few projects to help you decorate for and celebrate Easter and springtime.
Naturally, there will be food (specifically, dessert) involved, so I’m kicking things off today with these Soft Peanut Butter Cookies for Spring.
Soft Peanut Butter Cookies:
As you know from past recipes, the pairing of peanut butter and chocolate is a favorite of mine. The flavor combination instantly reminds me of Easter. (I think it’s those ubiquitous chocolate peanut butter eggs.)
Today, I’m putting the two together in a classic peanut butter cookie recipe which features candy coated chocolate and is sure to please. (The resulting cookies also look adorable for dressing up any spring celebration.)
And speaking of peanut butter. If you love peanut butter desserts as much as I do, you definitely want to check out this post. I share all of my favorite in one location!
Let’s bake some cookies!
How to Make Soft Peanut Butter Cookies:
Begin by creaming together your butter and sugars. Then, add the peanut butter and eggs, one at a time. You can bring out your stand mixer for this, but I find that a hand mixer works nicely.
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Now mix in your dry ingredients. I do this with a spatula so that I don’t overmix the dough. Just before the dough is mixed, toss in the candy coated chocolates. I think the pastel colors of the candy are so lovely with the creamy dough color.
You’ll want to save about 1/2 cup of your candy. I like to add a few pieces to the top of each of the cookies right after they come out of the oven. This is a great little cheat / tip to ensure that your cookies look picture-perfect when it’s time to celebrate!
And that’s it! Your cookies are ready, and that peanut butter chocolatey goodness has a one-way ticket to your tummy. Yum!
I hope you enjoyed this recipe and are looking forward to Spring as much as I am.
If you like peanut butter desserts, you’ll love these too:
- Peanut Butter Brownie Pillow Cookies
- Peanut Butter Lover’s Peanut Butter Cookies
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake
- Peanut Butter and Jelly Cheesecake Bars
- Stuffed Peanut Butter Cup Cookies
- Peanut Butter Sheet Cake
More springtime treats are on the horizon here on IBC. Stay tuned!
Soft Peanut Butter Cookies Recipe:
Soft Peanut Butter Cookies
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter softened
- 1 cup brown sugar packed
- 1 cup white sugar
- 1 1/4 cups creamy peanut butter
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 bag (12 ounce) candy coated chocolate candies
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, cream together the butter, brown sugar, white sugar, and peanut butter. Once well combined, add one egg at a time, mixing well. Then, mix in the vanilla.
- Stir the dry mixture into the wet mixture with a spatula. When almost combined, mix in the candy coated chocolates, reserving 1/2 cup to garnish.
- Roll the dough into 1 1/2-inch balls. Place each ball on an ungreased cookie sheet, and flatten the balls with your fingers. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until the cookies just start to brown. (The longer you bake them, the less soft they will be.)
- Remove from the oven and top each cookie with a few pieces of the extra chocolate candy. Then transfer the cookies to a wire rack. Once cool, pack and store them in an airtight container.
Have you ever tried using gluten free flour for these? They look delicious and I can’t wait to try them!
No, I haven’t. So sorry!
xo Michael
I am going to try to make your Spring Peanut Cookies and use the Harvest M&M’s instead of the pastel ones. They were my favorite peanut cookies ever!
Yes! That’s such a great idea! Enjoy!
xo Michael
These look great! Should I chill the dough before baking?
Cookies over cookies… looks very delicious!
When does the peanut butter go in? Just dumped in the flour and realize that the directions do not mention the peanut butter. I think I have a batch of ruined cookies
The peanut butter goes in the with butter and sugars. You have my most sincere apologies for completely leaving it out of the original recipe. The recipe has been adjusted. I hope you were able to save your cookies.
xo Michael
Thanks Michael. They were surprisingly really good cookies. I can’t wait to try them with the corrected instructions. I can assure you these cookies did not go to waste?
I’m so happy to hear that they worked out in some respect. 🙂
xo Michale
These are amazing! Love the pastels! Peanut butter cookies are SO good!
Thanks for the recipe! I made these a couple of days ago using TraderJoe’s peanut butter. They are awesome!! My son froze a couple of the cookies just for a little while to harden them up so they would hold up for making an ice cream sandwich. They are tasty that way, too!
My daughter and I made those peanut butter cookies with the pastel M&M’s-Best peanut butter cookies we have ever eaten! We used organic peanut butter.
Hi Michael I think my husband would love these! He is a huge peanut butter fan,in the recipe I don’t see when to add it. I assume when creaming together the butter and sugars?
These look so good and you can bet they will be on my Easter dessert table. Thanks for another great recipe.
Direction calls for salt and no,salt is listed in recipe…..??
Thank you! The recipe was updated. 🙂
xo Michael
This post makes me want to bake! My hubby loves peanut butter cookies and I love the way these look – a win/win!
O.K. I looked again, really close, and see the M&M. Disregard earlier question.
Glad you found it!
xo Michael
What kind of candies are these? I don’t see the M&M marking on them? I love the pretty pastel colors, Michael.
Looks so delicious Michael! I’ll take three dozen please.
These cookies look yummy! Do you use all natural peanut butter or regular peanut butter? Thanks.
I’m a fan of JIF Peanut Butter when it comes to baking. However, as I was making these I thought about using a Natural Almond Butter I love. I may have to try that.
xo Michael