Old Fashioned Peanut Butter Cookies

So rich with peanut butter, you’ve got to have a glass of milk ready to truly enjoy these Old Fashioned Peanut Butter Cookies.

This vintage recipe makes the perfect small batch of cookies using basic ingredients that we always have on hand.

Old-Fashioned Peanut Butter Cookie Recipe

This simple cookie has a silky crumb from using shortening that reminds you of a snack at Grandma’s house. Butter flavored shortening is what makes these peanut butter cookies stand out from the others.

Dipping the top of the ball in sugar adds a simple sweetness that balances out the rich peanut butter.

A grid shaped pattern on top of the cookies is created by pressing a fork down, then turning it 90 degrees and pressing again. This cross pattern helps the thick cookie dough to spread out evenly as well as making edges that crisp a bit while baking. 

My daughter loves making these more modern Brownie Mix Cookies or Funfetti Cookie Bars, but these old school peanut butter cookies are just the kind of classic dessert that you crave once in a while.

I personally believe the key to cookie success is only baking them for 7-8 minutes until they have just began to turn golden brown on the highest points. 

Ingredients Needed

• Dry Ingredients – all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, brown sugar, baking soda, baking powder, salt.
• Shortening – we like the butter flavored Crisco sticks for ease of use.
• Peanut Butter – a quality, creamy peanut butter is best.
• Egg

Step By Step Instructions

In a small dish use a fork to mix flour, salt and leavening agents – baking powder and baking soda.

In a medium sized mixing bowl beat together shortening, both sugars, peanut butter.

Add egg and mix well again.

Use a cookie scoop or spoon to make equally sized balls of dough. Roll with clean hands to form a better circle.

Roll in a small dish with granulated sugar. Then arrange on a baking sheet and press with a fork. Rotate a quarter of a turn and finish the criss cross shape.

Bake in a preheated oven for 7 to 8 minutes. Once the edges begin to lightly brown remove from the oven and transfer to a cooling rack.

More Old-Fashioned Cookie Recipes:

Raspberry Thumbprint Cookies are a lightly sweet oatmeal cookie with raspberry jam baked in a thumbprint shaped well in the center of the cookie.

Sour Cream Cookies take a little effort, but make a light and fluffy cookie that we love to make around the holidays.

The simplest cookies we make are these Easy Christmas Cookies.

Recipe originally shared on April 7, 2018 with pictures updated on October 9, 2025.