Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

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This is the best peanut butter chocolate chip cookies recipe ever. They have chewy edges, soft centers, lots of peanut butter and chocolate chips!

7 Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

The peanut butter & chocolate is my all-time favorite flavor combination, so naturally I had to take my recipe for the best peanut butter cookies and add chocolate, resulting in these peanut butter chocolate chip cookies!

These peanut butter chocolate chip cookies are easy to make with simple ingredients. They have the perfect texture, a rich peanut butter flavor and plenty of chocolate chips!

a Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie with a bite taken out of it

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies: Ingredients & Substitutions

overhead photo of the ingredients in this Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies recipe
  • Salted Butter. Unsalted butter or ghee are good substitutes.
  • Peanut Butter. I recommend using peanut butter that is solid at room temperature You can use natural peanut butter, but be aware that the cookies may spread more and be more on the crispy side than the soft side. Also, many natural peanut butters are unsalted, so you may need to increase the amount of salt in the recipe by ยผ tsp. 
  • Whole Milk. you can substitute 2% milk, heavy cream, or half-and-half.
  • Light Brown Sugar. If you like a little bolder, molasses taste use dark brown sugar.
  • Granulated Sugar. White sugar or organic cane sugar are both great options.
  • Cinnamon.  I think the touch of cinnamon is the chef’s kiss in this recipe, however you can omit it if you prefer.
  • Sea salt. I only bake with pure, fine sea salt. If you are using iodized salt I recommend decreasing the amount of salt by half. 
Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies on a wire cooling rack

How to Make Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

This is a simple cookie recipe that’s easy to make. We’ll walk through the process step-by-step, and don’t forget to watch the video.

Begin by creaming the butter and peanut butter together in a large bowl with a handheld mixer, or in the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with the paddle attachment.

two photos showing how to make Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies - beating butter and peanut butter together

Then, add the sugars and beat until combined.

two photos showing how to make Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies - beating sugars into peanut butter mixture

Next, add the eggs, vanilla and milk and beat for 30-60 seconds on medium-high speed until the mixture is light and the sugar is dissolved.

two photos showing how to make Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies - adding egg, milk and vanilla

Then, add the dry ingredients to the wet peanut butter mixture and mix on low speed until combined.

two photos showing how to make Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies - combining wet and dry ingredients

Stir in the chocolate chips until evenly distributed throughout the dough.

two photos showing how to make Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies - adding chocolate chips

Chill the dough in an airtight container in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour, or up to overnight.

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie dough in a glass container to chill

After the dough is chilled, preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line two large baking sheets with silicone baking mats or parchment paper and set aside.

Then, use a cookie scoop to measure 1 ยฝ to 2 Tablespoon portions of dough and roll them into balls. Repeat until all the dough has been used.

a cookie scoop portioning out Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie dough

Place 12 cookies on each large baking sheet.

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies on a baking sheet before being baked

Then use a fork to gently press a crisscross pattern into the top of each cookie.

two photos showing how to make Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies - pressing top with fork and then cookies on baking sheet

Bake in preheated oven for approximately 9-10 minutes. Take them out when they are just barely starting to turn brown, puffed and just start to crackle.

All Ovens BAke Differently

Invest in an inexpensive oven thermometer to check the temperature and ensure it’s heating properly.

If using a convection oven, decrease the baking temperature by 25 degrees F.

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies on a baking sheet after baking

Then, let the peanut butter chocolate chip cookies sit on the baking pan for 5 minutes before removing to cooling rack.

Cool completely on a wire rack before serving or storing.

12 Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies on a wire cooling rack

Store

Store peanut butter chocolate chip cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for 3-5 days.

11 Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

To freeze

Freeze baked cookies for up to 1 month in an airtight container in the freezer.

Freeze the cookie dough by rolling it into balls and placing it in an airtight, freezer-friendly container for up to 1 month.

To bake, thaw cookie dough to room temperature and follow recipe instructions on pressing the tops with a fork and baking.

two Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies, one with a bite taken out of it

Recipe FAQs

How do you tell if peanut butter chocolate chip cookies are done?

They are done with the edges look set, the cookies are slightly browned, and they have puffed up a little bit and begun to crack slightly.ย ย 

Can you use natural peanut butter in cookies?

Yes, but be aware that the cookies may spread more and be more on the crispy side than the soft side. Also, many natural peanut butters are unsalted, so you may need to increase the amount of salt in the recipe by 1/4 tsp.ย 

Why do peanut butter chocolate chip cookies have fork marks?

The dough is denser than other cookie dough due to the fact that there is double the amount of peanut butter as there is butter – making it harder to bake all the way through.
Pressing the cookie dough down with a fork while making a criss cross pattern flattens the cookie dough and makes them bake more evenly.ย 

Why should you refrigerate peanut butter cookie dough before baking?

Since there is double the amount of peanut butter as there is butter in this peanut butter chocolate chip cookie recipe, chilling helps solidify the fat (peanut butter and butter) and keeps the cookies from spreading too much when baking. It also makes for a chewier cookie that holds up better after it has cooled.ย 

How do you store peanut butter cookies?ย 

Store these soft peanut butter cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for 4-5 days. You can also put them on a plate wrapped with plastic wrap to give to friends as a gift for the holidays.

a stack of 4 Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies, the top one has a bite taken out of it

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Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

Laura
This is the best peanut butter chocolate chip cookies recipe ever. They have chewy edges, soft centers, lots of peanut butter and chocolate chips!
5 from 5 votes
Course cookies, Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 24 Cookies
Calories 196
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time9 minutes
chilling1 hour
Total Time1 hour 19 minutes

Ingredients 
 

Instructions 

  • In the bowl of a standing mixer, or in a large bowl with a hand-held mixer, cream together butter and peanut butter until smooth.
  • Add sugars and beat until combined.
  • Add eggs, vanilla and milk and beat for 30-60 seconds on medium-high speed until the mixture is light in color and sugar is dissolved.
  • Add the flour, baking soda, sea salt, baking powder and cinnamon, then beat until incorporated.
  • Add the chocolate chips and stir until combined.
  • Transfer the dough to an airtight glass container with a lid and chill in the refrigerator for at least 60 minutes, and up to overnight.
  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Line two large baking sheets with silicone baking mats or parchment paper and set aside.
  • Use a cookie scoop to measure 1 ยฝ to 2 TBS dough and roll it into a ball. Repeat until all the dough has been used.
  • Place 12 cookies on each large baking sheet.
  • Use a fork to gently press a crisscross pattern into the top of each cookie.
  • Bake in preheated oven for approximately 9-10 minutes. Take them out when they are just barely starting to turn brown, puffed and just start to crackle.
  • Let the cookies sit on the baking pan for 5 minutes before removing to cooling rack.
  • Cool completely on a wire rack before serving or storing.

Video

Notes

Store:ย 
Store peanut butter cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for 3 days, or in the refrigerator for 5 days.
Freeze:ย 
Freeze baked cookies for up to 1 month in an airtight container in the freezer.
Or, freeze the cookie dough by rolling it into balls and placing it in an airtight, freezer-friendly container for up to 1 month.
To bake, thaw cookie dough to room temperature and follow recipe instructions on pressing the tops with a fork and baking.
Ingredient Notes/Substitutions
  • Salted Butter. Unsalted butter or ghee are good substitutes.
  • Peanut Butter.ย I recommend using peanut butter that is solid at room temperature You can use natural peanut butter, but be aware that the cookies may spread more and be more on the crispy side than the soft side. Also, many natural peanut butters are unsalted, so you may need to increase the amount of salt in the recipe by ยผ tsp.ย 
  • Whole Milk.ย you can substitute 2% milk, heavy cream, or half-and-half.
  • Light Brown Sugar.ย If you like a bolder, molasses taste use dark brown sugar.
  • Granulated Sugar.ย White sugar or organic cane sugar are both great options.
  • Cinnamon.ย  I think the touch of cinnamon is the chef’s kiss in this recipe, however you can omit it if you prefer.
  • Sea salt.ย I only bake with pure, fine sea salt. If you are using iodized salt I recommend decreasing the amount of salt by half.ย 
ย 

Nutrition

Serving: 1cookie | Calories: 196kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 18mg | Sodium: 133mg | Potassium: 83mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 15g | Vitamin A: 146IU | Vitamin C: 0.05mg | Calcium: 24mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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5 from 5 votes (1 rating without comment)

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Recipe Rating




4 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Absolutely delicious and easy! Your explanations in all your recipes about why you do certain things, in this case, the fork impressions, is so helpful! It inspires me to bake more because your tips are ultimately making me a better baker/cook, lol.

  2. 5 stars
    Excellent Cookies! I really REALLY love how I can with just a covert measurements so I can weigh ingredients and double or triple the recipe! Thank you!
    They baked perfectly and I froze the dough in balls for my adult children to make at home.
    A great recipe!

  3. 5 stars
    We use this recipe once a month to make these cookies. Only peanut butter chocolate ship recipe we found that didn’t dry out the cookies!

  4. 5 stars
    Hello Laura, where do I start, other than to say you’re the Best! I’m an old guy that cooks just occasionally; I like to try new things, but I get fed up with Internet recipes that simply don’t work. No names; enough about that… but I don’t think it’s always me..?
    While browsing, I saw your chocolate chip cookie recipe recently – it sounded reasonable, and besides, you claimed it was the best!
    Your corresponding text was at first daunting, until I discovered it was ALL useful information. (As some sites carry on about their new bowls, or the color of their new apron… blah blah… Okay, I digress; back to Laura – nice job!).
    I gave the recipe a go.
    Those first cookies were wonderful! Exactly as pictured and described! And the entire process was well documented; I stumbled over nothing! Nothing complex, but complete.
    I have since tried several of your cookies recipes, and they’ve all turned out great! I’m liking my own cooking for a change. And I’m putting on a bit of weight. Oops. The shortbread, oatmeal cookies, peanut butter, chocolate, & on – ALL have turned out perfect; they taste great, & they look good enough to present to guests!
    So thank you so much! I don’t usually write reviews, but your website is worth writing one!