There’s an undeniable magic in flavors that transport us back to simpler times, especially when they evoke cherished memories of childhood. The iconic peanut butter and jelly sandwich, a staple in lunchboxes and a comforting after-school snack, has been lovingly reimagined into an irresistible cookie. Picture this: a warm, soft, and chewy cookie, where the rich, nutty notes of peanut butter perfectly intertwine with the sweet, fruity burst of your favorite jelly. These Peanut Butter and Jelly Cookies are not just a dessert; they are a delightful journey into nostalgia, offering a comforting and utterly delicious treat for all ages.

Whether you consider yourself an experienced baker or are just venturing into the world of homemade treats, this recipe is crafted to be straightforward and immensely rewarding. It takes the familiar charm of a thumbprint cookie and elevates it with the iconic PB&J combination, ensuring it becomes an instant favorite. Ideal for festive holiday gatherings, a cozy family dessert, or simply to satisfy a sudden sweet craving, these cookies are destined to earn a permanent spot in your recipe collection. Prepare to experience the pure joy of homemade goodness with every single bite!

Why These Peanut Butter and Jelly Cookies Deserve a Spot in Your Recipe Book

Our Peanut Butter and Jelly Cookies are far more than just another sweet treat; they represent a harmonious celebration of flavor and the warmth of nostalgia. We have meticulously perfected this recipe to achieve an exquisite balance between the creamy, slightly savory notes of premium peanut butter and the bright, vibrant sweetness of your chosen jelly. Each cookie offers a wonderfully tender texture, characterized by subtly crisp edges that give way to a soft, irresistibly chewy center, making them truly addictive.

What truly distinguishes these cookies is their remarkable ability to surprise and delight. While they pay a heartfelt tribute to the classic sandwich, they introduce a refined twist that captivates both children and adults alike. The simplicity of their preparation cleverly conceals the profound depth of flavor they deliver, positioning them as an excellent option for busy bakers who seek impressive results without investing excessive time or effort. Furthermore, the inherent versatility that allows you to select any jelly flavor means each batch can be uniquely tailored to individual preferences or to highlight seasonal fruit offerings. Brace yourself for an abundance of compliments and frequent requests for this captivating recipe!

The Heartwarming Tradition of Holiday Baking

Baking transcends the mere act of following instructions; it’s an immersive experience that infuses your home with comforting warmth, enchanting aromas, and a shared sense of contentment. During the festive season, especially, the kitchen transforms into a vibrant hub of creativity and coziness. The cheerful sounds of holiday music, the inviting scent of freshly baked goods filling the air, and the joyous anticipation of sharing these homemade delights with cherished friends and family create an atmosphere unlike any other. This year, we wholeheartedly encourage you to embrace and enhance that beautiful tradition with our delightful Peanut Butter and Jelly Cookies. They are the perfect embodiment of homemade warmth, designed specifically to bring smiles to faces and forge lasting, cherished memories.

Essential Ingredients for Your Delicious PB&J Cookies

Creating an impeccable batch of Peanut Butter and Jelly Cookies begins with the careful selection of high-quality ingredients. Although the concept is elegantly simple, utilizing the right components is paramount to ensuring your cookies are not only incredibly flavorful but also boast that undeniable, irresistible homemade charm.

• All-purpose flour: This forms the essential structural foundation of our cookies, contributing to their tender crumb and overall shape.
• Baking powder & Baking soda: These powerful leavening agents work in tandem, providing the cookies with their perfect lift, airy texture, and a slight chewiness.
• Salt: A critical ingredient that expertly balances the inherent sweetness, intensifying and highlighting the rich, savory notes of the peanut butter, thereby enhancing the cookie’s overall flavor profile.
• Unsalted butter: Crucially, the butter should be at room temperature. This enables it to cream effortlessly and thoroughly with the sugars, resulting in a smooth, well-emulsified dough that yields cookies of exceptional richness and softness.
• Granulated sugar: Provides the primary source of sweetness and aids in achieving that desirable golden-brown exterior during baking.
• Light brown sugar: Infuses the cookies with a deeper, more complex caramel-like sweetness. Its molasses content is also key to keeping the cookies wonderfully moist and delightfully chewy.
• Peanut butter: Undeniably the star component of this recipe! For optimal consistency and ease of mixing, we highly recommend using a smooth, creamy peanut butter. While chunky varieties can be used for added texture, be aware they might subtly alter the dough’s workability. It’s best to steer clear of “natural” peanut butters that tend to separate significantly, as their variable oil content can inconsistently affect the dough’s final consistency.
• Large egg: Serves as a vital binder, introducing essential moisture and structural integrity to the cookie dough.
• Vanilla extract: Aromatic vanilla extract acts as a flavor amplifier, harmonizing and enhancing all the other ingredients, adding a warm, fragrant dimension to the cookies.
• Your Favorite Jelly or Jam: While classic strawberry jelly is a universally cherished choice, we encourage you to unleash your creativity! Luscious raspberry, sweet grape, tangy apricot, or even a mixed berry jam would offer fantastic alternatives. Your choice of jelly provides an excellent opportunity to truly personalize each batch of these delightful cookies.

Recommended Kitchen Tools for a Seamless Baking Experience

Equipping your kitchen with the right tools can significantly enhance your baking journey, making it both smoother and more enjoyable. Here are a few essential items that will prove invaluable in crafting your perfect Peanut Butter and Jelly Cookies:

• Large Mixing Bowl: A robust and spacious mixing bowl, ideally one equipped with a handle, is indispensable for efficiently and smoothly combining your ingredients. A glass batter bowl offers both stability on your counter and allows you to easily observe the mixing process.
• Baking Sheets with Sides: Always opt for baking sheets that feature slightly raised edges. This simple yet effective design prevents any unfortunate mishaps, such as cookies accidentally sliding off the sheet when you’re moving them to or from the hot oven. It’s a small detail that saves a lot of potential frustration!
• Parchment Paper: A true hero in any baker’s kitchen! Lining your baking sheets with parchment paper creates a perfectly non-stick surface, significantly simplifies cleanup, and promotes more even baking by preventing the cookies from sticking or over-browning on the bottom.
• Heat-Resistant Potholders: Safety is paramount in the kitchen! Investing in high-quality, heat-resistant potholders or silicone oven mitts is absolutely essential for safely handling hot baking sheets and preventing painful burns.
• Electric Mixer (Handheld or Stand): While it’s possible to mix by hand, an electric mixer significantly expedites and simplifies the process of creaming butter and sugar, ensuring a lighter, fluffier, and perfectly aerated cookie dough.

Peanut Butter and Jelly Cookies Recipe

Learn how to make these delightful Peanut Butter and Jelly Cookies from scratch. A perfect blend of sweet and savory in a soft, chewy treat!

★
★
★
★
★
5 from 1 vote

Print Recipe |
Rate This Recipe

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 10-12 minutes

Total Time: 20-22 minutes

Servings: 24 cookies

Calories: 126 kcal per cookie

Author: Tammilee Tips

Ingredients

• 1 ¼ cups All-Purpose Flour
• ¼ teaspoon Baking Powder
• ¼ teaspoon Baking Soda
• ¼ teaspoon Salt
• ½ cup Unsalted Butter (room temperature)
• ½ cup Granulated Sugar
• ½ cup Light Brown Sugar (packed)
• ½ cup Creamy Peanut Butter
• 1 Large Egg
• 1 ¼ teaspoon Vanilla Extract
• ¼ – ½ cup of your favorite Jelly or Jam (strawberry, grape, raspberry, etc.)

Instructions

1. Preheat Oven & Prepare Baking Sheet: Begin by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper to ensure easy removal of cookies and simplified cleanup.
2. Combine Dry Ingredients: In a medium-sized mixing bowl, thoroughly whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until well combined. Set this dry mixture aside.
3. Cream Wet Ingredients: In a separate, large mixing bowl, using an electric mixer (either handheld or stand mixer), beat the room temperature unsalted butter until it becomes light, fluffy, and creamy. Gradually add the granulated sugar and light brown sugar, continuing to beat for about 2-3 minutes, until the mixture is truly light and well incorporated.
4. Incorporate Peanut Butter, Egg & Vanilla: Add the creamy peanut butter to the butter and sugar mixture, beating until it is fully and smoothly combined. Next, crack in the large egg and add the vanilla extract, beating just until combined. Remember to occasionally scrape down the sides of the bowl with a spatula to ensure all ingredients are evenly mixed.
5. Combine Wet and Dry Mixtures: Gradually add the reserved dry flour mixture into the wet ingredients. Mix on low speed just until the dry ingredients are combined with the wet, being careful not to overmix. Overmixing can lead to tougher cookies.
6. Form & Indent Cookies: Roll the cookie dough into uniform 1-inch balls. Place these dough balls onto your prepared baking sheet, ensuring they are spaced approximately 2 inches apart to allow for spreading. Using your thumb or the back of a small measuring spoon (like a ¼ teaspoon), gently create a distinct indentation in the center of each cookie dough ball.
7. Bake: Transfer the baking sheet to the preheated oven and bake for 10-12 minutes. The cookies are ready when their edges are lightly golden brown and the centers appear just set. They may still look slightly soft in the middle, but they will continue to firm up as they cool.
8. Cool & Fill: Once baked, remove the cookies from the oven and allow them to cool on the baking sheet for a crucial 5 minutes. This initial cooling period allows them to firm up enough to prevent breakage. After 5 minutes, carefully transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely. Once fully cooled, spoon approximately ¼ to ½ teaspoon of your favorite jelly or jam into the indentation of each cookie.
9. Serve & Enjoy: Your delightful Peanut Butter and Jelly Cookies are now ready to be served! Enjoy these nostalgic and incredibly tasty treats.

Expert Tips for Baking Perfect Peanut Butter and Jelly Cookies

Achieving bakery-quality Peanut Butter and Jelly Cookies in your own kitchen is simpler than you might imagine, especially when you follow these insightful tips. These guidelines will help ensure every batch you bake is consistently delicious, beautifully textured, and utterly irresistible:

• Embrace Room Temperature Ingredients: Always begin your baking process with butter and eggs that have been brought to room temperature. This crucial step allows them to cream together much more efficiently and smoothly with the sugars, forming a beautifully emulsified dough that is the secret to a wonderfully tender and light cookie.
• Avoid Overmixing the Dough: Once you’ve added the dry flour mixture to your wet ingredients, mix only until the flour streaks have just disappeared. Overmixing is the enemy of tender cookies, as it develops the gluten in the flour excessively, which can result in a tough, dense texture. A gentle hand here ensures a soft, delightfully chewy outcome.
• Choose the Right Peanut Butter: For this specific recipe, a creamy peanut butter is generally recommended for its consistent texture, which integrates seamlessly into the dough. If you’re a fan of extra texture, you can certainly use a crunchy peanut butter, but be mindful that it might slightly alter the dough’s overall consistency. It’s best to avoid “natural” peanut butters that tend to separate significantly, as their varying oil content can unpredictably affect the dough.
• Strategic Jelly Application: It is absolutely vital to add the jelly or jam after the cookies have been fully baked and have completely cooled. Introducing jelly before baking can cause it to bubble over, burn, or become excessively sticky, potentially ruining the appearance and making the cookies difficult to handle.
• Mastering the Indentation: When forming the cookies, use your thumb or the back of a small measuring spoon (a ¼ or ½ teaspoon works perfectly) to create a distinct, deep-enough indentation in the center of each dough ball. This ensures a perfect “well” to hold the jelly without piercing through the bottom of the cookie.
• Promote Even Baking: For the most consistent results, particularly if your oven is prone to hot spots, rotate your baking sheet halfway through the baking time. This helps ensure all cookies bake uniformly and achieve that perfect golden hue.
• Recognizing Doneness: Peanut Butter and Jelly Cookies are typically ready when their edges are delicately golden and the centers appear just set. Don’t be alarmed if they still look slightly soft in the middle when you remove them from the oven; they will continue to firm up beautifully as they cool on the baking sheet.
• The Importance of Cooling: Allow the baked cookies to cool on the baking sheet for approximately 5 minutes before attempting to transfer them. This initial cooling period allows the cookies to set and become firm enough to prevent them from breaking. After this, carefully move them to a wire rack to cool completely, which ensures air circulation and prevents any undesirable sogginess on the bottoms.

Creative Variations & Customizations for Your PB&J Cookies

One of the most exciting aspects of these Peanut Butter and Jelly Cookies is their incredible adaptability. They lend themselves beautifully to customization, allowing you to tailor them to your personal taste preferences or to embark on new and exciting flavor explorations. Here are some inspiring ideas to make your next batch uniquely yours:

• Jelly Flavor Fiesta: Why stick to just strawberry? Dare to experiment with a vibrant array of fruit preserves! Consider the sweet tang of grape jelly, the intense tartness of raspberry jam, the deep richness of blackberry preserves, or even the sophisticated sweetness of apricot jam. Each distinct flavor will impart a unique and wonderful character to your cookies.
• Explore Nut Butter Alternatives: While classic peanut butter is undeniably the star, don’t hesitate to venture into other nut butter territories for an intriguing twist. Creamy almond butter, smooth cashew butter, or even sunflower seed butter (a fantastic option for nut-free households) can provide delightful alternative flavor profiles. The key is to ensure their consistency closely matches that of creamy peanut butter for optimal dough texture.
• Exciting Add-Ins: To introduce an extra layer of texture and flavor, consider gently folding in a handful of mini chocolate chips, finely chopped roasted peanuts, or even a sprinkle of toasted coconut flakes directly into the cookie dough before you roll and indent them.
• Elegant Chocolate Drizzle: Once your cookies are completely cooled and filled with their fruity jelly centers, elevate their gourmet appeal with a delicate drizzle of melted milk chocolate, dark chocolate, or even white chocolate. This adds a beautiful visual touch and an extra layer of indulgence.
• A Hint of Warm Spice: For a subtle yet captivating warmth, try adding a tiny pinch of ground cinnamon or nutmeg to your dry ingredients. These spices beautifully complement both the rich peanut butter and the bright fruit flavors, adding a cozy depth to your cookies.

Serving and Storage Suggestions

These Peanut Butter and Jelly Cookies are undoubtedly at their peak deliciousness when enjoyed freshly baked and filled, but they also excel as a make-ahead treat, storing beautifully for future enjoyment.

• Serving Suggestions: Pair these delightful cookies with a tall, cold glass of milk for the quintessential childhood experience. They also make a fantastic accompaniment to a warm cup of coffee or tea, transforming a simple break into a special moment. Serve them as a charming addition to any dessert platter, pack them in lunchboxes for a midday surprise, or offer them as a beloved after-school snack.
• Storage: To maintain their optimal freshness and texture, store your cooled and jelly-filled cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3-4 days. For extended freshness, you can transfer them to the refrigerator, where they will remain delicious for up to a week.
• Freezing Options: These cookies are excellent candidates for freezing, making future indulgence incredibly convenient! You have two primary freezing methods:
  1. Baked Cookies: Arrange the fully baked and filled cookies in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze until they are solid. Once frozen, transfer them to a freezer-safe bag or an airtight container, separating layers with parchment paper to prevent sticking. They will keep well for up to 2-3 months. Thaw them at room temperature, or gently warm them in a low oven for a fresh-baked sensation.
  2. Unbaked Dough: Form the cookie dough into balls (without creating the indentations yet) and freeze them on a baking sheet until solid. Once frozen, transfer the dough balls to a freezer-safe bag. When ready to bake, place the frozen dough balls on a prepared baking sheet, make the indentations, and bake from frozen, adding a couple of minutes to the recommended baking time. Add the jelly after the cookies have cooled.

More Delicious Cookie Recipes to Explore

If you’ve thoroughly enjoyed the experience of baking these delightful Peanut Butter and Jelly Cookies, then you’re in for an absolute treat! We offer a diverse and extensive collection of other easy-to-follow and equally delightful cookie recipes that are perfectly suited for any occasion or craving. Expand your baking repertoire and discover your next favorite with these fantastic options:

• Classic Butter Pecan Cookies
• Exotic Apricot Coconut Cookies
• Hearty Apple Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
• Warm and Spicy Molasses Cookies
• Robust Ranger Cookies
• Tropical Coconut Pineapple Drop Cookies
• Indulgent Chocolate Chip Coconut Rum Cookies
• Discover all our easy and exciting cookie recipes!

Beyond Cookies: Explore More Culinary Adventures

Our culinary journey extends far beyond the realm of cookies! We invite you to delve into our comprehensive collection of recipes, meticulously designed to inspire and simplify your everyday cooking. Whether you’re seeking quick meals or gourmet dishes, we have something for every taste:

• Irresistible Copycat Recipes: Effortlessly recreate your most beloved restaurant favorites and fast-food classics right in the comfort of your own home.
• Delightful Dessert Recipes: From decadent cakes and rich pies to creamy puddings and innovative sweets, uncover your next sweet obsession that will impress everyone.
• Effortless CrockPot Recipes: Discover a treasure trove of simple, dump-and-go meals that are perfect for busy weeknights, allowing you to enjoy delicious, home-cooked food with minimal fuss.

Stay Connected with Tammilee Tips for More Culinary Inspiration

Don’t miss out on our very latest recipes, invaluable baking tips, and a continuous stream of culinary inspiration! We encourage you to follow us on our social media channels to stay constantly updated and to become a valued member of our vibrant and growing community of food lovers:

• Connect with us on Facebook
• Follow our delicious journey on Instagram
• Pin your favorite recipes with us on Pinterest

We genuinely adore seeing your creative culinary masterpieces! If you decide to try this wonderful recipe, please be sure to tag @TammileeTipsLife on Instagram when you share your photos. Your incredible feedback and enthusiastic shares are what truly inspire us to continue creating and sharing more delicious content!

Recipe originally published on December 4, 2014. Last updated: September 2020.