Inside-Of-A-Peanut-Butter-Cup Cookies — Soft peanut butter cookies that taste like the inside of peanut butter cups thanks to a special ingredient! Yum!!!
Simple Peanut Butter Cookie Recipe
I’ve always loved peanut butter cups, especially the filling. So I set out to make cookies that taste like the inside of a peanut butter cup.
There are no actual peanut butter cups used in the cookies (scraping chocolate from dozens of cups just for the filling wouldn’t exactly be practical), and to make them I used my Reese’s Pieces Soft Peanut Butter Cookie dough as the base.
I reduced the sugar slightly, eliminated the Reese’s Pieces and chocolate chips, and incorporated one-quarter cup nutritional yeast into the dough. It’s the secret ingredient that really gives the cookies inside-of-a-peanut-butter-cup authenticity.
I’ve used it before in homemade peanut butter cups because it adds a salty-and-sweet element and the imperceptibly cheesy flavor I’ve always thought peanut butter cup insides possess.
The cookies are super soft, moist, slightly chewy, not overly sweet, and loaded with big, rich, bold peanut butter cup flavor. Just the way I like them.
What’s in Soft Peanut Butter Cookies?
To make this ultra soft soft peanut butter cookie recipe, you’ll need:
- Egg
- Creamy peanut butter
- Unsalted butter
- Brown sugar
- Granulated sugar
- Vanilla extract
- All-purpose flour
- Nutritional yeast
- Baking soda
- Salt
What is Nutritional Yeast?
Nutritional yeast (not the same as brewer’s yeast) is what many vegans use as ‘cheese’. It’s sold as dry flakes, and has a cheesy-ish, nutty flavor.
I love to sprinkle it on popcorn, I blend it with red pepper and soaked cashews for the coating on the best kale chips, make Peanut Butter Cups, and cheesy dips with it. So many ways to use it. It’s packed with B vitamins and protein, so of course the cookies are automatically healthy.
How to Make Soft Peanut Butter Cookies
Simply cream together the egg, peanut butter, butter, sugars, and vanilla. Then, add the dry ingredients and mix until just combined.
Scoop the dough into balls, then chill for at least 2 hours. Once the dough has had time to chill, bake until the edges have set and the tops are just set, even if slightly undercooked, pale, and glossy in the center.
Let the cookies cool for 10 minutes before eating.
Can I Omit the Nutritional Yeast?
Yes, you can make the peanut butter cookies from scratch without it and they’ll still ‘turn out,’ but a key flavor element will be absent.
Can I Use Natural Peanut Butter?
No, I recommend using a traditional peanut butter brand like Jif or Skippy. Natural or homemade peanut butter is too runny and tends to separate.
Tips for the Best Soft Peanut Butter Cookies
Do not bake with unchilled dough because the cookies will bake thinner, flatter, and be more prone to spreading.
Cookies will keep airtight at room temperature for up to 1 week or in the freezer for up to 6 months.
Alternatively, unbaked cookie dough can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, or in the freezer for up to 4 months, so consider baking only as many cookies as desired and save the remaining dough to be baked in the future when desired.
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Inside-Of-A-Peanut-Butter-Cup Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 large egg
- ¾ cup creamy peanut butter, such as Jif or Skippy; not natural or homemade because it’s too runny and separates
- ½ cup unsalted butter, 1 stick
- ½ cup light brown sugar, packed
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup nutritional yeast
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- pinch salt, optional and to taste
Instructions
- To the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (or large mixing bowl and electric mixer) combine the egg, peanut butter, butter, sugars, vanilla, and beat on medium-high speed until creamed and well combined, about 4 minutes.
- Stop, scrape down the sides of the bowl, and add the flour, nutritional yeast, baking soda, optional salt, and beat on low speed until just combined, about 1 minute.
- Using a large cookie scoop, 1/4-cup measure, or your hands, form approximately 12 equal-sized mounds of dough, roll into balls, and flatten slightly by making cross-marks using the tines of a fork.
- Place mounds on a large plate or tray, cover with plasticwrap, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, up to 5 days. Do not bake with unchilled dough because cookies will bake thinner, flatter, and be more prone to spreading.
- Preheat oven to 350F, line a baking sheet with a Silpat or spray with cooking spray.
- Place dough mounds on baking sheet, spaced at least 2 inches apart (I bake 8 cookies per sheet) and bake for about 9 minutes (for super soft cookies, or longer for more well-done cookies), or until edges have set and tops are just set, even if slightly undercooked, pale, and glossy in the center; don’t overbake. Cookies firm up as they cool.
- Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for about 10 minutes before serving. I let them cool on the baking sheet and don’t use a rack.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Oh my gosh, yes! The insides of the peanut butter cup is my favorite, too. I love the texture and the slight saltiness and everything. Oh yummy days!
I love the texture and the slight saltiness and everything. <--- and that's what the nutritional yeast does for this recipe! Exactly!
I love peanut butter, but usually do not like peanut butter cookies, I thing most are too dry, but I LOVE the peanut butter flavor in a peanut butter cup, so I’m really excited to try these cookies
Thanks, Heather, and these aren’t your typical PB cookies…not dry at all and with a really unique flavor…so I hope you enjoy them if you try them!
I’ve never tried nutritional yeast before, so I’m amazed that went into these cookies! They look so wonderful, Averie! And I love the name, too!
Thanks for the compliments, Gayle!
I have been avoiding nutritional yeast but I think you’ve convinced me to try it. These inside out cookies look great!
Ahhh, don’t avoid it! It’s one of my fave things EVER! Like I could eat the flakes with a spoon…LOL :)
Thanks for the recipe, I just printed it out and I’m going to try it soon!
Great!
Craving the pb cookies now! Look great :)
Thanks, Amanda, and I read your post in stealth about seeing your handwriting on that wall-hanging…AMAZING!! That had to have been such a cool feeling!!
Wow! Nutritional yeast in a cookie?! How in the world did you figure this out?!
About 6-7 years ago when I was much more raw/vegan and making my own PB cups I realized that a little bit of nooch mixed in with the PB did wonders…and I’ve never looked back!
This is the best! As a kid I always pushed a hole in my pb cups to savor the pb goodness after all the chocolate was gone. I’m intrigued by the nutritional yeast, is it available in grocery stores?
At Whole Foods or natural groc stores, yes. At your average mainstream grocery store, unlikely. Just order it from the link I gave, Amazon, etc. It’s about 40% cheaper to order than to buy at WFs and shows up on your door in 1-2 days. My kinda shopping :)
Okay, I love how you put nutritional yeast in these delicious looking cookies (inside of a peanut butter cup = yummmay!). I love cooking with nutritional yeast but have never tried baking with it! It looks like now I might just have to :)
You have to! I’m so glad you know about it and use it, that’s awesome!
I remember when you put nutritional yeast in PB cups! This is great! :)
Great memory!!!
When I saw the title and read the first 2 lines I was already thinking “did she put nooch in these? Yep, she did–brilliant!! I remember the first time I tried your PB cup filling–it was so cool that a little nooch made such a big difference. I just used it in some butternut soup (with a little PB) and I think it’s Jon’s favorite version so far. He would absolutely LOVE these cookies–and it goes without saying I would too!:)
You’re a mindreader :) Yep, I did! And yes nooch does make such a difference!
I love it in soup and yours sounds like it’s packed with so many great flavors! I bet you’d love these cookies!
I never would have thought to use nutritional yeast in cookies like this! I love nutritional yeast and can’t wait to test out this recipe!
I’m glad you know about it and use it, that’s great! LMK if you try the cookies!
These cookies are just perfection! Those ridges. That fluffiness. YES!
And they’re not super sweet. They’re a savory girl’s (like you) type of cookie!
These look so thick and moist…I never thought to use nutritional yeast in a sweet recipe…great idea.
Thanks, Lisa!
I love the inside of a peanut butter cup, when I was younger, I used to take off the chocolate and just eat the filling. Need to try these, pinned! :D x
Thanks for pinning and I STILL do that :)
Yeah, and my wife has learned that the way to my heart has always been and always will be peanut butter inspired recipes!
Now I finally have another use for that large container of nutritional yeast sitting in my pantry! I already knew it was delicious on popcorn, but this is just genius… Your creativity just amazes me!
I eat nooch on popcorn almost every day! And I sprinkle it on salads. It’s my ‘parmesan’ :)