Description

Deliciously rich and chewy Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies featuring a perfect balance of cocoa and creamy peanut butter, baked to tender perfection with a classic crisscross fork pattern on top. These cookies are easy to make and perfect for any chocolate and peanut butter lover looking for a quick homemade treat.

Ingredients

Scale

Wet Ingredients

1/2 cup shortening (regular or butter flavor)
3/4 cup creamy peanut butter
1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar
3 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 large egg

Dry Ingredients

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt

Instructions

Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) to ensure it reaches the right temperature for baking your cookies evenly.
Mix Wet Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, use an electric mixer to blend the shortening, creamy peanut butter, brown sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until the mixture is smooth and well combined.
Add Egg: Crack in the egg and mix again until just incorporated to maintain a tender cookie texture.
Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, unsweetened cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt to evenly distribute the leavening and cocoa.
Integrate Dry into Wet: Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients, stirring carefully until a smooth, uniform cookie dough forms without overmixing.
Form Dough Balls: Scoop the dough into 1 to 1 1/2 inch balls and place them on an ungreased cookie sheet, spacing them adequately.
Create Crisscross Pattern: Use a fork to gently press down each dough ball, making a crisscross pattern on the top for that classic peanut butter cookie look.
Bake: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 7 to 8 minutes, or until the edges are set but the centers remain soft and chewy.
Cool: Let the cookies cool on the cookie sheet for 2 minutes before transferring them to a wire cooling rack to cool completely, allowing them to firm up perfectly.

Notes

You can substitute shortening with butter for a richer flavor.
Do not overbake; cookies will appear slightly underdone but will firm up as they cool.
For crispier cookies, bake an additional 1-2 minutes but watch closely to avoid burning.
Ensure even spacing on the cookie sheet to prevent cookies from merging during baking.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 8 minutes
Category: Dessert
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Keywords: chocolate peanut butter cookies, chocolate cookies, peanut butter cookies, quick cookies, easy baking dessert