The Most Clicked-On Cookie Recipe of 2024

Peanut butter cookies hold a special place in the world of cookie baking. With their nutty aroma, soft center, and lightly crisp edges, they’re a comforting treat that’s both nostalgic and timeless. This year, nearly 200,000 readers flocked to Simply Recipes’ version of this classic, making it the top cookie recipe of 2024. Perfectly balanced in sweetness and texture, and packed with rich peanut flavor, these cookies remind us why the classic recipes never go out of style.

Why You’ll Love These Peanut Butter Cookies

Drawing from both Ruth Wakefield's initial Toll House recipe and Betty Crocker’s beloved version, Elise Bauer’s peanut butter cookies are as simple as they are delicious. Unlike some peanut butter cookies that can turn out dense or dry, these strike just the right balance: tender in the middle with a satisfying snap around the edges. As one reader wrote in the comments, the recipe is “definitely a keeper.”

Thanks to my peanut butter-loving husband and son, peanut butter cookies always go fast in my household and I’m not the only one who recommends doubling up. “These cookies are so good, I made a second batch of them and planned to eat them for breakfast,” another commenter revealed. The dough also freezes beautifully so you can keep a batch on hand to satisfy future cookie cravings.

Tips for Perfect Peanut Butter Cookies

These cookies are simple to make, but a few tips help them turn out perfect every time. Here’s what I’ve learned as a frequent peanut butter cookie baker:

• Use the right type of peanut butter. When it comes to our morning toast or PB&Js, we’re a natural peanut butter family. But for baking, I usually revert back to the peanut butters of my childhood. This cookie recipe is no exception. For the best texture and flavor, stick to a classic, no-stir peanut butter from name brands like Skippy, Jif, or Peter Pan. Natural varieties can make the cookies crumbly and less cohesive.

• Opt for crunchy peanut butter for additional texture. Both smooth or crunchy peanut butter work, but the latter will, of course, add more crunchy bits to the cookie.

• Chill the dough. Sticking the dough in the fridge for a few hours keeps the cookies from spreading too much during baking.

• For chewier cookies, bake at a lower temperature. If you prefer a less crunchy cookie, use a lower oven temperature and cook for a little longer.

• Dip the fork in sugar. We use a fork to create the cookies’ iconic cross-hatch design. To prevent the dough from sticking, simply cover the tines with some sugar between cookies.

• Add a pinch of flaky sea salt. To amplify the nuttiness, sprinkle with flaky sea salt before baking.

• Turn them into peanut butter blossoms. Instead of marking with a fork, roll the dough in granulated sugar and bake as is, then press a Hershey’s Kiss in the center as soon as the cookies come out of the oven.

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