The Best Chewy 4-Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies

0 Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (177°C) and lining a prepared baking sheet with parchment paper. This prevents sticking and helps with even baking.
1 In a large bowl, mix the creamy peanut butter, brown sugar, and white sugar until the mixture is smooth. You can use a stand mixer on medium speed or stir by hand with a wooden spoon.
2 Add in the large egg and baking soda, mixing until the dough is fully combined. The cookie dough will be thick and sticky, which is exactly what you want.
3 Using a cookie scoop, portion the dough into small balls (about 1 ½ tablespoons each). Roll them into cookie balls and place them on the cookie sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart.
4 (Optional): If you like, flatten each cookie slightly with the tines of a fork in a criss-cross pattern. This classic look helps the cookies bake evenly and gives that familiar peanut butter cookie style.
5 Bake the cookies for 9–11 minutes, until the edges are set and the tops look slightly puffed. They should be golden brown but still soft in the center.
6 Let them rest on the sheet pan for 5 minutes before moving them to a wire rack to cool.