If someone were to ask me what the very best recipe on this entire site was, I think the answer would be these Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies. I’ve been making this Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookie recipe since I was in college. It is still my husband’s favorite cookie recipe of all time.
These delicious chocolate cookies with peanut butter cups have been on my Christmas cookie platters for as long as I can remember. If you love chocolate and peanut butter, this recipe is about as good as it gets.
Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies
These chocolate peanut butter cookies are made with peanut butter, peanut butter chips, chocolate chips, peanut butter cups and mini peanut butter cups. I mean, come on. Does it get any better? Just take a look.
And I have shared them as one of my favorite Christmas Cookie Recipes. While I like to try new recipes every Christmas, these cookies are one of my staples. Family members anxiously await their arrival and they are usually the first of all of the treats to disappear.
I figured it was time I made a video of these Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies and share how easy and delicious they are. They have an amazing blend of flavors and textures that all work together to create a perfectly soft, chocolatey cookie that is filled, but not overwhelmed, with peanut butter flavor.
While I like to use two sizes of peanut butter cups in these, you can certainly use just one size. If you use larger peanut butter cups, just cut them into pieces.
How To Make Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies
A hint for your peanut butter cups. I like to freeze mine for at least an hour prior to making these cookies (and as long as weeks ahead). It helps to retain the shape and structure of the peanut butter cups. You can skip this, but if you know you’ll be making these cookies, throw some peanut butter cups in the freezer.
I tend to use the snack size Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups as well as the mini peanut butter cups I pick up at Trader Joe’s. I think Reese’s now makes the mini peanut butter cups as well. The mini cups I throw in whole, they do not get cup up.
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For today’s post, I made my large version of these chocolate peanut butter cookies. To heck with a cookie scoop, dip these babies up with an ice cream scoop. Go big or go home! Okay, you can make them smaller if you like, they’ll be ridiculously delicious either way you go.
See there, I couldn’t even wait to take a bite until after I took the photos. They are irresistible. And in case you are wondering, yes, I do have a pink silicone baking mat. It’s the little things in life.
If you love this recipe, make sure to try my Buckeye Brownies, Peanut Butter Blossoms and Scotcheroos!
Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookie Recipe
Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter softened
- 3/4 cup white sugar
- 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3/4 cup smooth peanut butter
- 1/3 cup cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
- 1 cup peanut butter chips
- 10 regular-sized peanut butter cups or about 20-25 small cups, cut in pieces
- 1 cup mini peanut butter cups
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350*F (175*C).
- In medium bowl combine flour, cocoa and baking soda; set aside.
- In a large bowl, cream butter and sugars together with an electric mixer until fluffy. Add vanilla, peanut butter(s) and eggs; mixing well.
- Stir in flour mixture until just mixed. Batter will be thick, and a mixer can be used if needed. Fold in chips and peanut butter cups.
- Using an ice cream scoop, scoop onto baking sheets lined with parchment or a silicone baking mat.
- Bake for 11-13 minutes. Let cool for at least 10 minutes on baking sheet before transferring to wire rack to cool completely.
Video
Nutrition
Disclaimer
Nutrition information is estimated as a courtesy. If using for medical purposes, please verify information using your own nutritional calculator. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Check out all of the cookie recipes on this site!
I’ve even made these as white chocolate peanut butter cup cookies. They are pretty spectacular as well. I adore the combo of white chocolate and peanut butter. I feel like it really doesn’t get the appreciation that it deserves!
And while I think today’s recipe is the best Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookie recipe I’ve ever tried, this is my best peanut butter cookie recipe. These cookies are out of this world good. And they are pretty fun and colorful with the Reese’s Pieces in them.
For those of you who love chocolate covered peanuts, I put them in a cookie. These Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Cookies will totally hit the spot. Love those crunchy chocolate covered peanuts on top!
I’ve even made a Peanut Butter Skillet Cookie. Oh, a yummy warm peanut butter cookie topped with ice cream. SO good!
If you love chocolate and peanut butter, and if you’ve read this far, I’m certain you do, I’ve got more recipes you are going to want to check out. If chocolate and peanut butter are your thing, then you can’t miss these posts!
Chocolate And Peanut Butter Recipe Round Up
And recipes using Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups
My friends have some great peanut butter cookie recipes as well! Barefeet In The Kitchen makes amazing Old Fashioned 3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies that are so easy they are practically magic. Crazy for Crust make Rolo Stuffed Peanut Butter Cookies that are incredible. Tidy Mom has a fantastic recipe for Gooey Peanut Butter Cookies. GOOEY PEOPLE, how great do those sound? Yum! And Foodie With Family makes Snickers Stuffed Peanut Butter Cookies that Snickers lovers will go crazy for.
I hope you enjoy my amazing Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies, as well as the other great peanut butter cookie recipes I shared in this post.
This Peanut Butter Chocolate Cookie Recipe was originally published in April, 2017
Melissa E says
These should be called “Best Cookies Ever.” My mom made these about four years ago for a Christmas Eve get together/cookie contest. She won hands-down and then we could not find the recipe again. She found it a couple days ago and we made them today. They are so delicious It’s hard to put into words how good they are. The dough is beautiful. Perfect texture and the cookies come out with just a slight crispiness on the outside and gooey goodness on the inside. Thank you for this fantastic recipe! we are going to save it somewhere safe this time!!
Christi Johnstone says
I’m so glad you like them so much! This was literally the first cookie recipe I started making at Christmas when my husband and I got married, and still his favorite, so I’m thrilled to see it so well received!
Janet says
Ahhh-mazing. It is literally the perfect cookie. Never met a person who didn’t love it, I’ve varied it, even made mistakes, and it always comes out perfect. You are a genius Christi!
Amanda says
Can you make this dough ahead of time and freeze it?
Melissa says
I made these cookies with the smaller scoop I got 48 cookies from the recipe. I cooked them the same amount of time 11to 12 minutes but the cookies were very soft. My husband says they taste good but are they supposed to be soft?
Annette says
Delicious! These were a big hit at our church potluck!! I also added 1/2 tsp salt.
Ben says
I’ve made these a few times now. They are absolutely delicious! Can you substitute shortening for the butter?
Christi Johnstone says
I’ve never tried so I can’t speak to the results. Let us know how it goes if you try it!
Cindy says
Your recipe has 2 listings for the peanut butter cups…however the directions don’t specify on using both….
Is this one or the other or am I to use both listed peanut cups. Please clarify
Christi Johnstone says
These are two different kinds, full size and minis (more like chocolate chip size)…
10 regular-sized peanut butter cups or about 20-25 small cups, cut in pieces
1 cup mini peanut butter cups
You just add them both where it says add peanut butter cups. Hope that thelps!
Christi Johnstone says
I will also add for future reference, in any drop cookie recipe like this, the add ins are completely flexible. Add them, don’t add them, sub them for something else, the base cookie recipe isn’t impacted, so you can let your creativity, tastes and supplies take over at that point. Use white peanut butter cups, replace them with reecese pieces, use butterscotch chips instead – all will work! 🙂
Mary says
It doesn’t say but is refrigeration of the cookie dough a good idea/
Christi Johnstone says
You could if you wanted to, but it’s not necessary with this recipe.
Becky says
I found this recipe a couple years ago, and I realized I never left a review. These are my husband’s favorite cookies! He asks for me to make them. My daughter devours them as well, along with your hot cocoa cookies! These are easy to make and I follow the directions exactly. Using the ice cream scoop and all the various chocolate and peanut butter candies sets these apart. They are truly amazing cookies! My family and I adore this recipe. 😋
KCC says
Just made these, yummy alternative to plain old chocolate chip cookies. I only added chocolate chips and peanut butter chips, no other candy. I also added half teaspoon salt. Otherwise, excellent recipe!!