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Chewy peanut butter cookies with a fork pattern being placed into a school lunchbox with a red apple.Best Back to School Cookies
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Easy Peanut Butter Lunchbox Cookies

Bake the best peanut butter lunchbox cookies! This easy recipe delivers rich, chewy cookies that stay fresh all week. The perfect hearty school snack.
Course Dessert, Snack
Cuisine American
Keyword peanut butter lunchbox cookies
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 22 minutes
Servings 24 cookies
Calories 190kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ¼ teaspoon baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup 1 stick unsalted butter, softened
  • ¾ cup creamy peanut butter use a commercial brand like Jif or Skippy, not natural style
  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • ½ cup packed light brown sugar
  • 1 large egg room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

Prepare for Baking:

  • Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper for easy cleanup.

Combine Dry Ingredients:

  • In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.

Cream Fats and Sugars:

  • In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to beat the softened butter, creamy peanut butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar on medium speed until the mixture is smooth and fluffy, about 2 minutes.

Incorporate Egg and Vanilla:

  • Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until they are well combined, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.

Add Flour Mixture:

  • With the mixer on low speed, gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Mix just until the flour is incorporated. The dough will be thick.

Shape the Cookies:

  • Roll the dough into 1-inch balls and place them about 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets.

Create the Crisscross Pattern:

  • Using the tines of a fork, gently press down on top of each ball of dough to flatten it slightly. Then, press again from the opposite direction to create the classic crisscross pattern. This helps the dense cookies bake more evenly.

Bake:

  • Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden and the centers are set. Be careful not to overbake, as they will continue to firm up as they cool.

Cool:

  • Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Notes

Nutrition Information (per serving)

  • Calories: 190 kcal
  • Fat: 11g
  • Saturated Fat: 5g
  • Carbohydrates: 20g
  • Sugar: 11g
  • Protein: 4g
  • Fiber: 1g
  • Sodium: 140mg
    (Disclaimer: Nutrition information is an estimate and may vary based on ingredients and preparation.)