Soft Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate Cookies

Soft and chewy, these Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate Cookies are so addictive! Peanut butter and chocolate lovers will go crazy for this indulgent cookie recipe. Dark chocolate chips and crunchy peanuts give these cookies amazing texture. Top with some flaky sea salt and you’ve got the ultimate salty, sweet, and down right decadent dessert!

Why Are My Cookies Hard?

This can happen from over mixing your dough. You want to mix until everything is just combined. This also happens when baking for too long. You want the centers of your cookies to still be slightly gooey in the middle when you take them out of the oven. Remember, they will continue to set while on the warm baking tray as they cool. If they are already completely cooked in the oven they’ll become over-baked and turn hard after cooling. The cookies will continue to harden over a couple days as well so the cook time is very important for soft and chewy cookies. 

Can I Freeze This Cookie Dough?

Sure thing! Mix the dough as instructed. Then you can either freeze the dough all together or go ahead and scoop out the cookies and shape them and freeze them individually. If frozen all together you will need to thaw the dough to room temperature before forming the cookies and baking as instructed. If the cookies are already formed you can bake them straight from the freezer. You may need to add a couple minutes to their cook time and watch to make sure the edges aren’t overbaking. Frozen cookie dough will stay fresh for up to 6 weeks.

What You Need To Make Soft Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate Cookies

• All-Purpose Flour
• Baking Soda
• Baking Powder
• Salt
• Unsalted Butter
• Peanut Butter
• Granulated Sugar
• Light Brown Sugar
• An Egg
• Vanilla Extract
• Milk
• Dark Chocolate Chips
• Chopped Dry-Roasted Unsalted Peanuts
• Flaky Sea Salt

How To Make The Recipe

Preheat your oven to 35 degrees Fahrenheit. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.

In the bowl of a stand mixer (or in a large bowl and a handheld mixer), beat the butter and peanut butter on medium speed until smooth and creamy.  Beat in both of the sugars until blended, stopping to scrape down the sides of bowl with a rubber spatula when necessary.  Beat in the egg and vanilla extract.

Reduce the mixer speed to low and beat in the flour mixture and milk until blended, scraping down the sides of the bowl when necessary.

Gently fold in the chocolate chips and chopped peanuts.

Drop the dough using a small cookie scoop or by heaping rounded tablespoonfuls of dough onto the prepared baking sheets. The cookies should be evenly spaced about 2 inches apart. Bake the cookies for 11-13 minutes, one sheet at a time. The cookies are done when just starting to lightly brown around the edges but are still soft in the center.

Remove from the oven and let the cookies cool on the baking sheet set on a rack for 5 minutes, then transfer the cookies directly to the wire rack to finish cooling completely. Serve with a tall glass of milk and enjoy!

Storing The Recipe

You can store leftover cookies in an airtight container on the counter for up to a week (if they last that long!). 

For a fresh baked feel a few days later you can heat these cookies in the microwave for a few seconds to make them warm and gooey again.

Recipe Tips

You can use semi sweet chocolate chips instead of dark chocolate if you prefer. 

I like to use chunky peanut butter for more texture but creamy works just as well. Use whatever you already have on hand.

For a dash of extra flavor add a sprinkle of cinnamon or cloves into the cookie dough. These spices pair wonderfully with the chocolate.

Print