Chunky Peanut Butter Cookies with Peanuts

If you’re a fan of peanut butter, you’ll love these crunchy peanut butter cookies with peanuts! Unlike traditional soft and chewy peanut butter cookies, these cookies are packed with texture and crunch. They’re made with creamy peanut butter and chopped peanuts, which add a nutty flavor and a satisfying crunch to every bite.  Serve them with a tall glass of milk or cup of coffee or tea.

Just as it sounds, these salty, crunchy peanut butter cookies are packed with a crunch in every bite. A bit of extra salt elevates the flavor of the cookies. These contain just the right amount of peanut butter plus roasted, salted peanuts for that perfect crunch. You’ll want to add these to your list of cookie recipes.

These salted peanut butter cookies are similar to a classic peanut butter cookie recipe with an upgrade. Blend peanut butter, sugar, and butter, add your flour mixture, and then blend in roasted peanuts. You’ll have a slightly different (and better!) flavor than a you get with a peanut butter cookie with peanut butter chips.

Not as chewy as an oatmeal peanut butter cookie, and with a more traditional flavor than a peppery peanut butter cookie. But if you’re looking for a nice crunch these are the cookies for you.

Why I love this crunchy peanut butter cookie recipe

• You can have a batch ready in less than half an hour.
• They have the perfect crispy texture without feeling hard and dry.
• These are just a touch better than regular peanut butter cookies.

Why put a criss cross on peanut butter cookies?

Due to peanut butter, the dough can seem a little more dense than other cookies, but the criss cross is not actually needed. They will turn out the same even if you don’t use a fork to create the traditional hashmark. However, people have come to expect that cookies with a criss cross will be a peanut butter cookie.

Pro Tip: When making the criss cross, dip your fork in flour to keep it from sticking to the dough.

Why does this recipe use extra salt?

Salt is an important ingredient in any cookie recipe, but especially in crunchy cookie recipes like this one! Here are 4 reasons to include extra salt in this recipe:

1. Better flavor: The salt really enhances the overall flavor of the cookie dough. It cuts the sweetness and brings out the flavor of the peanut butter.
2. Improved texture: Salt helps to strengthen the gluten in the flour. This helps the cookies hold their shape and gives them a better texture, especially if you want them to be chewy or crispy.
3.  Color: Salt helps enhance the color of your cookies by working with the sugars to create that lovely golden brown hue we all want to see.

Crunchy salted peanut butter cookies ingredients

• Salt – This recipe uses a whopping 2 tsp of salt. Many recipes call for only ½ tsp but this one uses more to accentuate the flavors of the peanuts and peanut butter. It’s the secret ingredient, so don’t skip it!
• Vanilla – Vanilla helps balance the flavors of the cookie. Always use pure vanilla extract.
• Creamy peanut butter – This recipe uses creamy peanut butter but if you really like extra crunch, you can use crunchy peanut butter. You can also use natural, unsweetened peanut butter, but they won’t be as sweet.
• Dark brown sugar – Dark brown sugar is just light brown sugar with extra molasses in it. If you don’t have any, add ⅔ tbsp molasses to ⅔ cup of light brown sugar, or you can use light brown sugar.
• Salted peanuts – These provide the ultimate crunch.
• Pantry Staples – flour, baking soda, eggs, butter, sugar

Pro Tip: You can use natural peanut butter in this recipe. However, it is important that it is thoroughly mixed. Learn how to get natural peanut butter smooth enough for this recipe.

Can I substitute crunchy Peanut Butter for creamy?

Yes! You can use crunchy peanut butter if you want, but since this recipe already calls for peanuts, you may find the creamy variety is fine.

How to make crunchy peanut butter cookies

Step 1: Cream the butter and sugar

Use an electric mixer to cream together the peanut butter, butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar then gradually add eggs and vanilla.

Step 2: Add the dry ingredients

Add the dry ingredients, don’t overmix! Finally, add the peanuts and continue mixing until they’re evenly distributed.

Step 3: Scoop.

Use an ice cream scoop or a cookie scoop to portion out the cookie dough depending on how big you want them to be. Flatten each one with the palm of your hand, then use the tines of a fork to make a classic criss-cross pattern in the cookie.

Step 4: Bake.

Bake for 10-12 minutes until they’re golden brown and just set.

Should you chill peanut butter cookie dough before baking?

No, you don’t need to chill this dough as long as you flatten your cookies and bake them right away. It doesn’t hurt to chill the dough, so if you want to make them later, just cover and chill the dough.

Should you flatten peanut butter cookies before baking?

Peanut butter cookies need to be flattened to bake properly. You don’t have to criss-cross them, it’s for decoration only.

Tips for making perfect crunchy peanut butter cookies with peanuts

• Let all of your ingredients sit on the counter before baking so they come to room temperature.
• When you cream the butter and sugar with the peanut butter, make sure the mixture is light and fluffy before adding any other ingredients.
• Dip your fork in flour before making the criss-cross design on top.

How to store chunky peanut butter cookies

Let your cookies cool completely, then place them in an airtight container or a Ziploc bag. You can keep these cookies on the counter and enjoy for up to 2 weeks. They are sturdy enough to ship without falling apart when jostled.

Can these Salty Peanut Butter Cookies be frozen?

Peanut butter cookies freeze incredibly well. Let them cool first, then place them in an airtight container and freeze them for up to 3 months. 

Crunchy peanut butter cookie recipe FAQs

Why do homemade peanut butter cookies fall apart?

If you accidentally baked your cookies too long, you might find they’re falling apart. This recipe is already designed to make crunchy cookies, so the bake time and cooling instructions, if followed, should produce perfect cookies.

Why are my peanut butter cookies not getting hard?

If you’re cookies are too soft, they probably need to be cooked longer. It’s hard to tell with peanut butter cookies, you can check the bottoms which should be brown when they are done.

More Salty Peanut Butter Dessert Recipes to Love

Adapted from The Sweeter Side of Amy’s Bread.

If you loved this recipe, give it a star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating! Also, snap a picture of your finished dish and share it with me on Instagram using the hashtag #butterandbaggage and tagging me @butterandbaggage.