The Best Soft Batch Chocolate Chunk Peanut Butter Cookies are made with creamy peanut butter, brown sugar, and plenty of chocolate chunks! Packed with flavor, these cookies are outrageously good. A must try for peanut butter lovers!
Chocolate Chunk Peanut Butter Cookies
Peanut Butter Cookies
If you love the combination of chocolate and peanut butter, today’s post is dedicated to you!
I’ve been working on perfecting this cookie recipe for a few months now. And after many fails, I finally found a recipe that turned out great over and over again! It’s already a new favorite recipe!
Because these cookies are:
- ultra thick
- crispy at the edges
- exploding with peanut butter flavor
- not cloyingly sweet
- made in one bowl
- loaded with gooey chocolate chunks
- easy
- and AMAZING
They’re everything you could want in a peanut butter cookie and more!
Fact: nothing hits the spot quite like a warm from the oven peanut butter cookie that’s OOZING with melted chocolate chunks! Especially when it’s chased with a warm cup of coffee.
So let’s get down to all the need-to-know details. Just hold on one second. Gotta take this bite ↓↓↓
Peanut Butter Cookie Recipe
Today’s recipe was inspired by a recent, and much needed, pantry clean out. After discovering a surplus of peanut butter (why do I have 9 unopened jars?!), making peanut butter cookies with a no-brainer. I also happened to have a ton of chocolate bars, so I decided to chop them up and make these cookies into a delicious chocolate + peanut butter situation. But if you don’t have chocolate chunks on hand, feel free to use chocolate chips! Because peanut butter chocolate chip cookies are JUST as delicious as peanut butter chocolate chunk!
For these peanut butter chocolate cookies you’ll need:
- unsalted butter
- vanilla extract
- creamy peanut butter
- light brown sugar
- granulated sugar
- eggs
- all-purpose flour
- baking powder
- baking soda
- salt
- and chocolate chunks.
How to make Peanut Butter Cookies
Tips and Tricks for Recipe Success
- The butter must be at room temperature before creaming. Then you’ll combine the butter, peanut butter and vanilla in a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and beat until they’re light and fluffy, scraping down the sides as needed. Or you can use a large bowl and hand mixer. This step will take about 2 minutes. I know that may seem like a long time, but it’s worth it.
- Add in both sugars and beat the butter and sugar mixture until it’s pale in color and very fluffy. You should scrape down the sides as needed.
- Next you’ll add in your eggs! Make sure your eggs are at room temperature, and add them to the cookie dough one at a time. And allow each egg to fully incorporate before adding the next one in.
- When you add the dry ingredients into the mixing bowl, lightly toss them together on top of the wet mixture before fully incorporating them into the batter. And as always, be sure not to over mix.
- Although I used dark chocolate in these cookies, you can use milk chocolate, semi-sweet chocolate, or even a combination of both.
- And finally, chill the dough for at least 30 minutes. But you can keep it in the fridge for up to 2 days! If you refrigerate the cookie dough for more than 30 minutes, you’ll need to bring it back to room temperature before baking.
- Then preheat the oven to 350 and bake!
Pro Tip: I like to top all of the cookie dough balls with a few extra chocolate chunks before baking. Too much chocolate…? NEVER. I used Extra Dark Chocolate for these cookies, but like I said earlier, you can use milk chocolate or semi-sweet chocolate if you prefer. Or use chocolate chips!
The finishing touch is a sprinkle of flaky sea salt. Totally optional but sooooo good. The sea salt adds a wonderful crunch and really helps balance out the flavor. If you like salty/sweet treats, you’ll definitely want to include it. I use Maldon Sea Salt Flakes.
Enjoy, chocolate peanut butter lovers!
More Peanut Butter Recipes:
- Peanut Butter Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Thick and Chewy White Chocolate Peanut Butter Blondies
- Perfect Peanut Butter Cookies
- Easy Peanut Butter Fudge
If you try this recipe for peanut butter choc chunk cookies, let me know! Leave a comment below and don’t forget to snap a pic and tag it #bakerbynature on Instagram! Seeing your kitchen creations makes my day. ♥
Soft Batch Chocolate Chunk Peanut Butter Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter, at room temperature
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1 and 1/2 cups light brown sugar, packed
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs, at room temperature
- 2 and 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (bleached or unbleached will work fine)
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 and 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt (kosher or table salt)
- 8 ounces chocolate, chopped into chunks (see post for reference)
- 1 teaspoon flaky sea salt (see post for reference)
Instructions
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment or in a large bowl using a handheld electric mixer, beat the butter until smooth and creamy.
- Add in the peanut butter and vanilla and beat until smooth; about 2 minutes.
- Next add in both sugars and beat until light and fluffy, scraping down the sides as needed, about 2 minutes.
- Add in the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Turn mixer off.
- Add in the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Whisk the ingredients together lightly before turning the mixer back on low and mixing in the dry ingredients until just combined. Be sure not to over mix here.
- Turn mixer off and use a spatula to fold in the chocolate chunks.
- Cover the bowl and place it in the fridge for 30 minutes, or up to 2 days. If you refrigerate the cookie dough for more than 30 minutes, you will need to bring it back to room temperature before baking.
When ready to bake:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees (F). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Scoop two tablespoon sized mounds of dough onto the prepared cookie sheet, leaving a few inches between each cookies for spreading.
- Bake for 12-14 minutes, or until the edges are golden and the centers have set. Cool cookies on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a cooling rack.
zee says
can I use dark brown sugar instead?
bakerbynature says
Yes 🙂
Liz says
These were so good, they were so soft and chewy and a big hit with everyone. I will be making these again and again 🙂
Mary Dwyer says
Baked a batch today and wow I don’t think they will last long!! Will try the maldon sea salt next time. Thanks for this great recipe:)
Anisha Mohinani says
Hi I made these yesterday and I found that the dough was dry. So when baked they are not chewy. What else can I add if that happens again?
Thanks
Caitlin says
DO you think I could substitute the peanut butter for almond butter as I have to consider some nuts allergies….
Terry Shelton says
These look delicious!
Do you use natural peanut butter (the kind you have to stir – I like Whole Foods brand) or regular peanut butter? Also can you use crunchy instead of smooth.
bakerbynature says
I use regular peanut butter 🙂 I think crunchy could work, but I’ve never tried so I can’t say for sure.
Sandy says
Hi,
I just made this recipe but mine didn’t come out like the picture. I’m not sure if I did anything wrong. I did use regular brown sugar instead and chunky peanut butter. But they are just flat and only slightly soft in the middle. Did I maybe mix the batter too much? Thank you !
Kim Stearns says
going to try these today! Granddaughter requested PB cookies w/chocolate chips as her special request for Christmas goodie mailing. ?? NEVER has MiMi made this SO after searching everywhere for a recipe I have decided on yours. Looks amazing and reviews are wonderful!
do have a ? Does the salt go on before or after baking?? Plus- do you flatten before baking or leave mounded?
I am getting the butter soft now I will appreciate your prompt reply.
sincerely,
Kim 🙂
bakerbynature says
Hi Kim. You put the 1/4 teaspoon of kosher salt in the cookie recipe, and use the flaky sea salt after baking. I don’t flatten mine, but you can for thinner cookies 🙂
KIm says
Thank YOU So much for your prompt response I will let you know how they turn out!
Have a nice day!
🙂
Jette says
I made a little over 5 dozen decent sized cookies with this recipe. I didnt double it or anything, just followed the recipe to the T. Used coarse salt instead of flakes, tastes great. Thanks for sharing! Im going to have some people feeling lucky to be my friends soon!!
bakerbynature says
So happy they were a hit, Jette!
Katherine says
How do you get the chocolate chunks to be so gooey? Is it the chocolate you used? Did you do anything special in that picture with the oozing chocolate chunks? They look so delicious, I’ve got to try them!