Payday Cookies Recipe

If you crave the combination of salty, sweet, and nutty, these Payday Cookies are an absolute must-bake! Inspired by the classic candy bar, every cookie is loaded with crunchy salted peanuts and creamy peanut butter, then crowned with a gorgeous white chocolate drizzle. It’s like a payday bonus in every bite!

Ingredients You’ll Need

Payday Cookies come together with a pantry-friendly lineup of ingredients that each pull their own delicious weight. From the velvety base to that irresistible peanut coating, these components create layers of flavor and texture in every bite.

• Unsalted butter: Using butter at room temperature ensures fluffy, tender cookie dough that adds a subtle richness.
• Light brown sugar: Brings a caramel-like sweetness and helps the cookies stay perfectly chewy.
• Large egg: Binds the dough and gives it structure; make sure it’s at room temp for easy mixing.
• Vanilla extract: For a warm, aromatic boost that deepens the cookie’s overall flavor.
• All-purpose flour: This classic base ensures our Payday Cookies have just the right texture—soft, but able to stand up to the filling.
• Large egg white + water: Acts as the “glue” for getting those chopped peanuts to adhere generously to each cookie.
• Salted peanuts, chopped: The star ingredient! Chopped peanuts create crunch and bring that classic Payday bar flavor.
• Creamy peanut butter: For the dreamy “payday” filling nestled in every cookie center.
• White chocolate + vegetable oil: This duo melts easily and adds a sweet, decorative drizzle that pulls all the flavors together.

Variations

The beauty of Payday Cookies is just how easy it is to switch things up based on what you love or need. Use the suggestions below to customize—trust me, you’ll want to try them all!

• Chocolate Lovers: Use semi-sweet or milk chocolate chips for the drizzle, or tuck a bit of chocolate into each thumbprint for extra decadence.
• Nutty Twist: Swap the salted peanuts for roasted almonds or cashews if you’d like a slightly different crunch—and play around with nut butters, too.
• Gluten-Free Option: Substitute your favorite gluten-free all-purpose flour blend to make these cookies celiac-friendly.
• Salty-Sweet Drizzle: Sprinkle a pinch of flaky sea salt over the white chocolate while it’s still wet for an added punch of salty sparkle.

How to Make Payday Cookies

Step 1: Cream the Butter and Sugar

Start by beating your room temperature butter and light brown sugar together until the mixture is light, fluffy, and slightly pale. This takes about 4 minutes and ensures your Payday Cookies turn out perfectly tender and flavorful.

Step 2: Add Wet Ingredients

Beat in the egg and vanilla extract, mixing until everything is smoothly combined and the dough becomes luscious and cohesive.

Step 3: Mix in the Flour

With your mixer on low, gradually add the all-purpose flour. Mix just until the flour disappears, being careful not to overwork the dough so your cookies stay soft and tender.

Step 4: Chill the Dough

Wrap the bowl with plastic wrap and tuck it in the fridge for at least 1 hour—this makes the dough easy to handle, and helps the cookies hold their shape while baking.

Step 5: Coat & Shape the Cookies

While the oven preheats to 350°F, set up two bowls—one with your egg white-water mixture and another with the chopped salted peanuts. Roll the dough into 1-inch balls, dip each in egg white, then roll in peanuts until generously coated.

Step 6: Fill with Peanut Butter

Place your cookie balls on lined baking sheets, about 2-inches apart. Use a teaspoon or your finger to create a deep indentation in each center, then dollop a bit of creamy peanut butter into each well.

Step 7: Bake, Cool, and Drizzle

Bake the cookies for 12–13 minutes, rotating trays halfway for even baking. Cool them on the tray for 10 minutes before moving to a wire rack. Melt white chocolate with oil in the microwave, then lavishly drizzle each cooled cookie for that final payday flourish!

How to Serve Payday Cookies

Garnishes

Classic is always great, but for an elevated look, sprinkle Payday Cookies with a pinch of flaky sea salt or a few extra chopped peanuts on top of the white chocolate drizzle. A scatter of chopped toffee or mini chocolate chips is also a delicious way to make them pop at parties.

Side Dishes

Payday Cookies play well with just about anything: add them to a big cookie platter alongside brownies and bars, or pair with fresh strawberries for a salty-sweet fruit combo. They’re also irresistible alongside a cold glass of milk or a mug of creamy hot chocolate.

Creative Ways to Present

Try packaging stacks of Payday Cookies in clear cellophane bags with ribbon for adorable (and wildly popular) edible gifts. Arrange them in mini muffin liners in a bakery box for bake sales, or serve them upright on a tiered cookie stand for a showstopping dessert table centerpiece.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Store leftover Payday Cookies in an airtight container at room temperature. They’ll hold up beautifully for about 5 days—but it’s rare they last that long!

Freezing

Payday Cookies freeze like a dream. Once cooled, arrange them in single layers separated by parchment paper in a freezer-safe container—enjoy within 2 months for best flavor and texture.

Reheating

To revive that fresh-from-the-oven magic, let frozen cookies thaw at room temperature, then give them a 10-second zap in the microwave for a warm, gooey center.

FAQs

Final Thoughts

Sweet, salty, and utterly unforgettable, these Payday Cookies deserve a spot in your cookie jar year-round. I hope you’ll bake up a batch, share with friends (or not!), and savor the joy of every crunchy, creamy bite. Let me know how they disappear at your house!

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