If you’re on the hunt for the ultimate peanut butter cookie experience, look no further than the Best Peanut Butter Chip Cookies Recipe. These cookies are irresistibly soft, perfectly chewy, and bursting with rich peanut butter flavor enhanced by delightful bursts of peanut butter chips in every bite. Whether you’re sharing with friends or sneaking one (or two) yourself, this recipe brings a homemade touch that’s easy to master and impossible to resist.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Each ingredient in this recipe plays a crucial role in delivering that signature texture and flavor you crave. From the mix of flours that create a tender crumb to the peanut butter chips adding pockets of creamy sweetness, you’ll see just how simple ingredients come together to create cookie magic.
- All-purpose flour: Provides structure to the cookie for that just-right chewiness.
- Cake flour: Adds a lighter texture, making the cookies soft and tender.
- Unsalted butter: Contributes richness, helping achieve a soft yet slightly crisp edge.
- Creamy peanut butter: The heart of the flavor, giving every bite that nutty goodness.
- Brown sugar: Adds moisture and a deep caramel sweetness that balances peanut butter perfectly.
- Granulated sugar: Provides needed sweetness and helps create the ideal cookie texture.
- Large egg and egg yolk: Bind ingredients together while enhancing softness.
- Peanut butter chips: The pockets of peanut butter joy that melt luxuriously in the bite.
- Cornstarch: Keeps the cookies tender and prevents toughness.
- Baking powder and baking soda: Work together to give the cookies a slight lift without losing chew.
- Salt: Intensifies all the flavors, balancing the sweetness and peanut butter richness.
How to Make Best Peanut Butter Chip Cookies Recipe
Step 1: Prep Your Oven and Baking Sheets
Start by preheating your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and lining cookie sheets with parchment paper. This simple prep is key for cookies that bake evenly and come off the pan smoothly without breaking.
Step 2: Combine Your Dry Ingredients
Whisk together both flours, cornstarch, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a bowl. Mixing these dry ingredients ahead ensures that the leavening agents and seasoning are distributed evenly throughout your dough for consistent baking.
Step 3: Cream Butter, Sugars, and Peanut Butter
Using a stand mixer, beat cold, cubed butter with brown sugar, granulated sugar, and creamy peanut butter until the mixture is smooth. This creaming process incorporates air for a lighter cookie and melds the flavors perfectly.
Step 4: Add Eggs and Blend
Mix in the whole egg, extra egg yolk, and vanilla extract until fully combined. These enrich the dough, adding to its softness and depth of flavor that you want in the Best Peanut Butter Chip Cookies Recipe.
Step 5: Incorporate the Dry Ingredients Gently
Add the dry flour mixture gradually into the wet ingredients, mixing just until combined. Overmixing can toughen your dough, so keeping it gentle ensures tender cookies every time.
Step 6: Fold in Peanut Butter Chips
Gently fold the peanut butter chips into the dough, distributing those melty nuggets evenly for maximum peanut buttery goodness in every bite.
Step 7: Shape the Cookies
Scoop the dough into balls about 2 to 3 tablespoons each and place them spaced onto your prepared baking sheets. Press the tops lightly with a fork to create that classic crosshatch pattern that’s signature to peanut butter cookies.
Step 8: Bake to Perfection
Bake in the preheated oven for 9 to 11 minutes until the cookies are golden on top but still soft in the center. This timing locks in that chewy texture you’re aiming for with the Best Peanut Butter Chip Cookies Recipe.
Step 9: Cool Before Enjoying
Let the cookies cool on the cookie sheet for a few minutes to firm up, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely. This step lets them set perfectly so they don’t fall apart when you bite in.
How to Serve Best Peanut Butter Chip Cookies Recipe
Garnishes
A light sprinkle of flaky sea salt on top adds a sophisticated contrast to the sweetness, while a drizzle of melted chocolate or a few chopped peanuts can elevate presentation and texture beautifully.
Side Dishes
These cookies pair wonderfully with a cold glass of milk, a scoop of vanilla ice cream, or even a dollop of whipped cream if you want to create a decadent dessert experience.
Creative Ways to Present
Try stacking these cookies with layers of peanut butter frosting for a homemade cookie sandwich or serve them alongside fresh fruit for a playful balance of flavors. Wrapping a few cookies in parchment tied with twine makes a charming gift too!
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Keep your cookies fresh by storing them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week. Placing a slice of bread inside will help maintain their soft, chewy texture.
Freezing
You can freeze unbaked cookie dough balls or fully baked cookies. Freeze dough balls on a tray first, then transfer to a zip-top bag for up to three months. For baked cookies, layer them between parchment paper inside a freezer-safe container.
Reheating
Warm your cookies in a microwave for 10 to 15 seconds or in an oven set to 300 degrees Fahrenheit for 5 minutes to regain that fresh-baked soft texture and melty chocolate chip bliss.
FAQs
Can I use crunchy peanut butter instead of creamy?
Absolutely! Crunchy peanut butter will add extra texture to your cookies, making each bite even more interesting with little bits of peanuts throughout.
Why mix all-purpose and cake flour?
The combination helps strike a balance between sturdiness and tenderness, resulting in cookies that hold their shape but remain soft and melt-in-your-mouth delightful.
Can I substitute peanut butter chips with chocolate chips?
Yes, but that changes the flavor profile from peanut butter-focused to a chocolate peanut butter blend. It’s delicious but slightly different than the Best Peanut Butter Chip Cookies Recipe intended taste.
How do I prevent cookies from spreading too much?
Chilling the dough for 30 minutes before baking helps control spreading. Also, make sure your butter is cold and not softened to the point of melting.
Is it okay to use salted butter instead of unsalted?
You can, but reduce or omit the added salt in the dough accordingly to avoid overly salty cookies.
Final Thoughts
There’s something truly comforting about biting into a perfect peanut butter cookie, especially one made from the Best Peanut Butter Chip Cookies Recipe. It’s a tried and true favorite that’s as fun to bake as it is to eat. So go ahead and give this recipe a try – I promise you’ll be reaching for seconds and sharing it far and wide with everyone you love!
Print
Best Peanut Butter Chip Cookies Recipe
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
These Best Peanut Butter Chip Cookies are soft, chewy, and packed with rich peanut butter flavor. Made with a blend of all-purpose and cake flour for a tender crumb, and loaded with creamy peanut butter chips, these cookies boast the perfect balance of sweetness and saltiness. Easy to prepare and bake, they make an irresistible treat for peanut butter lovers.
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
- 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup cake flour
- 1 tsp corn starch
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
Wet Ingredients
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract (inferred from instructions)
- 1–2 tbsp milk (optional, inferred for mixing ease)
Add-ins
- 10 oz peanut butter chips
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheets: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and line cookie sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, cake flour, corn starch, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until well combined. Set aside.
- Cream Butter and Sugars: Using a stand mixer, cream the cold cubed unsalted butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar, and creamy peanut butter on medium speed until the mixture is smooth and fluffy.
- Add Eggs and Flavorings: Beat in the whole egg and egg yolk, along with vanilla extract and optional milk, mixing until just combined. This adds moisture and richness to the dough.
- Incorporate Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the dry flour mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined to avoid overworking the dough and keeping the cookies tender.
- Fold in Peanut Butter Chips: Gently fold the peanut butter chips into the dough by hand, distributing them evenly throughout.
- Shape the Cookies: Scoop the dough into balls of about 2-3 tablespoons each and place them evenly spaced on the prepared cookie sheets. Use a fork to gently press down and create classic crosshatch patterns on top.
- Bake: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 9-11 minutes, or until the tops are golden brown but the centers remain soft for the perfect chewy texture.
- Cool: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring them to wire racks to cool completely, which helps them set and prevents breaking.
Notes
- Using a combination of all-purpose and cake flour yields a tender and chewy cookie texture.
- Cold butter is creamed to ensure the right consistency for the dough.
- Optional milk helps with dough consistency but can be omitted if preferred.
- Ensure not to overbake; cookies should be golden on top but soft inside for best texture.
- Storing cookies in an airtight container at room temperature keeps them fresh for up to 5 days.
- This recipe yields approximately 24 cookies, perfect for sharing or gifting.
