Easy Amish Peanut Butter Jelly Sandwich Cookies Recipe

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Soft, homemade sandwich cookies that combine the classic flavors of peanut butter and jelly in one irresistible treat. This simple Amish recipe creates perfectly tender cookies that melt in your mouth - no chocolate required!

Ah, I remember when Aster and Bea were that young. Fun times making these cookies!

Amish Peanut Butter Jelly Sandwich Cookies

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup peanut butter (creamy or chunky)
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup brown sugar, packed
• 3 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 (18 oz.) jar of your favorite jelly or jam

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper.
2. Make the dough: In a large bowl, cream together the butter, peanut butter, and both sugars until light and fluffy. Mix in the eggs and vanilla until well blended.
3. Add dry ingredients: Gradually mix in the flour and baking soda until just combined.
4. Shape cookies: Roll dough into 1-inch balls and place on prepared cookie sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart.
5. Bake: Bake for 7-8 minutes only - don't overbake! Cookies should be set but still soft. They'll continue cooking on the hot pan.
6. Cool completely: Let cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack.
7. Assemble sandwiches: Once completely cool, match pairs of similar-sized cookies. Spread jelly on the flat side of one cookie and gently press another cookie on top to form a sandwich.

My Baking Adventure with the Kids

I had not baked in awhile with Aster and Bea so yesterday when I had a window of time at home with them to do it, I took advantage of it. I shouted into the living room: "Who wants to help me bake?" And both girls replied "me!" and they both came scampering into the kitchen.

Aster, age 5, gathered the ingredients as I read them off and Bea, well, Bea just wanted to get into everything. Baking with a 2 and a 5 year-old has one universal ingredient: a cup or two or three of patience. Without that, yeah, you'll get nowhere. So while Aster gathered the ingredients, I gathered the patience and what we ended up with was a wonderful, tasty sandwich cookie.

I could cut the sandwich cookies into quarters and letting Bea try a quarter was plenty - these are rich and satisfying!

Why This Recipe Works

Man, I am a choco-o-holic, but this cookie is a sweet alternative that makes one forget about chocolate. Just good, good stuff. Basically, you have two soft peanut butter cookies with a layer of jelly between them, and they taste amazing. The cookies are nice and tender, so the dessert shares well and appeals to kids and adults alike.

This is just a good, good recipe that came to me from an Amish woman in Ohio. The secret is not overbaking - these cookies should stay soft and chewy, which makes them perfect for sandwich cookies.

Tips for Perfect Sandwich Cookies

• Don't overbake: These cookies continue cooking on the hot pan, so err on the side of underdone
• Cool completely: Warm cookies will make the jelly melt and create a mess
• Match cookie sizes: Pair similar-sized cookies for the best-looking sandwiches
• Storage: Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days
• Jelly choices: For an extra Amish touch, I used Beachy's Bulk Foods (Arthur, Illinois) homemade blueberry jelly, but any flavor works beautifully

Recipe Variations

The original recipe called for rolling the balls of dough in white sugar before baking. I skipped that step and they were still plenty amazing, but feel free to add it for extra sweetness and texture.

You could dress these up even more for the holidays by adding something edible green and red on the outside - maybe a drizzle of colored icing or festive sprinkles. I'll leave that creative touch for the Pinteresters out there!

Nutritional Benefits

While these are definitely a treat, peanut butter provides protein and healthy fats, making these cookies more satisfying than many other desserts. The homemade aspect also means you control the quality of ingredients - no preservatives or artificial flavors.

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This traditional Amish recipe creates the perfect balance of nutty, sweet, and fruity flavors in every bite. Whether you're baking with little helpers or treating yourself, these peanut butter jelly sandwich cookies are sure to become a family favorite.