Easy Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies

Mouth-watering chewy and soft, these rich Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies are easy to make, require basic ingredients and make a delicious snack.

stack of peanut butter oatmeal cookies with bite taken out with text overlay for facebook


 

For all cookie fans out there, I have the ultimate oatmeal cookie recipe for you. These peanut butter cookies are rich and buttery, soft and chewy, chunky and full of flavor. This recipe comes with a caveat – make at your own risk, because they are absolutely addictive.

The best part about these peanut butter oatmeal cookies is that they’re not overly sweet, not too soft and not too hard. They are just right.

Also, the recipe is very easy to prepare, so you can have chunky peanut butter cookies in no time. If you’re looking for more easy cookies, try out these delicious Soft Peanut Butter Cookies or Soft Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

overhead shot of peanut butter oatmeal cookies on a cooling rack

Why you’ll love these Soft Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies

  • Easy to make: These peanut butter oatmeal cookies take only minutes to prepare and bake to perfection in under 15 minutes. 
  • Uses regular ingredients: All ingredients needed for this recipe can be found in most kitchens and pantries.
  • Full of flavor: These oatmeal cookies are seriously next level and bursting with rich peanut butter flavor.
  • Not overly sweet: The sweetness is just right, so you can indulge in as many cookies as you want without getting a sugar rush (but we don’t judge!).
  • Perfect texture: These peanut butter oatmeal cookies are soft and chewy, with a slightly crunchy exterior. The oatmeal gives the cookies a lighter texture, making them nice and chunky. 
  • Can be customized: Add your favorite toppings to spice things up. I like to add chocolate chips for extra smoothness or peanut chunks for crunchiness. 
two stacks of peanut butter oatmeal cookies

Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookie Recipe ingredients

All ingredients needed to make these extra chunky oatmeal cookies can be found in most kitchens. Here’s what you will need: 

  • Flour: all-purpose flour works best. Self-rising flour cannot be used in this recipe. 
  • Baking powder & baking soda: baking powder gives the cookies height, while baking soda makes them soft and chewy. For the best texture, use both. 
  • Butter: needs to be at room temperature. Can also be replaced with margarine or vegan butter for non-dairy version. 
  • Peanut butter: the main ingredient in the oatmeal cookies. Smooth, creamy peanut butter works best for this recipe. 
  • Sugar: a combination of light brown sugar and plain granulated sugar is used to achieve the best caramelized flavor. If you do not have brown sugar, it can be replaced with granulated sugar. 
  • Eggs: the ‘glue’ in this recipe. Use large eggs at room temperature for best results. 
  • Vanilla extract: optional, but highly recommended. Vanilla adds flavor and complements the peanut butter taste. 
  • Cinnamon: used in a small quantity, ground cinnamon will help make the peanut butter flavor pop. 
  • Oats: old-fashioned, rolled oats work best for this recipe. 

What happens if you use quick oats instead of old fashioned oats?

The texture will be different. Quick oats retain moisture differently and have a different shape, so they will be soggy and not bake to the right cookie texture.

overhead shot of six peanut butter oatmeal cookies on a tray

Peanut Butter

As the main ingredient in these peanut butter oatmeal cookies, the choice of peanut butter is very important. Although you can use either crunchy or smooth peanut butter, I recommend the latter. Crunchy peanut butter adds texture, but it can make the oatmeal cookies to dry. Choose smooth, creamy peanut butter for a rich, buttery texture. 

If you still want some crunchiness in the peanut butter oatmeal cookies, use creamy peanut butter and add some additional peanut flakes. Then the cookies will still have the right consistency, but with extra crunchiness from the peanut bits. 

Homemade or natural peanut butter are the best option for snacking, but they aren’t the best for baking cookies. Natural peanut butter can make cookies too dry and crumbly, which is the opposite of what we’re after. 

For the best chewy and soft texture, I recommend processed commercial peanut butter like Skippy or Jif. 

stack of peanut butter oatmeal cookies with bite taken out of top one

How to make Oatmeal Peanut Butter Cookies

  1. Whisk together all the dry ingredients, except for the rolled oats. 
  2. Separately, cream the butter, peanut butter and sugars. Mix in the egg and vanilla, then combine. 
  3. Add the dry ingredients into the wet batter. Mix, then add in the oats and combine again to form the cookie dough. 
  4. Chill the dough for 30 minutes. Scoop up batter into small balls onto a baking sheet, then bake. 

Optional: Sprinkle some oats or crushed peanuts on top of the cookies before baking for decoration.

how to make peanut butter oatmeal cookies process shot collage

Easy Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies tips & tricks

  • Room temperature ingredients: it’s important to have all the ingredients at room temperature when preparing the cookie dough. This makes everything combine more smoothly and have a better texture. 
  • The right type of peanut butter: for the best texture, choose smooth processed peanut butter. See the section above for more details on how to choose the best peanut butter for this recipe. 
  • Chill the dough: refrigerating helps the cookie dough firm up, making it easier to form the cookies on the baking tray. Chilling also helps develop flavor. 
  • Leave space between the cookies: when baking, the oatmeal cookies will spread. Ensure you leave at least 2-3 inches between the cookies. 

How to store Peanut Butter Oat Cookies

These peanut butter oatmeal cookies are great because they can be made ahead. You can store the oatmeal cookie dough in the fridge for up to 4 days before baking the cookies. Ensure you let the dough at room temperature for 30 minutes before forming the cookie balls and baking. 

After baking, the cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 6-7 days. You can also freeze the cookies for up to 2-3 months for long-term storing.

FAQs for Chewy Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies

What’s the difference between oatmeal cookies and regular cookies?

Oatmeal cookies include oatmeal, which has a chewy texture and earthy flavor.

Why are my peanut butter cookies so dry?

Cookies can be dry for a number of reasons.
– Cookie dough was overworked. Overworking the dough can make batter (and thus cookies) dry exposing it to too much air. The gluten in flour can also be overworked, becoming more difficult to chew.
– Overcooking can lead to dry and brittle cookies. Remove cookies right before they look browned. Sitting on the sheet, they will bake a little more and then settle.
– Flour is commonly over measured when someone dips the measuring cup into the flour canister versus weighing or lightly spooning it in. This can dry out cookies.

Should you flatten peanut butter cookies before baking?

This largely depends on the recipe. Flattening will make then cookie thinner and crispier, while leaving them balled to spread only a little, will make them thicker and chewier.

Why do my peanut butter cookies get hard?

The same reasons that cookies get dry are also why cookies get hard. Overworking the cookie dough, overbaking and mis-measuring flour.

collage of peanut butter oatmeal cookies for pinterest
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stack of peanut butter oatmeal cookies for pinterest
stack of peanut butter oatmeal cookies with bite taken out of top one

Chewy Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies

5 from 7 votes
Mouth-watering chewy and soft Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies are easy to make, require basic ingredients and make a delicious snack!
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Chilling Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 55 minutes
Servings: 30

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and ground cinnamon in a bowl.
  • Separately, in a large bowl cream the butter and peanut butter until smooth and fluffy. Pour in the granulated sugar and brown sugar, then mix well to combine, for about 2-3 minutes.
  • Add in the eggs and vanilla extract, then mix again to incorporate. Make sure you scrape down the sides of the bowl and mix again.
  • Combine the dry ingredients into the butter mixture and beat on low speed until just about combined.
  • Place the dough into plastic wrap, then refrigerate for 20-30 minutes.
  • Pre-heat the oven to 350F (180C) and line a baking tray with parchment paper.
  • Use an ice cream scoop or tablespoon to scoop up equal balls of dough onto the baking tray. Each cookie should be about 2 tablespoons of dough. Leave enough space between the cookies as they will spread in the oven. Sprinkle more oats or crushed peanuts on top for decoration.
  • Bake for 13-15 minutes or until golden brown in color. Once baked, let the cookies rest for 5 minutes before carefully transferring them onto a cooling rack.
  • If you’ve tried this recipe, come back and let us know how it was in the comments or star ratings!

Notes

Cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 6-7 days. You can also freeze the cookies for up to 2-3 months

Nutrition

Calories: 199 kcal, Carbohydrates: 22 g, Protein: 4 g, Fat: 11 g, Saturated Fat: 5 g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2 g, Monounsaturated Fat: 4 g, Trans Fat: 1 g, Cholesterol: 27 mg, Sodium: 206 mg, Potassium: 107 mg, Fiber: 1 g, Sugar: 11 g, Vitamin A: 205 IU, Vitamin C: 1 mg, Calcium: 23 mg, Iron: 1 mg
Author: Hanelore Dumitrache
Calories: 199
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: peanut butter oatmeal cookies
Did you make this recipe?I’d love to see your recipes – snap a picture and mention @savoryexperiments or tag #savoryexperiments!
Jessica Formicola in her ktichen

About the Author

Chef Jessica Anne Formicola

Jessica the mom, wife and chef behind Savory Experiments. You might see her on the Emmy- nominated TV show Plate It! or on bookshelves as a cookbook author. Jessica is a Le Cordon Bleu certified recipe developer and regularly contributed to Parade, Better Homes & Gardens, The Daily Meal, Mashed and more!

Read More About Jessica

5 from 7 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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Questions and Reviews

  1. 5 stars
    These chewy cookies are so delicious and easy to make! The kids loved them and are asking me to make more! Thank you for this simple recipe!

  2. 5 stars
    Ohh these are SO yummy! I adore oatmeal cookies and anything with peanut butter so these are utter perfection.