Fluffernutter Cookies with Peanut Butter and Marshmallow Recipe
If you adore the nostalgic combo of peanut butter and marshmallow cream, you’re going to fall head over heels for this Fluffernutter Cookies with Peanut Butter and Marshmallow Recipe. These cookies are soft, chewy, and filled with a surprise gooey marshmallow center that practically melts in your mouth. I love making them when I want something comforting but a little unexpected in my cookie jar. Trust me, once you try this recipe, it’ll become a go-to whenever you crave that perfect peanut butter and fluff treat!
Why This Recipe Works
- Perfect Balance of Flavors: The rich peanut butter pairs beautifully with the sweet, fluffy marshmallow cream for a nostalgic taste.
- Soft, Chewy Texture: Thanks to the cornstarch and a calm chilling period, these cookies stay tender but hold their shape.
- Surprise Gooey Center: Marshmallow cream inside is like a delicious, melty secret you’ll want to gobble up immediately.
- Simple Ingredients & Technique: No fancy tools or hard-to-find items, just straightforward baking that anyone can do—and love.
Ingredients & Why They Work
This Fluffernutter Cookies with Peanut Butter and Marshmallow Recipe calls for pantry staples that create the perfect balance of flavor and texture. I always recommend grabbing creamy peanut butter—it blends into the dough smoothly, giving that luscious bite. The marshmallow cream is a must-have to get that gooey surprise inside, so don’t skip it!
- Unsalted Butter: Softened for easy mixing and tender texture, it’s the base that keeps cookies rich.
- Creamy Peanut Butter: Adds that unmistakable nutty, smooth flavor and moisture.
- Granulated Sugar & Brown Sugar: The combo balances sweetness and moisture for chewy, well-browned cookies.
- Egg: Helps bind everything together and provides lift.
- Vanilla Extract: Elevates all the flavors with just a touch of warmth.
- Baking Soda & Baking Powder: Both leaveners give just the right rise without puffing the cookies too much.
- Salt: Essential to cut through the sweetness and bring out deeper flavors.
- Cornstarch: The secret weapon for extra-soft and tender cookies.
- All-Purpose Flour: The sturdy structure your cookies need.
- Marshmallow Cream/Fluff: The heart of the recipe—gooey and sweet, it makes the fluffernutter magic happen inside!
Tweak to Your Taste
I love making this Fluffernutter Cookies with Peanut Butter and Marshmallow Recipe my own by mixing up small tweaks depending on my mood. Feel free to play around with the level of sweetness or the texture—you’ll be surprised how a small change can make it feel brand new each time you bake it.
- Add Chocolate Chips: I sometimes sneak in mini chocolate chips for a melty chocolate-peanut butter combo that’s hard to resist.
- Use Crunchy Peanut Butter: If you’re a texture lover like me, swapping in crunchy peanut butter gives extra peanut pop and crunch to the chewiness.
- Try Natural Peanut Butter: This variation has a more intense peanut flavor but may slightly alter texture.
- Gluten-Free Flour Blend: Replace all-purpose with a 1:1 gluten-free flour mix to keep the cookies tender and safe for those avoiding gluten.
Step-by-Step: How I Make Fluffernutter Cookies with Peanut Butter and Marshmallow Recipe
Step 1: Mix Your Dry Ingredients Carefully
Start by whisking together your flour, salt, cornstarch, baking soda, and baking powder in a medium bowl. I find this step crucial to evenly distribute the baking agents and salt, which means your cookies rise and taste perfectly balanced every single time.
Step 2: Cream Butter and Peanut Butter
Next, in a large bowl, beat the softened butter and peanut butter until smooth and creamy. I use my stand mixer at low speed here and it only takes a couple of minutes. The smoother this is, the better the texture of your dough will be!
Step 3: Sweeten and Add Flavor
Add both sugars, the egg, and vanilla extract to the peanut butter butter mixture. Beat it together until the mixture is fluffy—this little bit of aeration makes your cookies tender and light, even though they pack a peanut butter punch.
Step 4: Incorporate Dry Ingredients and Chill
Slowly add the dry mixture to your wet ingredients, beating just until combined. Overmixing here can make the cookies tough, so take it easy. Then, my golden rule: refrigerate your dough for at least 30 minutes. Chilling firms the dough, giving you nicely shaped cookies and enhancing flavor meld.
Step 5: Shape with Marshmallow Cream Center
Once chilled, preheat your oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat. Scoop out about 2 tablespoons of dough and flatten it into a disk. Scoop a tablespoon of marshmallow cream right in the center, then carefully fold the dough around it and roll into a ball. This can be a bit sticky—dust with a bit of flour on your hands if needed.
Step 6: Bake and Cool
Place the dough balls on your baking sheet and pop them into the oven for about 10 minutes. They won’t spread much, so space them evenly. When you take them out, let them cool on the pan for a few minutes—the marshmallow center will still be hot and soft. Then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Pro Tips for Making Fluffernutter Cookies with Peanut Butter and Marshmallow Recipe
- Don’t Skip Chilling: Chilling the dough not only helps manage stickiness but keeps the marshmallow from oozing out during baking.
- Use a Medium Cookie Scoop: It helps keep each cookie uniform and makes the marshmallow center easier to contain.
- Handle Marshmallow Cream Gently: Too much handling can tear the dough and make a mess; fold carefully to keep everything tucked inside.
- Watch Your Bake Time: The edges should set but the center can stay slightly soft; this locks in that gooey texture everyone loves.
How to Serve Fluffernutter Cookies with Peanut Butter and Marshmallow Recipe
Garnishes
I like to sprinkle a tiny pinch of flaky sea salt on top right after baking—it contrasts nicely with the sweet marshmallow and peanut butter. Sometimes, I dust a bit of powdered sugar for that extra touch of pretty sweetness, especially if I’m serving them for company.
Side Dishes
These cookies are a dreamy afternoon treat alongside a cold glass of milk or a hot cup of coffee. They also pair wonderfully with fresh fruit like apple slices or a simple yogurt parfait if you want to balance the indulgence.
Creative Ways to Present
For special occasions, I’ve served these on a rustic wooden platter with mini jars of peanut butter and marshmallow fluff for dipping—talk about a fun, interactive snack! You can also sandwich two cookies together with extra marshmallow cream for double the fluffernutter joy.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
I keep leftover Fluffernutter Cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. This keeps them soft and gooey on the inside. If your kitchen gets warm, I pop the container in the fridge and let them come back to room temperature before serving.
Freezing
These are freezer-friendly! I freeze baked cookies between parchment layers in a sealed freezer bag. When I want one, I just thaw it at room temperature for about 30 minutes—it tastes nearly as fresh as the day I baked them.
Reheating
If you want to warm up a cookie, a quick 10-second zap in the microwave brings back that gooey marshmallow center perfectly. Just don’t overdo it, or the cookie might get too soft or dry out.
FAQs
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Can I use natural peanut butter for this Fluffernutter Cookies with Peanut Butter and Marshmallow Recipe?
Absolutely! Natural peanut butter will give your cookies a more intense peanut flavor. Just know it may make the dough slightly softer or a bit more crumbly due to its oil content, so chilling is even more important.
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Is marshmallow fluff necessary, or can I use mini marshmallows?
Marshmallow fluff is ideal because it melts evenly inside the cookie and stays gooey. Mini marshmallows could work but they tend to melt out or caramelize differently, so you might lose that perfect fluffernutter texture.
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Can I make these cookies vegan or dairy-free?
You could experiment by using vegan butter and a plant-based marshmallow fluff (some brands offer this). Swap the egg for a flax or chia egg to keep things binding. The texture may differ a little but still tasty!
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Why do I need both baking soda and baking powder in the recipe?
Using both leaveners helps balance rise and tenderness. Baking soda reacts immediately with acidic ingredients while baking powder gives a gentle lift over time, creating cookies that are chewy but not dense.
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How do I prevent marshmallow cream from leaking out during baking?
Make sure to completely encase the marshmallow cream with cookie dough and seal edges well. Chilling the dough beforehand also helps it hold shape and keeps the fluff inside as it bakes.
Final Thoughts
I honestly can’t get enough of this Fluffernutter Cookies with Peanut Butter and Marshmallow Recipe. It’s like a little party of flavors and textures with every bite—soft, chewy, nutty, and so delightfully gooey. Sharing these cookies has become one of my favorite ways to brighten up a day or impress friends with an unexpected twist on a peanut butter classic. I’m sure you’ll love how easy they are to make and hard to stop eating, so go ahead and give them a try—you’ll be hooked just like me!
Print
Fluffernutter Cookies with Peanut Butter and Marshmallow Recipe
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 24 cookies
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
Delight in the nostalgic flavor combination of peanut butter and marshmallow cream with these soft and chewy Fluffernutter Cookies. Featuring a smooth peanut butter dough encasing a gooey marshmallow center, these cookies are perfect for satisfying your sweet tooth with a unique twist on a classic sandwich.
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
- 1/2 tsp. baking soda
- 1/2 tsp. baking powder
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1 tsp. cornstarch
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
Wet Ingredients
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- 3/4 cup marshmallow cream/fluff
Instructions
- Prepare Dry Ingredients: In a medium-sized mixing bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, salt, cornstarch, baking soda, and baking powder until evenly combined. Set this mixture aside.
- Cream Butter and Peanut Butter: In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened unsalted butter and creamy peanut butter together until the mixture is smooth and creamy, ensuring an even texture.
- Add Sugars and Egg: Incorporate the granulated sugar, brown sugar, egg, and vanilla extract into the butter-peanut butter mixture. Continue beating the ingredients until the dough becomes smooth and fluffy.
- Combine Mixtures: Gradually add the dry flour mixture to the wet ingredients, beating just until all components are fully combined without overmixing.
- Chill Dough: Cover the cookie dough and refrigerate it for at least 30 minutes to firm up, which makes handling and shaping easier.
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheet: Once chilled, preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat for easy cleanup and to prevent sticking.
- Form Cookies: Using a medium cookie scoop or measuring spoon, scoop out 2 tablespoons of dough and flatten it into a disk in your palm. Place 1 tablespoon of marshmallow cream in the center. Fold the dough around the marshmallow and roll it into a ball, fully encasing the filling.
- Bake Cookies: Arrange the stuffed dough balls on the prepared baking sheet, spacing them evenly. Bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes, or until the cookies are lightly golden around the edges.
- Cool Cookies: Remove the baking sheet from the oven and let the cookies rest for a few minutes on the pan to set. Then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely before serving. Enjoy your homemade Fluffernutter Cookies!
Notes
- For easier shaping, chill the dough for a full hour if time allows.
- You can substitute creamy peanut butter with natural peanut butter for a more intense flavor, but the dough may be slightly less creamy.
- If you want to avoid flattening the dough by hand, use a cookie press or mold for uniform sizes.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or freeze for longer storage.
- Nutrition information is an estimate and should be used as a general guideline only.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 150 kcal
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 110 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 25 mg
