Amish Peanut Butter Cookies Recipe

Published: Apr 8, 2023 · Modified: Jul 9, 2026 by Anna 39 Comments · This post may contain affiliate links ·

Old-fashioned Amish peanut butter cookies are a classic American treat that people have enjoyed for generations. They are made from a simple recipe that features basic ingredients such as peanut butter, sugar, flour, and eggs.

These vintage peanut butter cookies have a rich, buttery flavor that is balanced by the sweet, nutty taste of peanut butter. They have a beautiful texture, being crisp on the outside and slightly soft and chewy on the inside. They also have a distinctive crisscross pattern on top, which you make by pressing the tines of a fork into the dough before baking.

stack of old-fashioned Amish peanut butter cookies on a board.

Jump to:

Grandma's Old-Fashioned Chewy Peanut Butter Cookies
How to Make Amish Peanut Butter Cookies
Cookies with a Crisscross Pattern
Ways to Enjoy These Basic Peanut Butter Cookies
Choosing the Best Peanut Butter for Cookies
More Amish Recipes Using Peanut Butter
📖 Recipe Card

Grandma's Old-Fashioned Chewy Peanut Butter Cookies

This is truly an old-fashioned recipe that takes me back to my grandma's kitchen. It's a classic cookie recipe that has stood the test of time.

Therefore, I am guessing that some of you also found old-fashioned peanut butter cookies (similar to these) in your grandma's cookie jar.

And one of the most appealing things about these timeless peanut butter cookies is their simplicity. They are made with just a few ingredients. And they require minimal preparation, making them a quick and easy dessert to whip up on a whim. (I've also got a modern version with chocolate chips if you're a fan of peanut butter and chocolate together.)

ingredients - flour, baking soda, baking powder, brown sugar, peanut butter, sugar, butter, and egg

How to Make Amish Peanut Butter Cookies

Preheat the Oven:
- Set your oven to 350°F (175°C) and allow it to preheat while you prepare the cookie dough.
Cream the Butters and Sugars:
- In a mixing bowl, beat together the softened butter, peanut butter, white sugar, and brown sugar. Mix until the ingredients are well combined and the mixture becomes light and fluffy.
Add the Egg:
- Crack in the egg and continue mixing until it's fully incorporated and the dough is smooth.
Mix the Dry Ingredients:
- In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Stir until all the dry ingredients are evenly distributed.
Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients:
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the creamed mixture. Mix until everything is combined and the dough comes together.
Shape the Cookies:
- Use a cookie scoop or spoon to portion the dough onto greased or parchment-lined cookie sheets. Space them evenly.
- Flatten each ball of dough with a fork, making a crisscross pattern. You can dip the fork in flour or sugar to prevent sticking.
Bake the Cookies:
- Place the cookies in the oven and bake for about 10 minutes, just until they are set but still soft. They should not look hard in the oven as they will firm up while cooling.
Cool the Cookies:
- Remove the cookies from the oven and let them sit on the tray for about a minute to set. Then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Store the Cookies:
- Once cooled, store the cookies in an airtight container. If they won't be eaten within three days, freeze the extras to keep them fresh.

This post contains affiliate links...

Cookies with a Crisscross Pattern

An identifying mark of old-fashioned peanut butter cookies is the crisscross pattern on the top. And it's very easy to make this simple pattern.

Scoop the cookies onto greased baking sheets. Then simply dip a fork into flour or sugar (this keeps it from sticking) and press the top of the cookie. Now press the cookie again in the opposite direction.

You don't want a bunch of flour sticking to the fork and going onto the cookie. (After each press, I dip my fork into flour and then give it a tap against the side of my flour tub.)

This pattern not only adds a decorative touch but also helps to flatten the cookies and ensures that they bake evenly.

peanut butter cookies dough on a tray with crisscross patterns

Ways to Enjoy These Basic Peanut Butter Cookies

These old-fashioned peanut butter cookies are delicious just as they are, but here are a few fun ways to enjoy them:

With a glass of milk or coffee: A classic combination for a simple snack.
With ice cream: Warm a cookie slightly and top it with a scoop of ice cream, or crumble it over a bowl of ice cream.
Dipped in chocolate: Add a little extra sweetness by dipping cooled cookies in melted chocolate.
As a cookie sandwich: Add frosting or peanut butter between two cookies for an extra special treat. (Check out my peanut butter whoopie pies recipe.)
Crumble over yogurt: Add cookie pieces to vanilla yogurt for extra flavor and crunch.
Gift them: Peanut butter cookies make a thoughtful homemade gift when packaged in a pretty tin or container.

Old-fashioned peanut butter cookies on a wire rack

Choosing the Best Peanut Butter for Cookies

For the best texture and flavor, I recommend using a good-quality creamy peanut butter for these cookies. Regular creamy peanut butter works better than the natural variety, since the added oils in natural peanut butter can sometimes affect the texture of baked goods.

Peanut butter is high in protein, healthy fats, and essential vitamins and minerals, making it a nutritious addition to many diets. And it has long been a favorite ingredient in Amish kitchens. The Amish serve Homemade Peanut Butter Spread on homemade bread and buns for their church dinner.

If you love the combination of peanut butter and chocolate, you might also enjoy these chocolate cookies with peanut butter chips, peanut butter chocolate chip cookies, Reese's peanut butter bars, and chocolate peanut butter fudge!

Amish pb cookies on a board and scattered around with peanuts

More Amish Recipes Using Peanut Butter

Peanut Butter Blossom Cookies
Peanut Butter Whoopie Pies
Chocolate Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Bars
White Chocolate Peanut Butter Blondies
Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls (Homemade candy)
Homemade Protein Balls
Peanut Butter Cream Pie

Old-fashioned Amish peanut butter cookies are a beloved treat and are often enjoyed as nostalgic comfort food or a classic snack. If you enjoy this recipe, I would love it if you left a comment and star rating below. Thank you!

Visit my shop to purchase my Amish cookbook

📖 Recipe Card

Old-Fashioned Amish Peanut Butter Cookies Recipe

Old-fashioned Amish peanut butter cookies are a classic treat that people have enjoyed for generations. They have a rich, buttery, and nutty flavor with a beautiful crisp texture on the outside while being soft on the inside.

5 from 17 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 20

Cook Time 10

baking in batches 10

Total Time 40

Course Cookies, Dessert

Cuisine American, Amish

Servings cookies

Calories 120 kcal

Ingredients

½ c. butter, softened (1 stick)
½ c. creamy peanut butter
½ c. sugar
½ c. brown sugar
1 large egg
1 ¼ c. all-purpose flour
¾ tsp. baking soda
½ tsp. baking powder
¼ tsp. salt

Get Recipe Ingredients

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350°.
In a mixing bowl, beat butter, peanut butter, and sugars until well creamed.
½ c. butter, softened (1 stick), ½ c. creamy peanut butter, ½ c. sugar, ½ c. brown sugar
Add egg and mix.
1 large egg
In a separate bowl, mix the dry ingredients. Then add them to the creamed mixture and mix to combine.
1 ¼ c. all-purpose flour, ¾ tsp. baking soda, ½ tsp. baking powder, ¼ tsp. salt
Scoop the cookie dough onto greased cookie sheets and flatten them in a crisscross pattern with a fork dipped in flour or sugar. Bake for approx. 10 minutes (just until set, but not hard).
Remove from the oven and let the cookies rest on the tray for a minute before removing them to a wire rack to cool.
Store in an airtight container. And freeze whatever won't get eaten within three days, to keep them fresh.

Notes

Yields 30 small cookies

*Nutrition is approximate.

Nutrition

Serving: 1small cookieCalories: 120kcalCarbohydrates: 16gProtein: 2gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 14mgSodium: 104mgPotassium: 41mgFiber: 0.5gSugar: 8gVitamin A: 106IUCalcium: 13mgIron: 1mg

Keyword Amish Peanut Butter Cookies, Old-Fashioned Peanut Butter Cookies

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!