Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a medium sized mixing bowl, stir the peanut butter, sugar, vanilla and egg, 1/4 teaspoon of salt and baking soda until well combined.
Spoon 1 tablespoon of the mixture about 1 inch apart onto ungreased baking sheets. Flatten the mounds with the tines of a fork, making a crosshatch pattern on the cookies. Sprinkle coarse salt on top of the cookies.
Can top with dark chocolate chips, slightly pressing into the dough.
Bake until golden around the edges, about 12 minutes. Let cool at least five minutes before eating.