Description
Delight in the nostalgic flavors of classic peanut butter and jelly, transformed into charming sandwich cookies. These soft, chewy treats combine creamy peanut butter cookies with a sweet dollop of fruit jam, perfect for an easy dessert or snack that everyone will love.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Dough
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter (softened)
- 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup brown sugar (packed)
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Filling
- 1/2 cup fruit preserves or jam (such as strawberry, raspberry, or grape)
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
- Cream Ingredients: In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter, creamy peanut butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy, which aerates the dough for tender cookies.
- Add Egg and Vanilla: Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until fully combined to incorporate moisture and flavor into the dough.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt to evenly distribute the leavening and seasoning.
- Combine Dough: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing gently until a soft dough forms, avoiding overmixing to keep cookies tender.
- Form Cookies: Scoop dough by rounded teaspoons and roll each portion into balls. Place them on the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart to allow spreading.
- Shape Cookies: Flatten each dough ball gently with a fork in a crisscross pattern to create the classic peanut butter cookie texture.
- Bake: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 8 to 10 minutes or until the edges turn lightly golden, signaling doneness.
- Cool: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes to firm up before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely, which prevents breaking when assembling.
- Assemble Sandwiches: Once cooled, spread about 1 teaspoon of your chosen jam on the flat side of one cookie and top with another cookie to create a sandwich. Repeat with remaining cookies.
Notes
- Use crunchy peanut butter instead of creamy for added texture.
- Experiment with various jams like strawberry, raspberry, or grape to customize flavors.
- These cookies freeze well; store unassembled cookies separately and sandwich them fresh upon serving.
