Get ready … we’re taking Amish Friendship Bread cookie recipes to a whole new level. Don’t forget to bring the milk! This is a classic Amish Friendship Bread peanut butter cookie recipe for peanut butter lovers!
I love using the starter to make cookies, because it’s a quick and easy way to use up excess starter while making enough cookies to share with friends and family. This is a classic peanut butter recipe that I also use to make blossom cookies. Can’t decide what to do? Split the batter and make both! Here’s how I did it:
After mixing the ingredients, chill the dough until it’s easier to handle, about 30 minutes. Then spoon or scoop onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Roll each dough ball in granulated sugar.
Gently press down with the back end of a fork so the fork tines leave an impression on the top of the dough. Turn your fork 90 degrees and do it again to create a criss-cross pattern.
Pop in a preheated 350° F (176° C) for 10 minutes until dark but not brown. Be careful not to let them overbake.
This is a great recipe for peanut butter lovers and is a super giftable treat. Fill a mason jar with a stack of cookies, and don’t forget to attach one of our free printables gift tags or mason jar labels to make your gift giving complete!
Amish Friendship Bread Peanut Butter Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup Amish Friendship Bread Starter
- 1 cup peanut butter creamy
- 1 cup butter room temperature
- 1 cup light brown sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2⅓ cups flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup sugar for rolling
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350° F (176° C).
- Mix starter, peanut butter, butter, and brown sugar. Add eggs and vanilla extract, and beat well.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- Add flour mixture to starter mixture, adding additional flour if needed.
- Chill dough for up to 30 minutes, or until it becomes easier to handle.
- Roll dough into small balls. Roll balls in sugar, then gently flatten with the bottom of a mason jar.
- Using a fork, gently press down with the back end so the fork tines leave an impression on the top of the dough. Turn your fork 90 degrees and do it again to create a criss-cross pattern.
- Bake for 10 minutes or until cookies are light brown and set.
- Enjoy!
>> Have you tried this? Share your best pic with us or leave a comment below and let us know how it worked for you!
These are NOT the dense, heavy peanut butter cookies our grandmothers made. Light, tender, chewy! This recipe does make more than 24 cookies – 48 of the size I’m used to making!
So glad you enjoyed the recipe, Becky! If you took any pictures, feel free to post them on our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/amishfriendshipbread
I made these cookies today. They are good but not quite what I had expected. The peanut butter flavor was not strong enough. I’m thinking maybe reduce the butter to 1/2 cup and increase the peanut butter to 1 and 1/2 cups. I will try them again.
My husband and kids didn’t like these cookies. They’re more like little cakes with a hint of peanut flavor. I turned them into ice-cream sandwiches, and now they’ll eat them.
Can the butter be reduced in these peanut butter cookies?
Hi Heidi! You can definitely reduce the butter, however, it may change the consistency in the cookies. Here’s some substitutes you could possibly do, as well: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323697#coconut-oil
Let us know how it goes!
These cookies are delicious!!! So soft and fluffy. I did have to add an additional cup of flour, I did it in increments until it was not sticking to my fingers and would hold shape enough to roll into a ball. I am at a high altitude over 5800′ which I assume is why it needed so much flour.
Yum! Now I am craving chicken! I love roasting whole chickens on Sunday evenings, and I always use the bones to make a broth. It’s a great way to have a surplus of broth in the freezer, and it’s so handy when anyone in my house gets sick! I will try this recipe the next Sunday I roast a chicken 🙂
My Family loves Peanut Butter Cookies! Did not realize these could be made using this starter. Peanut butter Cookies, Blossoms with a kiss on top or wrapped inside. Peanut Butter is a go-to for cookies. These always make a day better!
I am a classic peanut butter cookie lover. When I get to the crisscross it’s like visiting with an old friend. So many good memories.
Hello! I am thrilled to have found your site! You rescued me when the starter I was gifted failed to flourish. I made my own following your recipe and it is very active! I love watching the bubbles rise to the top and pop. The pool of people I can give it to is rather small, now that people have been sharing for a while. Is it possible to bake on day 6 after feeding, and have less starter to give away? Thanks!
Hi Heidi! If you inherited your starter from someone, then yes! If you started it from scratch, it’s best to wait the 10 days so the flavor has a chance to fully develop. If you have too much starter, freeze the remainder (the tutorial for that is here: https://www.friendshipbreadkitchen.com/tutorial-storing-amish-friendship-bread-starter-for-future-use/), so you always have some on hand and don’t have to make your own or wait for someone to give you a new starter in the future. 🙂 Darien
These were very soft and delicious. You definitely need to chill the dough. I used a cookie scoop to get easy even cookies. I pushed my Hershey kisses in too hard the first time and so half that batch of cookies fell apart when I took them off the cookie sheet because they’re that moist and delicate even when cooked. I didn’t flatten them as much the second time and that worked better. The cookies freeze really well too, which I appreciate. They’re softer and moister than the usual peanut butter cookies I’ve had, which is a fun difference.
I would have to say plain ones and I look forward to trying them. Thanks for all you do.
I subscribe to the thought…..If given a choice, take both! Splitting the recipe and enjoying both. 🙂 Thank you for sharing!
I would like the plain- or with a peanut butter cup in the middle.
I would go with the hershey kiss in the middle since my husband loves chocolate and peanut butter together so much.
Go with the Hersey kisses for sure
I love Peanut Butter anything. My first choice would be “plain, no Chocolate” However, I will be trying both!
why is it that I gain weight every time I read one of your recipes? ha ha ha…. Peanut Butter Cookies AND Snickerdoodles are my 2 all time fav cookies so I will be trying these recipes when I make cookies tomorrow. I already know they are good… I gained the weight already… ha ha ha ha…Take care and thank you to you all!
Sande
I tried them plain since I didn’t have kisses, but I made 2 dozen cookies and they were gone in less than 24 hrs. Hubby & kids gave them 2 thumbs up and want me to make them again!
I had no idea you could make so many different recipes!! I am going to make the peanut butter blossom with a miniature Reese’s peanut butter cup in the middle, my nieces and nephews will love it!! Thank you for sharing your recipes!
Never tried them. But I hope so. I Always prepare my starters to do the applecake and I tried to give it to Others too. At the moment I’m the only one of my friends who could arrive until the last day to prepare the cake.
Love the site and love all the books. Love to Darien hope to meet you in italy some day.
Always with chocolate…so yes to Hershey’s kiss!!
I would definitely have to try them both ways… delicious….
I make these cookies often and always put the kiss on top.
Definitely with a Hershey kiss
My family likes peanut butter cookies but I may try adding a piece of chocolate
I would make the Blossoms for me, as there is nothing better than Peanut Butter and Chocolate! YUM! Then make the others for my husband.
I would like the one with the kisses. This would give you more chocolate taste to go a long with the peanut butter taste.
Love peanut butter cookies, plain are our favourite …
It definitely has to have a Kiss in it. I like to make them for my grandchildren and use the kisses and hugs when I can find them. I tell them it’s a batch of Nanny ‘s kisses and hugs for them!
I’d leave the chocolate off and enjoy it separately. Love peanut butter cookies!!!
I think I’d like to try without. PB cookies are my very favorite! Thanks!
I will be trying both! Ty for the recipe ?
The recipes both sound amazing. Would bake the PB cookie without the kiss in the middle.
That looks like one delicious peanut butter cookie-and I LOVE that it’s loaded with peanut butter. I could go either way since I love peanut butter cookies BUT since I have some peanut butter filled Dove hearts in my freezer, I think I’d adorn them with those. Oh and a quick tip when using kisses or hearts in the center of peanut butter or any kind of cookie-if you add them to the cookie when they’re frozen solid, they don’t melt down as fast. I have even used filled Hershey kisses (like the cherry cordial ones) with great success as long as they’ve been in the freezer for a few days.
I would go with the classic Pb cookie, although the chocolate kisses would be amazing on them I am sure
I have always wanted a recipe for the “cookie with a kiss!” Thank you.
We love the Classic Peanut Butter Cookies.
I would make any one of your recipes! They all look so good!
I’ll be making the one with the chocolate! Can’t wait especially now that I have the hacks too.
I love the Amish friendship cookies although I added a cherry in the centre of mine and they were delicious. thank you for the opportunity to add to my culinary adventures
I would bake plain peanut butter cookies
Hershey’s kiss with a sliced almond on top makes these cookies soooo good!
absolutely must have the Hershey’s kiss! Just the right bit of Chocolate with my Peanut Butter!
Definitely with the Hershey kiss! Love peanut butter cookies made that way
I am allergic to dark Chocolate so I make everything with White Chocolate..So ?
Iove your Site & all the great Info and Recipes!!!
Hi Carolyn! We have a lot of great recipes that include white chocolate, such as our White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cheesecake Amish Friendship Bread Muffins and our White Chocolate Raspberry Amish Friendship Bread. So glad you’re enjoying the Friendship Bread Kitchen!
We have made these but not with the friendship bread starter. Would love to try it out> I am going to add the recipe to my online cookbook. Thanks for the recipe.
Since I’m not a peanut butter fan I would use the Hershey’s Kiss recipe — and leave out the cookie!
I have printed and will be baking this recipe next baking day. YUMMY
I have made these & they are great. I made them plain, my favorite
Definitely must make the Blossoms! I’ve never made these with the AFB starter so looking forward to trying it.
With the chocolate kiss. No doubt.
I am really looking forward to making these. Peanut butter cookies are my favorite. I’m going to put chocolate chips in mid. Yummy! How can you go wrong with chocolate chip peanut butter cookies. I can almost smell them baking already.
I actually made these today with my daughter! We added Walnuts and mini chocolate chips. Next time im thinking chopped peanuts with the chocolate chips
My daughter requires the kisses, or dipped halfway in chocolate.
Loved it much better then my normal peanut butter cookie recipe. So happy to have found your site. You make different kinds of fruit breads like blueberry, cherry, strawberry, and so on. I lost the recipe in a house fire and just had not looked it up for awhile till saw someone making it on YouTube. Thank you. Tammy Bowman.
So glad that you found our site, Tammy! Welcome to the Friendship Bread Kitchen.
Definitely hve to go with the classic criss cross.
I would go with the plain crisscross cookie.
I had NO idea all the delicious things that could be made with this starter! I would for sure add the kiss to the top of my kids’s cookies – they call them cyclops cookies! Hubby and I like the old-fashioned ones. Can’t wait to try them both ways!
Hi Katharine! That sounds amazing! If you make these lovely creations, we’d love to see pictures. You can submit your photos here. Happy Baking!
Peanut Butter Cookies?!! I have to try this!
I am more of a purist so I will skip the chocolate. I haven’t had Amish Friendship bread in years because I haven’t had any starter and didn’t know how to make my own. I am so excited to get started!
I’d use a kiss!
I gotta have the chocolate! ?
We want mini peanut butter cups in the middle instead of hershey kisses from time to time!
I had no idea I could make peanut butter cookies with my AFB starter! I personally would prefer to have the regular ones. My son would want the Hershey’s Kiss ones, so I would probably make both.
I would make some plain and some with chocolate chips!
With kisses of course! Janet
Kisses! Silly question.
We have peanut allergies so I would use Biscoff instead of peanut butter.
Yum, I would definitely love this but without the kiss.
I am definately making these. I’ve been afraid to try cookies with my starter so these will be my first ones. I have 2 severe diabetics in my house so have 2 batches of starter. Yhe regular and my very first completely sugar free starter. I am so anxious to try it. Two more days until baking day. I will be making the ones with the kisses in the middle for our 3 teenagers and will be making the peanut butter ones with sugar free chocolate chips in them with a tiny sprinkle of splenda on them. I cant wait for Friday so I can bake.
I love them all, but you can’t go wrong with a Kiss!
Both of these recipes look delightful but I would definitely bake the plain. I’m a serious PB lover.
I would definitely make the blossoms but might swap the kids for a peanut butter cup on some! You can never have too much peanut butter:). Thanks for all your recipes!
Ill make it plain! Would love the scoops.
I will have to try these with the kisses. 😉
I’ve always used the starter for just bread but yummy.
My family LOVES peanut butter anything! I will be anxious to try this both ways!
I’m looking forward to making these cookies, on, on blossoms and my grandson’s favorite-snickerdoodles
Im gonna try them without the kisses. Im super excited about the Snickerdoodle recipe too. Just waiting on the last few days of my first starter. Thanks for the great recipes!
No kisses for me! I like peanut butter cookies just plain! ?
I would make these cookies without a herseys’ kiss – my family enjoys their cookies plain and simple. Thanks for the opportunity to enter the giveaway.
I will be making both. How about a dab of strawberry jam, thumbprint cookies.
Christmas will have the memories of Grandma with the aroma of Peanut Butter and Hersey Kisses. looking foward to trying these for our family Fourth of July. also Peanut M&M work really well.
I would try both. They sound wonderful
I can’t wait to bake both these dee lish cookies…….
Can’t wait to make these!
I would make them with Hershey’s kisses, but if I didn’t have any, I would put a few chocolate chips on top after they are baked.
Everything is better with chocolate! Yum
And maybe caramel. Gina F
I think I’d make a batch of mixed peanut butter cookies with reese’s Mimi cups, lindt truffles, white chocolate kisses and chocolate kisses, and maybe roll some in cinnamon sugar as well as white.
I would like to do both any receipe with peanut butter is good.
I love them both ways, but the chocolate kiss makes the chic a no-brainer.
I am going to try a Caramel on top so it has ghat gooey feeling of extra decadence.
I would make these peanut butter cookie because they are my favorite cookies. I’m also love my starter…this is my first time doing it!
With the KISS, but different Kisses available – that would be good or what about a dab of jelly?
These PB cookies look amazing! I would make a double batch so I could have equal amounts with and without kisses! My boys wouldn’t mind at all!! Think they would be good with choc. chips added.
Cant wait to make these ?
Everythinkg is better with chocolate!
I would put a Hershey Kiss in the middle.
I think without, or maybe half and half. I had a FB starter years ago, but didn’t know you could do anything but make the cakes. I found the Friendshipbread kitchen after reading about Avalon. I’ve made pizza dough, pancakes, biscuits, and chocolate cake. Can’t wait to try these cookies. Peanut butter cookies was a favorite of my late husband.
Didn’t know I could use FBK starter for cookies! Definitely am going to make the PB cookies but without Hershey’s Kisses. Maybe try mini chocolate chips but just a few in each cookie. Yum!!
I like mine with chocolate chips in the dough. Gooey chocolate in every bite!
I’m amazed by how many great things can be made with AFB starter!
These cookies look great! Can’t wait to try them! I’d definitely use Hershey’s kisses on top!
I like to mix them up ….nuts & chips. A kiss another time. & Replace some flour with ground Oatmeal, not to fine.
I would like to try both. Maybe use a peanut butter cup instead of a kiss.
Definitely with the dark chocolate Hershey’s kisses!! YUM!!!
I would make then with hershey’s hugs!
I would definitely use the kisses!!
Yes I would definitely make these cookies, I like mine without the Hershey’s kiss
I CAN MAKE PEANUT BUTTER COOKIES??
Definitely with the Hershey Kisses!
Oh my gosh. These pictures make my mouth water! Love peanut butter cookies. Will definitely make these and add chopped peanuts!