Irresistible Fluffernutter Cookies: Your Ultimate Guide to Chewy Peanut Butter & Gooey Marshmallow Delights

Prepare to fall in love with Fluffernutter Cookies – a delightful twist on a beloved classic! Imagine sinking your teeth into a soft, chewy peanut butter cookie, only to discover a warm, gooey center of melted marshmallow, perfectly complemented by a scattering of sweet peanut butter chips. These cookies capture all the magic of the iconic fluffernutter sandwich in an irresistible baked treat, making them an instant favorite for anyone who adores the timeless combination of peanut butter and marshmallow.

Why This Fluffernutter Cookie Recipe is a Must-Try

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This fluffernutter cookie recipe isn’t just another cookie; it’s a nostalgic trip to childhood, reimagined in a gourmet treat. The inspiration comes from the classic fluffernutter sandwich, a simple yet beloved combination of marshmallow creme and peanut butter nestled between two slices of bread. While the sandwich is iconic, our cookie version elevates the experience by encasing actual marshmallows within a perfectly soft and chewy peanut butter cookie dough. This innovative approach ensures that with every bite, you get that incredible pull of warm, gooey marshmallow that simply can’t be replicated with marshmallow creme in a baked good.

What makes this particular recipe stand out is the meticulous balance between flavor and texture. The peanut butter cookie base is rich and satisfying, providing a perfect counterpoint to the intense sweetness and lightness of the marshmallow. We’ve fine-tuned the dough to be incredibly pliable, allowing it to gracefully wrap around the marshmallow without becoming overly dense. The addition of a thoughtful topping of peanut butter chips not only enhances the visual appeal but also provides an extra burst of peanut butter flavor, tying the whole experience together beautifully. This recipe works because it respects the original concept while transforming it into a more decadent, warm, and utterly delicious dessert that’s truly a cut above the rest.

Essential Ingredients for Perfect Fluffernutter Cookies

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Gathering the right ingredients is the first step to creating these phenomenal fluffernutter cookies. While the full, precise measurements and detailed instructions are available in the printable recipe card at the end of this post, here’s a quick overview of what you’ll need to prepare:

• Marshmallows: The star of the gooey center. Freezing them is a crucial step for the best results.
• All-purpose flour: The foundation of our chewy cookie dough.
• Salt, baking soda, and cornstarch: These dry ingredients work together to ensure proper rise, texture, and flavor balance.
• Unsalted butter: Softened butter is key for a creamy base.
• Light brown sugar: Adds moisture and a deep, caramel-like sweetness.
• Large egg: Binds the ingredients and adds richness.
• Creamy peanut butter: The signature flavor of our cookies. Choose your favorite creamy variety.
• Vanilla extract: Enhances all the sweet flavors.
• Peanut butter chips: For that extra burst of peanut butter goodness and a lovely topping.

Having all your ingredients measured and ready before you start baking (mise en place) will make the entire process smoother and more enjoyable. Let’s dive into some specific notes about these key components.

Ingredient Insights & Clever Substitutions for Fluffernutter Cookies

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Understanding your ingredients and their roles can truly elevate your baking. Here’s more detail on the key components of our Fluffernutter Cookies, along with helpful tips and substitution advice:

MARSHMALLOWS: The Gooey Heart of the Cookie

The secret to that perfectly gooey center is using regular-sized marshmallows, cut in half, and frozen. Freezing is crucial as it slows down the melting process in the oven, giving the cookie dough time to set around the marshmallow. While a little bit of marshmallow seepage is natural and adds to the rustic charm, placing the marshmallow closer to the top of the cookie dough ball (rather than the bottom where it’s closer to the hot baking sheet) can minimize this. It’s also vital to use actual marshmallows rather than marshmallow creme. Marshmallow creme is already very thin and gooey, making it extremely difficult to work with and contain within cookie dough during baking. Stick to the solid, regular marshmallows for the best gooey pockets.

PEANUT BUTTER COOKIE DOUGH: The Perfect Embrace

Our cookie dough base is a variation of a classic soft and chewy peanut butter cookie recipe, carefully adapted to provide the ideal texture and flavor for these fluffernutter delights. The dough needs to be sturdy enough to hold the marshmallow while remaining wonderfully tender and flavorful. If you’re feeling adventurous and want to introduce another layer of deliciousness, you could experiment with a chocolate peanut butter cookie dough base. This would create a triple-chocolate-peanut butter-marshmallow experience – truly decadent!

PEANUT BUTTER CHIPS: The Finishing Touch

You might be tempted to mix the peanut butter chips directly into the dough, but we strongly recommend dotting them on top before baking. When chips are mixed into the dough, it can make it significantly more challenging to form the cookie dough evenly around the marshmallow. By pressing them onto the surface just before baking, you ensure a smoother wrapping process for the marshmallow, and the chips still melt beautifully into the cookie, creating pockets of intense peanut butter flavor and a lovely visual appeal.

Crafting Your Fluffernutter Cookies: A Step-by-Step Guide

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These step-by-step photos and instructions are designed to help you visualize each stage of making this incredibly delicious recipe. For a convenient printable version, complete with precise measurements and full instructions, simply Jump to Recipe at the bottom of this post.

1. Prepare the Marshmallows: Begin by cutting each regular-sized marshmallow in half. Arrange these halves on a plate lined with wax paper and place them in the freezer. This crucial step helps prevent the marshmallows from melting too quickly in the oven, allowing your cookies to bake perfectly.
2. Combine Dry Ingredients: In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together your all-purpose flour, salt, baking soda, and cornstarch until thoroughly combined. Whisking ensures these ingredients are evenly distributed, which is essential for consistent cookie texture and rise. Set this bowl aside for later.
   
3. Cream Butter: Using an electric mixer in a large mixing bowl, beat the softened unsalted butter until it’s light and creamy. This process incorporates air, which contributes to the cookies’ soft texture.
4. Add Sugars and Egg: Gradually add the light brown sugar to the creamy butter, beating until the mixture is fully combined and appears smooth. Then, crack in the large egg and continue beating until it’s well incorporated, creating a cohesive and slightly fluffy mixture.
   
   
   
5. Incorporate Peanut Butter and Vanilla: Now, add the creamy peanut butter and vanilla extract to the wet ingredients. Beat until these are thoroughly combined, infusing the dough with that signature nutty flavor and a hint of aromatic vanilla.
   
6. Add Dry Ingredients: With your mixer set to low speed, gradually add the reserved flour mixture to the wet ingredients. Mix until no traces of dry flour remain, being careful not to overmix. Overmixing can develop the gluten in the flour, leading to tougher cookies. Remember, do NOT add the peanut butter chips at this stage; they will be used later as a topping.
   
   
7. Chill the Dough: Use a large cookie scoop (about 3 tablespoons) to portion out all the cookie dough onto a wax paper-lined plate or tray. Once scooped, place these dough balls into the refrigerator to chill for 30 minutes.

   EXPERT TIP: This chilling step is essential! Peanut butter cookie dough can be quite sticky at room temperature, making it difficult to handle, especially when wrapping it around marshmallows. Chilling the dough solidifies the fats, making it much firmer and easier to work with, ensuring your cookies hold their shape better during the wrapping process.

   
   

8. Preheat and Prepare Pans: While the dough is chilling, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line insulated baking sheets with parchment paper. Parchment paper prevents sticking and makes cleanup a breeze, while insulated baking sheets help promote even baking and prevent burnt bottoms.
9. Encase the Marshmallows: Remove the chilled dough balls from the refrigerator. Using gloved hands (this helps prevent the dough from sticking to your warm hands), gently flatten each dough ball slightly into a disc. Place one half of a frozen marshmallow into the center of the flattened dough. Carefully gather the dough up and around the sides of the marshmallow, pressing the edges together firmly to completely seal the marshmallow inside. Roll it gently to form a smooth ball.

   EXPERT TIP: To minimize marshmallow seepage, aim to position the marshmallow closer to the top surface of the cookie dough ball rather than directly at the bottom. This keeps it away from the direct heat of the baking sheet initially.

   NOTE: Keep the remaining marshmallows in the freezer until you are ready to use them for each batch you place in the oven. This ensures they stay frozen for as long as possible, preventing premature melting during baking.

   
   
   

10. Add Peanut Butter Chips: Place a small cluster of peanut butter chips into the palm of one hand. We found that approximately 9 chips, placed closely together, created the perfect topping for each cookie.
    
11. Press Chips Onto Cookies: Gently press the top of the marshmallow-filled cookie dough ball into the peanut butter chips in your palm. The chips will adhere easily. Don’t worry if they seem too close together; the cookies will spread as they bake, and the chips will distribute themselves beautifully, creating a lovely, textured top.
    
    
    
12. Bake to Perfection: Place the prepared cookies on the parchment-lined baking sheets and bake for 10-12 minutes. In our oven, 10 1/2 minutes yielded perfectly baked cookies.

    EXPERT TIP: Oven temperatures can vary significantly. For your first batch, we highly recommend baking only 1-2 test cookies. Observe them carefully. The goal is for the marshmallow to melt into a puffy, white, gooey center, not to become clear and bubbly. If baked too long, the marshmallow will over-caramelize and harden. Once you’ve identified the optimal baking time for your specific oven, you can confidently bake the remaining batches. This small test batch prevents any potential disappointment!

13. Cool on Pan: Once baked, remove the cookies from the oven but leave them on the hot baking pan for at least 10 minutes. These cookies are quite delicate when hot, and attempting to move them too soon can cause them to break apart, especially with that soft marshmallow center. This cooling period allows them to firm up slightly.
14. Transfer and Cool Completely: After 10 minutes on the pan, carefully transfer the fluffernutter cookies to wire cooling racks. Allow them to cool completely before storing, though they are absolutely divine when served slightly warm!

Frequently Asked Questions & Expert Tips for Fluffernutter Cookies

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Serving Suggestions: Enjoying Your Fluffernutter Cookies

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These glorious peanut butter cookies are at their absolute best when served partially cooled but still wonderfully warm from the oven. The internal marshmallow will be incredibly gooey and stretchy, providing a truly sensational eating experience. The contrast between the soft, warm cookie and the melting marshmallow is simply divine.

Fluffernutter cookies are a versatile treat, perfect for any occasion throughout the year. They aren’t tied to any specific holiday, making them an excellent choice for a casual weeknight dessert, a weekend baking project, or a special gathering. However, their unique and comforting appeal also makes them a fantastic addition to your Christmas cookie swaps or any holiday dessert platter, offering a playful and nostalgic touch amidst traditional festive treats. Pair them with a cold glass of milk for the ultimate comfort food experience, or serve them alongside a scoop of vanilla ice cream for an extra layer of indulgence. No matter how you choose to enjoy them, these cookies are sure to bring smiles and satisfy any sweet tooth!

Explore More Delicious Peanut Butter Dessert Recipes

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If you’re a true fan of peanut butter, your culinary journey doesn’t have to end with these amazing Fluffernutter Cookies! Peanut butter is an incredibly versatile ingredient, lending its rich, nutty flavor to a vast array of desserts. Here are some more of our favorite peanut butter-infused recipes that we’re sure you’ll adore:

• Peanut Butter Blossoms: A classic cookie featuring a soft peanut butter base crowned with a Hershey’s Kiss.
• Buckeye Brownie Cookies: The best of both worlds – a rich brownie cookie topped with a creamy peanut butter center and a chocolate drizzle.
• No Bake Peanut Butter Bars: Quick, easy, and utterly satisfying, these bars are perfect for when you need a sweet treat without turning on the oven.
• Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls: A delightful candy-like treat, featuring a smooth peanut butter filling dipped in decadent chocolate.
• Peanut Butter Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies: A hearty and flavorful cookie combining the chewiness of oats with the classic duo of peanut butter and chocolate chips.

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