Edible Peanut Butter Cookie Dough

Is all raw cookie dough safe to eat?

Absolutely not! Regular raw cookie dough often includes raw eggs and raw flour, which both contain bacteria if not thoroughly cooked.

So, although many people indulge in occasional spoonfuls of raw cookie dough, you should avoid doing so as it can expose you to various health risks, including salmonella and food poisoning.

A safer alternative to eating raw cookie dough is to follow an edible dough recipe. After all, whether you prefer ones that are for peanut butter cookies, brownies, or the classic chocolate chip cookie, there are edible dough recipes waiting for you!

❤️ Why You’ll Love This Recipe

With its brimming creaminess, sweetness, and delightful aroma, it’s so hard not to fall in love with this edible dough recipe. The taste profile of this delicacy isn’t its only likable trait, it also has several practical benefits to bring to the table. 

• It’s super easy and quick to make. With only 8 minutes of total baking time, you can even enjoy making this recipe with your little ones who are only starting their first memories in the kitchen. 
• You don’t need a lot of ingredients. Assuming your peanut butter tub hasn’t been completely scraped to the bottom yet, you can easily whip up this recipe using ingredients you likely already have in your pantry. 
• This dessert can be served in various ways. You can roll it into dough balls, serve it with a spoon, enjoy it chilled or at room temperature, or even use it as a dip. Really, edible cookie dough is one of the most versatile desserts, so be creative when serving it! 

Speaking of edible dough, did you know that you can also make edible play dough for your children in just 10 minutes?

🥘 Ingredients

No need to go on an extra grocery run as these ingredients are already kitchen staples.

• All-purpose flour: This serves as the base of your dough, so make sure it’s fresh. 
• Peanut butter: Feel free to choose your favorite brand and type of peanut butter. If you prefer a silky texture, opt for a creamy type, but if you want some crunch, go for the chunky type.
• White and brown sugar: On top of adding sweetness and moisture, they’ll help soften the texture of your dough. 
• Milk: This will help you achieve the desired consistency of your dough while also adding creaminess. 
• Peanut butter chips: While not necessary, I’ve found that adding peanut butter chips to the dough adds a delightful crunch and makes the peanut butter flavor more prominent.

See recipe card for quantities.

🔀 Substitutions

All-purpose flour: If you have dietary restrictions, you can replace this ingredient with the flour type that you prefer. Some flour types I’ve successfully used for this recipe include whole wheat and almond flour. 

Peanut butter: You can substitute this ingredient with almond butter or sunflower seed butter if you’re allergic to peanuts, or simply want to try a different taste variation. 

Milk: Dairy-free alternatives to milk, such as almond milk and soy milk, can also work as a substitute for this recipe.

🌈 Variations / Options / Add-Ins

This single recipe can be modified in dozens of ways, giving you lots of room to get creative with your dessert. Let me share some of my go-to variations when preparing this peanut butter cookie dough to hopefully inspire you to add your own twist.

• Chocolate Frenzy: Peanut butter and chocolate are a classic combination that many of us love. So, drizzle some melted chocolate or add chocolate chips to your dough to make it extra flavorful and picturesque! 
• Get Crunchy: Add some chopped nuts, pretzels, or crushed graham crackers to give your peanut butter dough an extra crunchy texture. 
• Banana Bliss: Peanut butter and banana aren’t just a great combination on toast or smoothies. They also add a unique, natural sweetness to cookies and cookie dough, so if you want a healthier dessert, incorporate a mashed banana into this recipe! 

If you love peanut butter but want a healthier dessert, consider these protein-packed, no-flour peanut butter cookies.

🥄 Equipment Needed / Helpful Tools

You don’t need any fancy tools to follow this recipe, but make sure you prepare the equipment before you jump into the instructions below for a more efficient workflow. 

• Medium mixing bowl: Avoid opting for a small bowl to prevent making an unwanted kitchen mess when mixing your dough later. 
• Electric mixer: This tool is not mandatory, but trust me, your arms will thank you for using a stand or hand mixer for this recipe. 
• Airtight container: To ensure your dough stays fresh before it’s served, make sure to store it in an airtight container.

🔪 How to Make Edible Peanut Butter Cookie Dough

It’s time for the exciting, yet super-easy process, of making this irresistible edible cookie dough! 

Step 1: Preheat your oven 

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. 

Step 2: Heat-treat the flour 

Spread the flour on a baking sheet. Once your oven is hot enough, bake the flour for 8 minutes and stir it halfway through so it gets evenly cooked. 

Step 3: Let the flour cool  

Let the flour cool for 30 minutes after removing it from the oven. You want to ensure it isn’t warm to the touch before proceeding to the next step. 

Step 4: Beat peanut butter and sugars together 

Using an electric mixer, combine the peanut butter and sugars in your medium-sized bowl. Continue beating until the mixture is light and fluffy, which usually takes about 2 minutes. 

Step 5: Incorporate the milk and vanilla extract  

Slowly add the milk and vanilla extract into your mixture, then resume beating it until it’s well combined. 

Step 6: Add the remaining ingredients

In a separate small bowl, whisk together the salt and flour. Once they’re evenly mixed, add the mixture to the dough and continue beating until no dry streaks remain. 

Step 7: Top it off with peanut butter chips 

This step is optional but highly recommended. Add as much or as little peanut butter chips as you want to the dough, and if you want to get creative, incorporate other mix-ins as well. 

Step 8: Refrigerate until ready to serve 

Now, all that’s left to do is transfer your dough into an airtight container and pop it in the fridge until it’s ready to be feasted on! 

You can serve this dessert straight from a bowl for that nostalgic experience of enjoying raw cookie dough. But if you want a more presentable dessert, I recommend shaping it into bite-sized peanut butter cookie dough balls.

🍽️ Serving Suggestions

I love serving this edible peanut butter cookie dough alongside banana bread pudding and air-fried banana chips. After all, why settle for just one dessert when you can have a couple of them?

❓ Recipe FAQs

🙏 Pairing

These are my favorite dishes to serve with Edible Peanut Butter Cookie Dough:

🛑 Food safety

• Peanut is a very common allergen, so make sure to inform your guests that this dessert contains peanuts before serving it at the table.
• Ensure to heat-treat the flour to a temperature of 160°F (71°C) so your edible dough can be truly safe to consume for both children and adults.