Ingredients Breakdown & Why They Matter
Wet Ingredients:
- Butter (room temperature): Using softened butter helps the sugars blend smoothly and evenly, creating a light, fluffy dough. If you use cold butter, it can result in clumps, leading to uneven spreading.
- Crunchy Peanut Butter: The crunchy variety gives a wonderful texture to the cookies, offering a bit of bite. If you prefer smoother cookies, you can easily swap this for creamy peanut butter. Just note that the consistency will be slightly different.
- Sugar and Brown Sugar: The mix of both sugars gives the cookies the right sweetness and ensures they have a nice, chewy texture. The brown sugar brings moisture, while the granulated sugar helps with structure and crunch at the edges.
- Eggs + Egg Yolk: The whole eggs help provide structure, while the additional yolk brings richness and tenderness, making your cookies extra soft. Egg yolks also help the dough hold its shape without spreading too thin.
- Vanilla Extract: It’s a key flavor element that brings warmth and complexity to the cookie’s overall taste.
- Instant Vanilla Pudding: This ingredient is your secret weapon! Pudding mix in cookie dough creates a super moist, tender texture. The cornstarch in the pudding mix helps stabilize the dough and keeps it from spreading too much during baking. It also imparts a rich flavor that complements the peanut butter beautifully.
Dry Ingredients:
- Flour: All-purpose flour provides the base structure of the cookie. When you measure your flour, be sure to spoon it into your measuring cup and level it off to avoid overpacking the flour, which can make the dough dry.
- Baking Soda & Baking Powder: These leavening agents work together to make the cookies spread and rise. Baking soda helps with browning and spreading, while baking powder adds a bit of lift to create a lighter texture. The combination ensures that the cookies bake up with a soft, airy texture.
- Salt: Salt balances the sweetness, enhances the peanut butter’s flavor, and rounds out the overall taste of the cookie.
Add-ins:
- King Arthur Jammy Bits: These little fruit-filled bits are a game-changer for adding bursts of fruity flavor. They are specially designed to melt into the cookie while retaining their jammy center, creating a perfect “PB&J” vibe. If you can’t find Jammy Bits, you can use your favorite fruit preserves or freeze-dried fruit pieces (blueberries or strawberries work well) for a similar effect.
Step-by-Step Instructions with Tips
Step 1: Preheat and Prepare
Preheat the oven to 350°F and prepare your baking sheets. Lining them with parchment paper or silicone mats not only helps the cookies bake more evenly but also makes for easy cleanup.
Step 2: Cream the Butter and Sugars
When creaming the butter and sugars, the goal is to incorporate air into the mixture to create a light, fluffy dough. Use a hand or stand mixer at medium speed and mix for at least 2-3 minutes until the mixture turns pale and fluffy. This process will create the best texture in your cookies.
- Tip: Don’t rush this step. If you cream the butter and sugars for long enough, the cookies will be lighter and have a more delicate texture.
Step 3: Add Wet Ingredients
Add the peanut butter, pudding mix, eggs, and vanilla extract, mixing well after each addition. Mix the ingredients for about 1 minute on medium speed, ensuring the batter is fully combined but not overworked.
- Tip: Scrape down the sides of your bowl occasionally to make sure everything is well-mixed.
Step 4: Sift and Add Dry Ingredients
Sifting the dry ingredients (flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt) helps distribute the leavening agents evenly throughout the dough, ensuring even rising. Gradually mix the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until just combined. Overmixing the dough at this stage can lead to tough cookies, so be gentle.
- Tip: If the dough feels a bit sticky, chill it for 30 minutes before baking to make shaping easier.
Step 5: Fold in Add-ins (Optional Jammy Bits)
Gently fold in the Jammy Bits or your choice of fruit bits. This step is best done by hand with a spatula to avoid breaking up the delicate fruit pieces. You want to ensure even distribution without crushing the bits, preserving the jammy center.
Step 6: Shape and Flatten the Dough
Scoop dough into about 1.5-inch balls and place them on your prepared baking sheets. Use a fork to create the classic peanut butter cookie criss-cross pattern. Press down gently to flatten the cookies slightly; this ensures they bake evenly and have a nice texture.
- Tip: If the fork marks cause the dough to lose its round shape, simply press the dough back into place after pressing the fork into it.
Step 7: Bake and Rest
Bake the cookies for 11-13 minutes. The cookies are done when the edges are golden, and the centers are still slightly soft. Don’t worry if they seem too soft when you pull them out of the oven; they’ll firm up as they cool. Allow them to rest on the baking sheet for 5 minutes to set.
- Tip: Don’t skip the resting time on the sheet—it helps the cookies hold their shape and prevents them from falling apart too quickly when transferred to a wire rack.
Storing & Freezing Your Cookies
- Room Temperature: Store your cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. They’ll stay soft and chewy, especially if you add a slice of bread to the container to retain moisture.
- Freezing: These cookies freeze beautifully! After baking, let them cool completely, then store them in a freezer-safe bag or container. They’ll keep in the freezer for up to 3 months. To thaw, just leave them at room temperature for about 30 minutes.
Why These Cookies Are So Special
- The creamy richness of peanut butter pairs perfectly with the jammy sweetness of the Jammy Bits or fruit fillings, making each bite a delightful combination of flavors.
- The addition of vanilla pudding mix guarantees that these cookies stay tender and chewy, while the extra egg yolk contributes to the rich, melt-in-your-mouth texture.
- The crunchy peanut butter adds texture, making these cookies more than just another soft-baked treat—there’s an extra layer of satisfaction in every bite!
Now, you’re ready to bake the Perfect PB&J Pudding Cookies! This recipe is sure to be a favorite for both PB lovers and those who appreciate a nostalgic twist on the classic PB&J combo. 🎉🍪 Enjoy!