Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies: A Classic, Comforting Treat
These Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies by Tessa Arias are everything you want in a cookie: big, thick, chewy, and soft, packed with the perfect combination of rich peanut butter and melty chocolate chips. With just a few simple steps and no stand mixer required, these cookies are easy to make and even easier to enjoy.
Ingredients: The Perfect Balance of Flavors
- All-Purpose Flour (2½ cups, 318 grams): Provides structure to the cookies, creating a sturdy base for the other ingredients.
- Baking Soda (1 teaspoon): Helps the cookies rise and gives them a light, airy texture.
- Baking Powder (1 teaspoon): Works alongside the baking soda to ensure the cookies rise perfectly.
- Fine Sea Salt (1 teaspoon): Enhances the flavor of the cookies, balancing the sweetness of the sugar and the richness of the peanut butter.
- Unsalted Butter (1 stick, 113 grams): Adds richness and moisture to the cookies. Melting the butter ensures a soft, chewy texture.
- Creamy Peanut Butter (¾ cup, 202 grams): The star ingredient, adding rich, nutty flavor and a creamy texture. Use a processed peanut butter for the best results.
- Granulated Sugar (½ cup, 100 grams): Sweetens the cookies and helps them achieve a slightly crisp edge.
- Dark Brown Sugar (1 cup, 200 grams, packed): Adds sweetness and moisture, giving the cookies a chewy texture and a deeper flavor.
- Eggs (2 large eggs plus 1 egg yolk, at room temperature): Bind the ingredients together and contribute to the cookies’ rich texture.
- Vanilla Extract (2 teaspoons): Adds a warm, sweet flavor that complements the peanut butter and chocolate.
- Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips (2 cups, 340 grams): The perfect chocolatey addition, adding bursts of rich, sweet flavor throughout the cookies.
Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Preheat the Oven
Preheat your oven to 350ºF (175ºC). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper to ensure the cookies bake evenly and don’t stick.
2. Mix the Dry Ingredients
In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, baking powder, and fine sea salt. This ensures the leavening agents and salt are evenly distributed throughout the flour.
3. Melt the Butter and Combine with Peanut Butter
In a large, heat-safe bowl, microwave the unsalted butter until melted. Stir the creamy peanut butter into the hot butter until well combined. This mixture should be smooth and creamy, providing a rich base for your cookies.
4. Add the Sugars
Stir the granulated sugar and dark brown sugar into the butter and peanut butter mixture until fully combined. The sugars will dissolve slightly in the warm butter, helping to create a smooth, uniform dough.
5. Incorporate the Eggs and Vanilla
Add the eggs and the additional egg yolk one at a time, stirring well after each addition. The egg yolk adds extra richness and helps create a chewy texture. Stir in the vanilla extract, which will enhance the overall flavor of the cookies.
6. Mix in the Dry Ingredients
Gradually stir the flour mixture into the wet ingredients until just combined. Be careful not to overmix, as this can make the cookies tough. The dough may be slightly crumbly, which is normal. If the dough is too crumbly to handle, add 2 tablespoons of milk to bring it together.
7. Add the Chocolate Chips
Gently fold in the semi-sweet chocolate chips, ensuring they are evenly distributed throughout the dough. For picture-perfect cookies, you can reserve a few chocolate chips to press into the tops of the cookies before baking.
8. Shape the Cookies
Using a spring-loaded cookie scoop or your hands, divide the dough into 3-tablespoon sized balls. Place them on the prepared baking sheets, leaving space between each cookie. Flatten each dough ball slightly with your palms to form disc shapes.
9. Chill the Dough (Optional)
For even better flavor and texture, cover the dough with plastic wrap and refrigerate it for at least 24 hours, but no more than 72 hours. Chilling the dough helps the flavors develop and the cookies hold their shape better during baking. If you’re short on time, you can skip this step.
10. Bake the Cookies
Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 12 minutes, or until they are golden brown around the edges. The centers should still look slightly underdone, as the cookies will continue to cook as they cool.
11. Cool and Enjoy
Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. This helps them set and develop their chewy texture. Once cooled, enjoy your delicious homemade peanut butter chocolate chip cookies!
Tips and Tricks for Perfect Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
To ensure that your Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies turn out perfect every time, here are some additional tips and tricks that can make a big difference in the final result.
1. Measure Flour Correctly
Measuring flour correctly is crucial to achieving the right cookie texture. Use the spoon-and-level method: spoon the flour into your measuring cup and level it off with a knife. This prevents the flour from being packed into the cup, which can lead to dry and crumbly cookies.
2. Use Room Temperature Ingredients
Allow your eggs and egg yolk to come to room temperature before mixing them into the dough. Room temperature eggs blend more easily with the other ingredients, ensuring a smooth and uniform dough. If you’re short on time, you can place the eggs in a bowl of warm water for about 5 minutes to bring them to room temperature.
3. Mixing the Dough
When mixing the dough, be sure to only mix until the flour is just incorporated. Overmixing can lead to tough cookies as it overdevelops the gluten in the flour. A few streaks of flour remaining are okay, as they will mix in fully when you fold in the chocolate chips.
4. Chilling the Dough
While chilling the dough is optional, it is highly recommended for the best flavor and texture. Chilling the dough allows the flour to fully hydrate and the flavors to meld together, resulting in thicker cookies with a richer taste. If you choose to chill the dough, let it sit at room temperature for a few minutes before scooping and baking, as it can be quite firm.
5. Baking Time
The baking time in the recipe is for cookies that are slightly underbaked in the center, which gives them a soft and chewy texture. If you prefer crispier cookies, you can bake them for an additional 1-2 minutes, but be careful not to overbake, as this can make them dry.
6. Customizing the Recipe
This cookie recipe is versatile, and you can customize it to suit your taste:
- Add-Ins: In addition to chocolate chips, you can add other ingredients like chopped nuts, toffee bits, or dried fruit for extra texture and flavor.
- Chocolate Variations: Use a mix of semi-sweet, dark, or milk chocolate chips, or try using chocolate chunks for a more decadent cookie.
- Peanut Butter Chips: For even more peanut butter flavor, add a handful of peanut butter chips to the dough.
- Sprinkles: For a festive touch, you can fold in or sprinkle the tops of the cookies with colorful sprinkles before baking.
Serving Suggestions
These cookies are delicious on their own, but here are some ideas for serving them in creative and indulgent ways:
- Ice Cream Sandwiches: Make ice cream sandwiches by placing a scoop of your favorite ice cream between two cookies. Roll the edges in chocolate chips, sprinkles, or chopped nuts for a fun treat.
- Dipped in Chocolate: For an extra special touch, dip half of each cookie in melted chocolate and allow it to set on a parchment-lined baking sheet. You can also sprinkle the wet chocolate with sea salt or chopped nuts before it sets.
- Cookie Crumble: Crumble the cookies over a bowl of vanilla ice cream or yogurt for a delicious dessert topping.
- With a Glass of Milk: Of course, these cookies are perfect with a cold glass of milk. The classic pairing brings out the best in the rich peanut butter and chocolate flavors.
Storing and Sharing
These cookies are great for sharing with friends and family, and they also store well:
- Gift-Wrapped Cookies: Package a few cookies in a clear cellophane bag tied with a ribbon, or place them in a decorative tin for a thoughtful homemade gift.
- Batch Freezing: If you’re planning to freeze the cookies, wrap them individually in plastic wrap before placing them in a freezer-safe bag or container. This prevents them from sticking together and makes it easy to grab one or two at a time.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
If you encounter any issues while making these cookies, here are some solutions:
- Dough Too Crumbly: If your dough is too crumbly to handle, this may be due to the type of peanut butter used or how the flour was measured. Adding a small amount of milk, as suggested in the recipe, should help bring the dough together.
- Cookies Spreading Too Much: If your cookies spread too much during baking, it could be because the butter was too warm or the dough wasn’t chilled. Make sure to chill the dough if it seems too soft, and check your oven temperature to ensure it’s accurate.
- Cookies Not Spreading Enough: On the other hand, if your cookies don’t spread enough, you might have added too much flour, or the dough might be too cold. You can gently press the dough balls down before baking to help them spread out.
Final Thoughts
These Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies are a classic treat that combines the best of both worlds: the rich, nutty flavor of peanut butter and the sweet, melty goodness of chocolate chips. Whether you’re making them for a special occasion or just because, they’re sure to be a hit with anyone who tries them. With their thick, chewy texture and easy preparation, these cookies are a must-try for any cookie lover. So go ahead, bake a batch, and enjoy the comforting, delicious taste of these homemade cookies!