Description
These Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies combine rich cocoa flavor with creamy peanut butter for a perfectly balanced, soft, and chewy cookie. Easy to make with simple ingredients, they are an irresistible treat for any chocolate and peanut butter lover.
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 the oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) to ensure it reaches the right temperature for baking the cookies evenly.
- Mix wet ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, use an electric mixer to blend the shortening, peanut butter, brown sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until the mixture is smooth and well combined.
- Add the egg: Incorporate the large egg into the wet mixture by mixing just until combined to maintain the dough’s structure.
- 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 agents and cocoa.
- Mix dry into wet: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring until the dough forms a consistent, uniform batter without overmixing.
- Prepare cookie dough balls: Scoop the dough onto an ungreased cookie sheet using a spoon or scoop to form dough balls approximately 1 to 1 1/2 inches in diameter.
- Create crisscross pattern: Gently press down each dough ball with a fork to flatten slightly and create the classic crisscross design on top, which also helps the cookies bake evenly.
- Bake the cookies: Place the cookie sheet in the oven and bake for 7-8 minutes, or until the edges are just set but the centers remain soft.
- Cool the cookies: Remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool on the cookie sheet for 2 minutes before transferring to a wire cooling rack to cool completely, allowing them to firm up without becoming hard.
Notes
- Shortening can be substituted with butter for a richer flavor, but it may affect the texture slightly.
- For a gluten-free version, substitute the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend.
- Do not overbake to keep the cookies soft and chewy.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week.
- Optional: Add chocolate chips or chopped peanuts for extra texture and flavor.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 minutes
- Category: Dessert, Snack
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie (approx. 25 g)
- Calories: 130
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 110 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 15 g
- Fiber: 1.5 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg
Keywords: chocolate peanut butter cookies, peanut butter cookies, chocolate cookies, easy cookie recipe, soft cookies, chewy cookies
