Here’s the famous old-fashioned Peanut Butter Cookies often attributed to Jimmy Carter’s grandmother, Allethea “Aunt Al” Carter 🥜🍪
It’s a simple Southern pantry recipe—crisp edges, soft centers, and lots of peanut butter flavor.
Jimmy Carter’s Grandmother’s Peanut Butter Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup peanut butter (creamy or chunky)
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract (optional, many old versions omit it)
(That’s it — the original is famously simple.)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
Line a baking sheet with parchment. - Mix
- Stir peanut butter, sugar, egg, and vanilla until smooth.
- Shape
- Roll dough into 1-inch balls.
- Place on baking sheet.
- Flatten with a fork in a crisscross pattern.
- Bake
- Bake 8–10 minutes, just until edges are set.
- Centers will still look soft — that’s correct.
- Cool
- Let cool on the pan 5 minutes, then transfer to a rack.
What Makes These Special
- No flour
- No butter
- No baking soda
- Naturally gluten-free
- Old-school Southern simplicity
Optional Old-Style Variations
- Roll balls in sugar before baking for extra crunch
- Add a pinch of salt if using unsalted peanut butter
- Press a peanut half into the center instead of fork marks
If you want, I can also share:
- A softer cake-style Southern peanut butter cookie
- A church-cookbook version
- Or a modern tweak that keeps the old flavor but adds chew
Just tell me 😊
