1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

2. Combine the peanut butter, brown sugar, egg, and vanilla extract. Mix until smooth.

3. Using a medium cookie scoop, scoop about 1 1/2 tablespoons of dough onto the baking sheet, evenly spaced. If you don’t have a cookie scoop, just drop the dough with a spoon and slightly flatten with your hand.

4. Flatten the balls of cookie dough with a fork, making a cross pattern—this is usually the part when kids are happy to help you! (if sticky dip fork in flour).

5. Bake at 350°F (180°C) for 8 minutes then cool on cookie sheet for 2 minutes before transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Don’t over-bake because these cookies are best when still soft and just barely brown on the bottoms.

(Photography: C. Cherrier)