Step 1

Adjust oven racks to lower-middle and upper-middle position; preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Step 2

Place the peanuts in a food processor or blender and pulse until the consistency of bread crumbs, about 14 pulses.

Step 3

Sift the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl.

Step 4

In the bowl of an electric mixer on medium speed, beat the butter and peanut butter until creamy, about 2 minutes. Add the sugars and beat until fluffy, about 3 minutes, stopping to scrape down bowl as necessary. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, then the vanilla. Reduce the mixer speed to low and add the dry ingredients gradually until combined without over mixing. Add the ground peanuts and stir gently with a rubber spatula until just incorporated.

Step 5

Working with 2 tablespoons dough at a time, roll into large balls, placing them 2 inches apart on a parchment-covered cookie sheet. Press each dough ball with the back of a fork dipped in cold water to make crisscross design. Bake until cookies are puffed and slightly brown along edges, but still pale on top, 10 to 12 minutes (they will not look fully baked), rotating the sheets halfway through baking. Cool cookies on cookie sheet until set, about 4 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Cookies will keep, refrigerated in an airtight container, up to 7 days.