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    Home » Candy & Sweets

    Peanut Butter Cookies Without Brown Sugar

    By Emmeline Kemperyd on February 26, 2023, updated June 14, 2024 - 4 Comments

    Total time: 35 minutes minutes
    Prep time: 9 minutes minutes
    5 from 4 votes
    Jump to Recipe
    Peanut butter cookies on a wire rack.

    Make the best Peanut Butter Cookies without brown sugar in just 35 minutes. These cookies are easy to make and come out tasting amazing - all with simple ingredients you probably already have at home.

    Peanut butter cookies on a wire rack.

    Try One, and You Won’t Be Able to Stop…

    These cookies are one of those where you have one, and at the first bite you think "Sure, they're good. But nothing special, I guess." And then after the last bite you find yourself reaching for another... and another. Don't say I didn't warn you!

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    They are loaded with peanut butter flavor and have a nice salty touch, which I love. This makes them sweet, but not TOO sweet, so both kids and grown-ups love them.

    And all that peanut butter? It makes them nice and filling, and perfect for a snack any time of day.

    No Brown Sugar Needed

    Ingredients for peanut butter cookies without brown sugar.

    A Note on Peanut Butter

    This recipe is optimized for using salted, unsweetened peanut butter. I do prefer to use unsalted peanut butter, but I have a hard time finding it.

    If you're using unsalted peanut butter, please add 1 teaspoon of salt to the dough.

    If you're using sweetened peanut butter and don't want it to become overly sweet, add a bit less sugar - ¼ cup or so less. The exact amount will depend on how sweet the peanut butter is, which is why I recommend unsweetened.

    I always use smooth peanut butter for making cookies, but you could also use a crunchy kind.

    Be Careful With the Salt

    Done right, these cookies are nice and sweet, but not too sweet, with a nice salty bite from the sea salt flakes on top. There is however a risk of them becoming too salty.

    Both peanut butter and butter can have salt, so please take note. This recipe was created with salted peanut butter and unsalted butter. Use salted versions of both at your own risk, and skip the sea salt flakes on top, at least the first time you make them.

    Also, keep in mind that my salted peanut butter might be more or less salty than yours. When in doubt, use unsalted, and add a bit of salt instead.

    You Can Make Them Gluten-Free

    You can make these cookies with a gluten-free flour mixture as well. Most kinds will work, but they have been tested specifically with a mix of rice flour and buckwheat flour.

    You Can Totally Add Some Chocolate

    These cookies are delicious with chocolate chips added in as well, for a chocolate chip peanut butter cookie. Yum!

    You’re Just a Few Simple Steps Away From Fresh Baked Cookies!

    1. Cream Butter & Sugar

    Start by mixing together butter and sugar until it's creamy and fluffy. Take your time doing this, it will help give your cookies the very best texture.

    Creamed butter and sugar.

    2. Peanut Butter + Eggs + Vanilla

    Mix in peanut butter followed by eggs and vanilla extract. This is the time to mix really well. Later you want to mix as little as possible.

    Dough for peanut butter cookies before adding dry ingredients.

    3. Dry Ingredients

    Mix together the dry ingredients in a separate bowl, then gently mix them into the dough. Don't overmix, mix just enough for it all to be well combined, and a nice dough to form.

    Finished dough for peanut butter cookies.

    4. Make the Cookies

    Roll the dough into balls, or use a cookie scoop. Space them out on a lined baking sheet, then use a fork to press down to flatten the balls and create those nice ridges on top.

    Making cookies.

    5. Finishing Touches

    Top with sea salt flakes, and you're ready to bake!

    Cookies before baking.

    6. All Done!

    Bake 12-14 minutes until they are just starting to brown at the edges, and enjoy!

    Finished peanut butter cookies,

    Storing & Freezing

    Storing: Store leftovers in room temperature in a cookie tin or other airtight container, they dry out as time goes by but are good for at least 1 week.

    Freezing baked cookies: Freeze in freezer bags or other air tight containers, and they are good for up to 6 months.

    Freezing unbaked cookies: This is a great way to have freshly baked cookies whenever you crave them! Roll into balls, smash with a fork, and freeze individually. Bake straight from frozen, just add a few minutes to the baking time.

    Peanut butter cookies on a wire rack.

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    Did you love this recipe? Rate it five stars!
    ...and let me know what you loved about it in the comments.

    Recipe

    Peanut butter cookies on a wire rack.

    Peanut Butter Cookies without Brown Sugar

    5 from 4 votes
    Print Rate
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: North American
    Diet: Vegetarian
    Servings: 24 cookies
    Calories: 233kcal
    Prep time: 9 minutes mins
    Cook time: 25 minutes mins
    Total time: 35 minutes minutes
    Author: Emmeline Kemperyd
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients

    • 1 cup unsalted butter at room temperature, cut in small pieces; see notes for salted butter
    • 1.5 cup white sugar
    • 1 cup unsweetened peanut butter salted (skip extra salt) or unsalted; see note for sweetened
    • 2 eggs at room temperature
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract or vanilla powder / vanilla sugar added with the dry ingredients
    • 2.5 cup all purpose flour
    • 1.5 teaspoon baking powder
    • 1 teaspoon fine table salt only add if using unsalted peanut butter
    • 1 teaspoon salt flakes optional
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
    • Combine butter and sugar in a large mixing bowl and mix until soft, creamy and fluffy.
      1 cup unsalted butter, 1.5 cup white sugar
    • Add peanut butter and mix until well combined.
      1 cup unsweetened peanut butter
    • Add eggs and vanilla extract and mix until well combined and fluffy.
      2 eggs, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • In a separate bowl, mix together flour, baking powder (and fine table salt, if you are using it)
      2.5 cup all purpose flour, 1.5 teaspoon baking powder, 1 teaspoon fine table salt
    • Add the flour to the rest of the batter and mix until well combined, but not more than necessary to combine.
    • Divide the dough into 32 even-sized balls, they will be about 1.5 inches (3.5 cm) across.
    • Space out the balls on the baking sheets, then press them down with a fork until they are about ½ inch thick. Sprinkle with sea salt flakes.
      1 teaspoon salt flakes
    • Bake one set at a time for 12-14 minutes. They are done when the edges and the ridges on top are starting to brown.
    • Remove from the oven and allow to cool down slightly on the baking sheet, then transfer to a wire rack. Cool completely before storing!

    Equipment (may contain affiliate links)

    • Measuring spoons*
    • Measuring cups (metric or US)*
    • Mixing bowls*
    • Electric whisk*
    • 2 Baking sheets
    • Parchment paper*

    Video

    Notes

     
    • Unsalted butter can be swapped for salted butter if you're using unsalted peanut butter. If you make this swap, don't add any extra salt in the dough.
    • Peanut butter should be plain and unsweetened. I prefer to use unsalted, but have a hard time finding it. This recipes is optimized for using salted peanut butter, so if you're using unsalted peanut butter, please add 1 teaspoon of salt to the dough as well.
    • Peanut butter can be crunchy or creamy - unfortunately the crunch is lost when mixing, but either works
    • Salt flakes are optional, but add a nice touch
    • Add chocolate chips to make peanut butter chocolate chip cookies. I like a mix of milk and dark chocolate.
    • Make them gluten-free by using a gluten free flour mixture. Most kinds will work but they've been tested with a mix of rice flour and buckwheat flour.
    • Store leftovers in room temperature in a cookie tin or other airtight container, they dry out as time goes by but are good for at least 1 week
    • Freeze unbaked cookies to have freshly baked cookies whenever you crave them. Roll into balls, smash with a fork, and freeze individually.
    • Freeze baked cookies and they are good for up to 6 months

    Nutrition

    Calories: 233kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 34mg | Sodium: 198mg | Potassium: 108mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 14g | Vitamin A: 256IU | Calcium: 23mg | Iron: 1mg

    Nutritional information is approximate and automatically calculated, and should only be viewed as an indication.

    Did you make this? Tag me today!Tag @alwaysusebutter and use the hashtag #alwaysusebutter!

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    About Emmeline Kemperyd

    Emmeline Kemperyd is a writer, food blogger, recipe creator and food photographer and the founder of alwaysusebutter.com. She has more than 20 years of experience creating and simplifying recipes so they taste good, and are quick, easy, and approachable. She is a regular contributor to MSN  and her work has been featured by The Guardian, Well+Good, Vulture, SheKnows, Good Men Project, Daily Kos, The Grio, The Asian Parent, and The Feed Feed, among others.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. ROBBIE

      April 09, 2023 at 1:28 pm

      I love crispy cookies; is this Peanut Butter Cookie crispy? If not, how can I make it crispy?

      Reply
      • Emmeline Kemperyd

        April 10, 2023 at 5:33 pm

        Hi Robbie! This cookie is neither really chewy or super crispy, but more toward crispy. Generally cookies that have baking powder will not be SUPER crispy, if that’s what you’re after I recommend trying a shortbread cookie recipe. I don’t have one with peanut butter, but I do have a cinnamon one that’s delicious! /Emmeline

        Reply
        • Robbie

          April 25, 2023 at 7:28 pm

          Hi Emmeline, You mentioned that 'cookies that have baking powder will not be SUPER crispy' . . . would I be able to omit the baking powder?? Or use less of it??

          Reply
          • Emmeline Kemperyd

            April 26, 2023 at 6:32 am

            Hi Robbie! No, you can't just omit the baking powder, it will not turn out well. For a more crispy cookie I recommend trying a different recipe entirely. For example one of these, or similar cookies:

            https://alwaysusebutter.com/cocoa-powder-cookies-without-baking-powder/
            https://alwaysusebutter.com/cinnamon-cookies/

            /Emmeline

            Reply
    5 from 4 votes (4 ratings without comment)

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