Peanut Butter and Jelly Cookies Recipe (2024)

Published: · Modified: by Megan Porta · This post may contain affiliate links.

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Peanut butter jelly cookies are a dream come true! America’s favorite sandwich is transformed into a cookie that’ll make any kid squeal with delight.

Peanut Butter and Jelly Cookies Recipe (1)

It has been a gloomy week here in Minnesota. Lots of low, thick clouds that cause Elijah to constantly ask me if it is night-time. This winter has been uniquely and awesomely warm, minus a handful of cold and snowy days, so I’m not complaining about the gloom.

Last year at this time I had icicles hanging from my frozen body that I thought would never melt. We Minnesotans are tough, but I don’t know that we could survive two of those winters in a row. We would be forced to flee, like those being chased by “walkers” on The Walking Dead. Have you seen this show? It is grossly intriguiging and addicting! I highly recommend it.

And how does all of this relate to PB&J cookies? I HAVE NO IDEA (insert crazy laughter)! Cookies! Cookies cookies cookies! I have been dreaming up these babies for a good month and a half. Sometimes when I think too long and hard about a recipe the final product disappoints. This one did not disappoint. They were every bit as delicious as I dreamed them to be back in that meeting in December.

HOW TO MAKE PEANUT BUTTER AND JELLY COOKIES

STEP 1

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking soda and salt; set aside. In a large bowl, combine shortening, peanut butter, both sugars, milk and vanilla.

Peanut Butter and Jelly Cookies Recipe (2)

With a hand-held mixer, beat on medium speed until just combined. Add egg and beat until incorporated. Gradually add flour mixture and mix until combined.

STEP 2

Roll heaping tablespoons of dough into balls with hands. Place on ungreased baking sheets and press into the centers with thumbs to form wells.

Peanut Butter and Jelly Cookies Recipe (3)

In each well, place 1/2 teaspoon of jelly and 1/2 teaspoon of peanut butter. Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes. Let cool.

Pour yourself a nice big glass of milk and enjoy!

Peanut Butter and Jelly Cookies Recipe (4)

Peanut Butter and Jelly Cookies Recipe (5)

Peanut Butter and Jelly Cookies

A peanut butter and jelly sandwich in a cookie! A dream come true.

5 from 2 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 25 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 12 minutes minutes

Servings: 24 cookies

Calories: 231kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp. baking soda
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 1/2 cup butter-flavored shortening
  • 1 cup creamy peanut butter
  • 1 cup dark brown sugar
  • 1/3 cup granulated sugar
  • 3 tbsp. milk
  • 1 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/2 cup grape jelly
  • 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking soda and salt; set aside. In a large bowl, combine shortening, peanut butter, both sugars, milk and vanilla. With a hand-held mixer, beat on medium speed until just combined. Add egg and beat until incorporated. Gradually add flour mixture and mix until combined.

  • Roll heaping tablespoons of dough into balls with hands. Place on ungreased baking sheets and press into the centers with thumbs to form wells. In each well, place 1/2 teaspoon of jelly and 1/2 teaspoon of peanut butter. Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes. Let cool.

Nutrition

Calories: 231kcal | Carbohydrates: 26g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 9mg | Sodium: 219mg | Potassium: 136mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 17g | Vitamin A: 16IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 21mg | Iron: 1mg

Did you make this recipe?If you loved this recipe, please rate the recipe and leave a comment below!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Peanut Butter and Jelly Cookies Recipe (6)Bella

    Peanut Butter and Jelly Cookies Recipe (7)
    Could I place the peanut butter & jelly atop the cookies after baking them? Even if I warm them slightly on their own first, just to ensure that I have control over the placement?

    Reply

    • Peanut Butter and Jelly Cookies Recipe (8)Megan Porta

      There’s no reason you couldn’t. I just haven’t tried it. Let us know how you like them!

      Reply

  2. Peanut Butter and Jelly Cookies Recipe (9)Chelsea

    Can you make dough ahead of time and refrigerate?

    Reply

    • Peanut Butter and Jelly Cookies Recipe (10)Megan Porta

      You can prepare the dough up until just before you make balls with them. Seal them tight in a bowl or with cling wrap so they don’t dry out until you bake them.

  3. Peanut Butter and Jelly Cookies Recipe (11)Jasmin

    Peanut Butter and Jelly Cookies Recipe (12)
    So super yummy! Found this recipe six years ago, after having my first PB&J cookie from a local Top rated cookie shop. (Because why pay for cookies you can make at home) These came out soooo much better! Everyone who tries them seems to love them. My favorite is watching someone who has never had one take their first bite. These have become a staple in my holiday baking. All the comfort and nostalgia of a PB&J in a delicious cookie. I have also made using margarine instead of shortening(slight adjustment on cooking time) with no problems. Strawberry jam works well too, but I think it’s better with grape jelly. I found it easier to use a Scooper for the dough not only for uniform cookie size, but it does half the work of rounding them into balls, also using a small round measuring spoon to create a deeper well so the jelly stays put. I also use a fork or toothpick to try to ‘swirl’ the peanut butter on top of the jelly for a more evenness and I think it might helps hold jelly in during cooking. Very easy to make. Awesome recipe, Thank you for sharing!

    Reply

    • Peanut Butter and Jelly Cookies Recipe (13)Megan Porta

      Well I thoroughly enjoyed reading this. Thank you for trying it and sharing that review! I loved how you made this recipe work with your tweaks and what you found worked for you. Others will find that useful too. I have to say my cookie scooper is a favorite tool of mine for so many recipes.

      Reply

  4. Peanut Butter and Jelly Cookies Recipe (14)plasterers bristol

    This sounds like pure awesomeness. Thanks for sharing.

    Simon

    Reply

  5. Peanut Butter and Jelly Cookies Recipe (15)Mariann

    These cookies were very yummy. However it was such a mess for me. I could not roll the dough in a ball and place a thumb print in the middle of the them when I put it on the cookie sheet. The dough was too sticky for me so I used a spoon. Some of the peanut butter and jelly placed on top run off the sides while baking for me. Then when I allowed it to cool and removed from the cookie sheet, the peanut butter and jelly stuck to the cookie sheet and the cookie just crumbled for me. So I am not sure what went wrong. If my hands were too warm or my home was too warm, etc. I did follow the recipe exactly except what I mentioned above.

    Reply

  6. Peanut Butter and Jelly Cookies Recipe (16)Kimberly

    Good recipe! I used regular shortening
    And light brown sugar because that's
    what I already had on hand. They turned
    out great! Thanks for the recipe!

    Reply

  7. Peanut Butter and Jelly Cookies Recipe (17)SouthDakotaCooks

    I didn't end up with the pretty wells but they were delish!

    Reply

  8. Peanut Butter and Jelly Cookies Recipe (18)lynn @ the actor's diet

    i've seen a lot of pb and j cookies but this is the best!

    Reply

  9. Peanut Butter and Jelly Cookies Recipe (19)Angie Johnson

    These look so great, but unfortunately mine were a complete fail. I think that I put too much peanut butter in the batter and I may have put too much jelly on my cookies because they were kind of soggy. I will not be defeated though; I will try them again.

    Reply

  10. Peanut Butter and Jelly Cookies Recipe (20)Trina

    I am in LOVE with these cookies. My hubby was trying to eat a little healthier and so refused to eat any…for about 2 days. Then, he tried one…and followed it up with 9 more. Yup, he had 10 in one day! Just goes to show how amazing they are!

    Reply

  11. Peanut Butter and Jelly Cookies Recipe (21)Sheila

    Great recipes ! Easy and my new favorite peanut butter cookie recipe ..

    Reply

  12. Peanut Butter and Jelly Cookies Recipe (22)Ashley

    While the flavor of these were great, mine were not a success. the jelly disappeared into the cookies and the penut butter just stayed in a lump, nothing like your cookies. for batchces after the first, i left off the peanut butter and elly and added it after they were cookes, good, but I wish they worked like yours!

    Reply

  13. Peanut Butter and Jelly Cookies Recipe (23)Billie

    These are delicious! But ~ be sure to actually use a tablespoon for measuring….if the cookie is too small, the jelly just runs out all over the cookie sheet. And – I would recommend not using a 1/2 tsp of jelly — I used less than that. One more thing…..put the jelly in the "divot" first….

    Reply

  14. Peanut Butter and Jelly Cookies Recipe (24)Parsley Sage

    Boy howdy! This is why I wish I could hug your brain 🙂 Delicious PB&J cookies. And I'm so glad that mound of snow isn't taunting you again this year…

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Peanut Butter and Jelly Cookies Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why are my 3 ingredient peanut butter cookies falling apart? ›

There are a few reasons why your cookies are falling apart. The wrong ratio of ingredients, such as too little sugar or peanut butter will make them fall apart.

How do you keep peanut butter cookies from falling apart? ›

Here are some tips for making the best peanut butter cookies:
  1. Use room temperature ingredients. This will help the dough come together more easily.
  2. Don't overmix the dough. Overmixing can make the cookies tough.
  3. Chill the dough before baking. ...
  4. Bake the cookies until they are just golden brown.
Aug 8, 2022

Why are my peanut butter cookies always hard? ›

Why did my peanut butter cookies turn out hard? This is most likely to happen from over-baking your cookies. Make sure to take them out of the oven when they're still a bit soft in the middles, that way they can finish cooking on their cookie sheets outside the oven.

Why are the peanut butter cookies crumbling? ›

If you're wanting to use natural (no sugar added) peanut butter, the cookies will be less sweet and they will likely spread out more. Using natural peanut butter will change the structure and texture of the cookies. Why are my cookies dry and crumbly? This is most likely a classic case of using too much flour.

What are the basic ingredients for peanut butter cookies? ›

Should you refrigerate peanut butter cookie dough before baking? ›

Chill your cookie dough! The dough is extremely soft due to the creamy peanut butter, eggs, and butter and if it's not cold going into the oven, the cookies will spread all over your baking sheet. I chilled this cookie dough for 24 hours and my cookies were soft, thick perfection.

What happens if you don't flatten peanut butter cookies? ›

If you don't flatten the cookies first, then the fork does double duty – it performs both functions. One very subtle result of creating the pattern is that the little tips of dough bake up crisper than the rest of the cookie, giving you both a bit of additional texture and deeper taste where the dough is more baked.

What kind of peanut butter is best for baking cookies? ›

Peanut butter: Creamy peanut butter is ideal for this recipe because crunchy peanut butter creates an overly crumbly cookie. You can use processed peanut butter such as Jif or Skippy, or natural-style peanut butter.

Is it better to use butter or shortening in peanut butter cookies? ›

Your other source of fat should be butter, not shortening. Butter will make your cookies taste buttery; shortening will make them taste suspiciously vacant, like Katy Perry's voice post-autotune. Yes, shortening yields chewier cookies than butter does, because butter contains water and shortening doesn't.

Why do you put fork marks in peanut butter cookies? ›

Basic reason..the dough is more dense than most cookie doughs, and the pressing with the fork tines helps the dough bake evenly. Secondarily, its pattern makes it easier to tell them apart from other cookies with similar appearance.

What is the secret to soft cookies? ›

Baking cookies quickly in a hot oven – at 375 degrees F as opposed to a lower temperature – will make for soft results. They'll bake fast instead of sitting and drying out in the oven's hot air. Ever so slightly underbaking your cookies will give you softer results than cooking them the full amount the recipe says.

What happens if you add too much peanut butter to peanut butter cookies? ›

This may not sound like a lot, but it is enough that it can affect the quality of your cookies – adding too much peanut butter can make them dry, hard, and crumbly.

Should I let peanut butter cookie dough rest? ›

We prefer natural peanut butter here, so you can dial in the sugar and salt amounts precisely, and smooth peanut butter over crunchy to better control the cookies' fat and moisture levels. Letting the cookie dough rest ensures the flour is fully hydrated, resulting in crisper edges and chewier middles.

How do I know when my peanut butter cookies are done? ›

Unlike many other cookies, peanut butter biscuits only fully harden once they've been removed from the oven. Here's how to tell when peanut butter cookies are done: The tops of the cookies are a uniform light brown. They're soft to the touch but not moist or mushy.

Why do my homemade cookies fall apart? ›

The problem is likely to be a lack of enough gluten which is the "glue" that holds bread together and makes it rise high and not spread-out. Prior to adding your fat/butter to your cookie dough give the dough an extra few minutes of kneading/mixing, which will develop the gluten.

Why is my peanut butter separating? ›

But because natural peanut butters don't contain these stabilizers, the oil in peanuts tends to separate from the peanut solids when sitting on the shelf. The process of oils and solids separating, known as syneresis, is completely safe, but it's still really irritating.

What makes a cookie more crumbly? ›

There are several reasons why the cookies may have become dry and crumbly but the two most likely are that either the cookies were baked for too long or too much flour was added to the dough. The cookie should be baked only until the edges are slightly golden and the top looks a little wrinkled.

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