These chewy Chocolate Peanut Butter Chip Cookies are a decadent treat for cookie lovers of all ages. Easy to make and great for snow days, the holidays, or any time you’re craving a sweet peanut butter-chocolate treat.
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I started working on this recipe when I was baking for Christmas and found a couple of bags of peanut butter chips leftover in my pantry from Halloween. I was looking for the bittersweet chocolate chunks, but the peanut butter chips were a welcome find!
When I flipped one of the bags over, I saw a recipe for Peanut Butter Chocolate Cookies. I loved the idea–chocolate and peanut butter has always been one of my favorite combinations.
I noticed that the recipe had more total sugar than I typically use in a chocolate cookie base, and called for all granulated sugar instead of a mix of sugars. So, I decided to add the peanut butter chips to the dough for my Double Chocolate Cookies in lieu of chocolate chips. We loved the results.
These soft, fudgy cookies are sweet and rich with a texture reminiscent of brownies. They’re just begging to be served alongside a cold glass of milk or a hot cup of coffee.
Cookie-Making Ingredients You’ll Need
This Chocolate Peanut Butter Chip cookie recipe mostly uses pantry and baking staples. For the dry ingredients, you’ll need all-purpose flour (I use King Arthur), cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt (I use Diamond Crystal Kosher). For the wet ingredients: egg and vanilla extract.
The only things I don’t regularly stock in my pantry for this recipe are peanut butter chips. You’ll find them in the grocery store in the baking aisle, near the chocolate chips.
I’ve tested this recipe with both unsweetened natural and Dutch process cocoa powder. While I rarely call anything “too chocolatey,” I found the Dutch process batch to be quite rich. I couldn’t eat more than a few bites of a single cookie.
Natural unsweetened cocoa powder (such as Hershey’s) added the right amount of chocolate flavor for me and my taste tester. If you prefer an intensely chocolatey cookie, go with Dutch process (such as Droste).
I love to use European butters in my baking, and these Chocolate Peanut Butter Chip Cookies are no exception. European butter has higher butterfat and less water than American, yielding richer baked goods with a more buttery flavor. My favorite brands are Kerrygold and Plugra.
Tips for Making The Best Chocolate Peanut Butter Chip Cookies
The process for making this recipe is pretty straightforward as cookies go! Cream the butter and sugars in a stand mixer (or in a bowl with an electric hand mixer), add the vanilla and egg, and mix in the dry ingredients. Here are a few tips for the best results:
- Use a cookie scoop for evenly-sized and evenly-baked cookies. I use this #40 (medium) cookie scoop from OXO Good Grips, filled about ¾ of the way.
- If baking more than one sheet at a time, rotate the cookie sheets in the oven halfway through baking. If baking one sheet, place it on the oven’s center rack.
- Don’t over-bake! We like these cookies to be soft and chewy, with slightly-crisp edges when they’re freshly-baked. (The entire cookie will soften as it sits.)
- Let the cookies rest on the baking sheets for 5-8 minutes before moving them to wire racks to cool completely. I find that sometimes, the peanut butter chips need a few more minutes than chocolate chips to re-solidify.
Wondering the difference between cookie sheets and baking pans? Check out Baking Sheets 101 from Martha Stewart.
Storing Your Peanut Butter Chip Cookies
Store the cookies at room temperature in an airtight container. I find that they’re at their best texture on the second day. When I asked for an update from my taste tester on Day 3, his report was, “still perfect.” On Day 4 and beyond, I find that they can start to dry out a bit.
I recommend enjoying these Chocolate Peanut Butter Chip cookies within 3 days of baking. That is, of course, if they last that long in your house!
For longer storage, tightly-wrap the cooled cookies, place them in a freezer-safe bag or container, and freeze for up to a month. Defrost the cookies at room temperature and enjoy. For warm cookies, refresh them in a 300 degree F oven for 3-5 minutes after thawing.
More Of Our Favorite Cookie Recipes:
- Peanut Butter Blossoms
- White Chocolate Chai Shortbread Cookies
- Peanut Butter Cup Skillet Cookies
- Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies
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Chocolate Peanut Butter Chip Cookies
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour (252 grams)
- ⅔ cup unsweetened natural cocoa powder (such as Hershey's)
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter , softened (I use European butter, such as Kerrygold)
- ¾ cup light brown sugar , lightly packed
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 large egg
- 2 cups peanut butter chips (plus additional for decorating, if desired)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Sift together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until light and fluffy, 3-4 minutes. Beat in vanilla and egg. Scrape the bowl.
- Gradually add the flour mixture, mixing on low speed until combined. Scrape the bowl occasionally. Mix in peanut butter chips by hand with a spatula or wooden spoon.
- Scoop the dough into 24 portions onto parchment-lined baking sheets, spaced 2-inches apart. Bake for 8-12 minutes, until the center is set, but still fudgy.* For the best results, don't overbake.
- Let cookies cool for 5-8 minutes on the baking sheets before transferring with a thin spatula to wire racks to cool completely. If desired, press a few extra peanut butter chips into the tops of the cookies while they're warm for decoration. Store at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Carolyn says
I made these cookies for my family this weekend and they devoured them. My granddaughter tagged you in picture of the platter on Instagram. Great flavor and texture. A new family favorite!
Michelle says
So tasty but even though we followed the recipe to a T, our cookies didn’t flatten like yours. We baked a couple batches for different amounts of time but made no difference. Do you have thoughts on why? Should we have flattened them before putting them in the oven?
Amanda Biddle says
So sorry to hear you had a misstep in your execution of the recipe. This cookie dough doesn’t need to be flattened before baking. In general, when cookies don’t spread, too much much flour has been added to the dough (it’s always best to weigh the flour; if a kitchen scale isn’t available, it’s best to measure using the “spoon and level” method and a dry measuring cup), or your butter was too cold. Excess flour is most often the culprit, but if neither of these issues is to blame, I’d recommend checking your oven calibration to ensure your baking temperature is accurate. Happy Baking!
Elizabeth Estes says
This is the perfect chocolate cookie with peanut butter chips! Soft, chewy, chocolatey deliciousness. Made it exactly as directed and wouldn’t change a thing.