# Ingredients:
- 1 cup peanut butter (creamy or chunky)
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Optional: Additional sugar for rolling (granulated or powdered)
### Instructions:
1. **Preheat Oven**: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease it with cooking spray.
2. **Mix Ingredients**: In a mixing bowl, combine the peanut butter, granulated sugar, egg, and vanilla extract. Mix until well combined and smooth.
3. **Form Dough Balls**: Roll the dough into small balls, about 1 inch in diameter, using your hands. If desired, roll the dough balls in additional sugar (granulated or powdered) for extra sweetness and texture.
4. **Place on Baking Sheet**: Place the dough balls on the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart. Use a fork to gently flatten each dough ball and create a crisscross pattern on top.
5. **Bake**: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden brown. Be careful not to overbake, as peanut butter cookies can quickly become dry if left in the oven for too long.
6. **Cool**: Remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. The cookies will continue to firm up as they cool.
7. **Serve**: Once the cookies are completely cooled, serve and enjoy! Store any leftover cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.
### Tips:
- For extra flavor, you can add mix-ins such as chocolate chips, chopped nuts, or peanut butter chips to the cookie dough.
- If you prefer softer cookies, slightly underbake them and let them cool completely on the baking sheet before transferring to a wire rack.
- Make sure your peanut butter is at room temperature for easier mixing and smoother cookie dough.
- Feel free to customize the size of the cookies to your preference. Just adjust the baking time accordingly.
- If you're making a large batch of cookies, you can freeze the dough balls and bake them later. Simply place the rolled dough balls on a baking sheet and freeze until solid, then transfer them to a resealable plastic bag or container and store in the freezer. When ready to bake, let the dough balls thaw slightly and bake as directed.
With this simple recipe, you can enjoy homemade peanut butter cookies that are chewy, soft, and full of peanut butter flavor. They're perfect for snacking, dessert, or sharing with friends and