Equipment Needed
- Medium-large mixing bowl
- Electric hand mixer or stand mixer (you can mix by hand, but a mixer is easier)
- Spatula
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Rimmed baking sheet or large plate
- Parchment paper (optional, but helpful for cleanup)
Step-by-Step Instructions
I always start by taking my butter out of the fridge at least an hour ahead. You want it soft enough that your finger leaves a clear dent, but not so warm that it’s oily or melted. In my mixing bowl, I combine the softened butter and the one cup of creamy peanut butter. Using my electric mixer on medium speed, I beat them together for a good 1-2 minutes. The goal is to get them perfectly smooth, creamy, and completely unified into one pale, fluffy mixture. I scrape down the sides of the bowl once to make sure no butter lumps are hiding. This is when I add the teaspoon of vanilla extract, mixing it in for just a few seconds more.
Now, the powdered sugar. Here’s the key tip I learned from a sticky disaster: start with the mixer on the lowest possible speed. I add the first cup of powdered sugar gradually, letting it incorporate to avoid a massive sugary cloud that will coat me and my entire kitchen. Once that first cup is mixed in, the mixture will be thick but still quite sticky. I add the second cup the same way, low and slow. After two cups, I stop the mixer and switch to a spatula or my hands. The dough will be very thick and crumbly at this stage.
This is where you need to feel the dough. I turn the crumbly mixture out onto a clean surface (a large cutting board or even just the counter). I begin to knead it with my hands, just like bread dough, pressing and folding. As I knead, the warmth from my hands softens the butter and peanut butter, and the dough magically starts to come together into a smooth, pliable ball. If it still feels overly sticky or greasy after a minute of kneading, I work in more powdered sugar, a tablespoon at a time, until it’s no longer sticky to the touch but still soft and smooth. I usually end up using between 2 ¾ to 3 total cups.(See the next page below to continue…)