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A peanut butter shortbread sugar cookie decorated to look like a jar of peanut butter.
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Peanut Butter Shortbread Sugar Cookies

No-spread peanut butter cookies that can be used for cut-out decorated cookies, or slice-and-bake cookies.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Resting Time4 hours
Total Time4 hours 35 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: cookies, cut out cookies, decorated cookies, peanut butter cookies, peanut butter shortbread, roll and cut cookies, shortbread, slice-and-bake, sugar cookies
Servings: 15 cookies
Calories: 252kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 1 cup unsalted butter room temperature
  • ½ cup granulated sugar or ¼ cup brown + ¼ cup white sugar
  • ¼ cup powdered sugar
  • 1 large egg room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup dehydrated peanut butter powder
  • ½ cup finely chopped roasted peanuts optional
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch

Instructions

  • If adding roasted peanuts, grind in food processor until the texture of coarse sand.
  • Whisk dry ingredients (flour, cornstarch, dehydrated peanut butter, and chopped peanuts) together and set aside.
  • Cream butter and sugars with paddle attachment, on medium-low speed, until fluffy and pale in color (about 5 minutes).
  • Add egg and vanilla extract and mix on low speed until thoroughly combined. Scrape down the paddle with a spatula, and then continue to mix on low speed for another 30 seconds to ensure everything is fully incorporated.
  • Add dry ingredients, all at once, and mix on low speed just until dough starts to come together and no dry bits remain. Do not overmix.
  • Turn dough out onto cling wrap, tightly wrap, and refrigerate overnight (or for at least 4 hours).
  • Knead, roll, cut out cookies, and return to fridge or freezer until firm. Leave a couple inches between cookies
  • Bake at 350°F for 15 minutes, rotate pan, and bake for another 1-5 minutes until edges are starting to turn golden brown.
  • Remove cookies from oven and allow to cool on cookie sheet before handling.

Notes

  • The reason for adding 1-2 tablespoons of cornstarch to your dough is to prevent your cookies from shrinking or spreading during baking.
  • You want to grind all add-ins (peanuts, if using) as fine as possible, comparable to the texture of almond meal or coarse sand. Larger pieces will leave you with jagged cookie edges.
  • If making slice-and-bake cookies, split dough in half, roll into logs, wrap tightly in cling wrap or parchment paper, and refrigerate before slicing and baking.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cookie | Calories: 252kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.5g | Cholesterol: 45mg | Sodium: 52mg | Potassium: 58mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 410IU | Calcium: 14mg | Iron: 1mg