Soft & Gooey Peanut Butter Butter Cookies: The Ultimate From-Scratch Recipe

Prepare to fall in love with these irresistibly soft and delicate Peanut Butter Gooey Butter Cookies, made entirely from scratch! This delightful recipe takes inspiration from the famous St. Louis Gooey Butter Cake, transforming its iconic buttery, gooey center into a portable, peanut-butter-infused cookie. Each bite offers a harmonious blend of rich peanut butter flavor and a melt-in-your-mouth texture that will leave you craving more. This recipe yields a perfect dozen cookies, ideal for sharing… or keeping all to yourself!

One of my biggest struggles, despite being an avid photographer (I even have a camera tattoo!), is actually printing and displaying my countless photos. My apartment shelves often feel bare, even though my digital albums are bursting with memories. Years ago, I invested in a stack of beautiful picture frames, intending to fill my walls with captured moments. Yet, they remain, literally, in a bag on the floor, a constant reminder of a project left undone.

Recently, while embarking on a much-needed decluttering mission for one of my bookshelves, I cleared the entire space. This unexpected emptiness presented a blank canvas – ample room for… something. I instinctively grabbed a few of those forgotten frames, carefully selected the ones that fit best, and made a mental note of how many precious memories I needed to bring to life.

The next challenge was deciding which photos to print. As I scrolled through a year’s worth of snapshots from my incredible vacation to St. Louis, a powerful craving began to build: the delectable St. Louis Gooey Butter Cake. Oh, that cake! As its name suggests, it’s a rich, buttery cake with an unbelievably gooey, almost custard-like center. I vividly remember enjoying the best slice in St. Louis, served fresh and warm from the oven. Even a year later, the memory of its comforting sweetness is enough to make my mouth water.

I seriously considered baking a full-sized cake, but then a delightful thought popped into my head. I’d seen various gooey butter cookie recipes floating around my newsfeed recently. Cookies, I reasoned, are much faster to make and satisfy a craving more immediately. Plus, I was undeniably in a cookie-baking mood! With March being National Peanut Month, the choice became clear: I had to create Peanut Butter Gooey Butter Cookies from scratch. After all, everything truly is better with peanut butter, especially when combined with that irresistible gooey butter magic.

Before diving into the cookie creation, it’s fascinating to know that there are generally two types of St. Louis Gooey Butter Cake: the traditional version, which relies on yeast, and the more modern iteration, often made with a cake mix base. While our cookies capture the spirit of that classic gooeyness, this particular recipe is inspired by the convenience and delightful texture of the cake mix version, yet we’re crafting it entirely from scratch for superior flavor and control. This means no shortcuts, just pure, homemade goodness!

The Secret to Their Irresistible Gooey Texture

These Peanut Butter Gooey Butter Cookies boast a truly unique texture: incredibly soft, delicately tender, and featuring a delightfully gooey center that perfectly mimics slightly underbaked cookie dough. This “gooey” characteristic is key to their charm and what sets them apart. The secret weapon in achieving this incredible softness and that signature “cake mix” taste (without actually using a mix!) is full-fat cream cheese. It adds a subtle tang, richness, and contributes significantly to the tender crumb of the dough.

One crucial tip for success: when you scoop the dough, even after it’s been properly chilled, expect it to be quite soft and sticky. It might feel counterintuitive, but resist the urge to add more flour! The dough’s inherent softness is precisely what contributes to their signature gooeyness once baked. Adding extra flour will result in a tougher, less desirable cookie. If you find the dough too difficult to handle or shape into perfect balls, a little trick can help: roll them in powdered sugar first. The powdered sugar creates a light, non-stick coating that makes shaping much easier, allowing you to achieve beautiful, uniform cookies without altering the delicate balance of the dough.

Another critical point is not to overbake these cookies. They are meant to be soft, and a slightly underbaked center is what defines their “gooey” nature. Look for cookies that are puffed up and just beginning to set around the edges, with a slightly wet appearance in the cracks. They will continue to set as they cool. Overbaking will turn them into regular peanut butter cookies, losing that special gooey butter magic we’re aiming for.

Why You’ll Love These Gooey Butter Cookies

• From-Scratch Goodness: Enjoy the satisfaction of baking truly homemade cookies with fresh ingredients, ensuring the best flavor and texture.
• Unique Texture: Experience the delightful contrast of a soft exterior and a wonderfully gooey, almost custard-like center.
• Peanut Butter Bliss: A rich, authentic peanut butter flavor perfectly complements the sweet, buttery base.
• St. Louis Inspired: A delightful tribute to the beloved St. Louis Gooey Butter Cake, reimagined as an easy-to-eat cookie.
• Perfect for Any Occasion: Whether for a bake sale, a party, or a cozy night in, these cookies are always a hit.

Looking for more irresistible peanut butter cookie recipes? Don’t miss out on these other fantastic options: check out our Small Batch Peanut Butter Cookies for when you need a quick fix, and our adorable Small Batch Peanut Butter Cookie Cups, perfect for miniature treats.

Peanut Butter Gooey Butter Cookies (From Scratch)

Yield:
1 dozen

Prep Time:
1 hour

Cook Time:
12 minutes

Total Time:
1 hour 12 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
• 2 ounces full-fat cream cheese, softened
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 egg yolk
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup powdered sugar, sifted

Instructions

1. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
2. In a large mixing bowl, using an electric mixer, beat together the creamy peanut butter, softened cream cheese, and softened unsalted butter for about 30 seconds until the mixture is smooth and well combined. Add the granulated sugar and continue to beat on medium-high speed for 2-3 minutes, until the mixture is light, fluffy, and creamy.
3. Beat in the whole egg, egg yolk, and vanilla extract until fully incorporated. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed to ensure everything is mixed evenly.
4. Gradually add the dry flour mixture to the wet ingredients, beating on low speed until a soft, uniform dough forms. Be careful not to overmix.
5. Cover the dough with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. This chilling time is crucial for the dough to firm up slightly and for the flavors to meld, making it easier (though still sticky!) to handle.
6. Preheat your oven to 325°F (160°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper for easy removal and cleanup.
7. Place the sifted powdered sugar into a small, shallow bowl. Using a #40 cookie scoop (approximately 1.5 tablespoons) or by hand, roll the chilled dough into 1 1/2-inch balls. Even after chilling, the dough will be soft and sticky – this is perfectly normal and desired for that gooey texture! Roll each dough ball thoroughly in the powdered sugar until it is completely coated. Place the coated balls on the prepared baking sheet, ensuring they are about 2 inches apart to allow for spreading. If you find the dough too challenging to shape, try rolling it in the powdered sugar first, then shaping it into a ball; the sugar coating helps prevent stickiness.
8. Bake for 12-14 minutes, or until the cookies are puffed up, the edges are lightly set, and the centers appear slightly wet or shiny in the cracks. It’s essential not to overbake them, as this will prevent them from achieving their signature gooey texture. Remove from the oven and let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before carefully transferring them to a wire rack to finish cooling completely. Serve these delightful cookies at room temperature. Store any leftovers in an airtight container for up to 1 week to maintain their freshness and gooeyness.

Did you make this recipe?

Let me know what you think! Rate the recipe above, leave a comment below, and/or share a photo on Instagram using #HITKrecipes

Source: Adapted from Lottie and Doof

Disclosure: This post contains Amazon affiliate links.