Soft and Chewy Peanut Butter Cookies that taste like roasted peanuts and have slightly crunchy exterior thanks to being rolled in sugar before baking. Easy cookies that will quickly become your favorite.
In a large mixing bowl, cream softened butter and peanut butter together with a hand mixer. Mix for 30 seconds. Add both sugars and beat for 3 minutes until light and fluffy. Add egg and vanilla and mix just until combined.
In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together flour, salt and baking soda. Add to butter and sugar mixture in 3 additions, mixing just until combined. If desired, you can add chocolate chips or chopped nuts to the cookie dough. Cover the bowl with dough and place in the fridge for at least 2 hours.
Preheat oven to 350° F. Scoop 1½ tablespoon size balls of dough, roll in your hands in balls and roll in sugar. Place on baking sheet, about 2" apart, and bake for 8 to 9 minutes. Cool on sheet for 3 to 5 minutes, then remove onto a cooling rack.
Notes
To properly measure flour, fluff the flour in the container you store it in. I do it with a fork or a whisk. Next, scoop the flour with a spoon into the measuring cup. Level the top off and place in a mixing bowl. Repeat until you get the needed amount.
Do not use unbleached flour in this recipe. It will affect the final result, the cookies will spread and won't look like the ones in my photos.
You can add chopped nuts or chocolate chips to the dough before chilling or place a Hershey Kiss candy on each cookie after baking.