Chocolate and peanut butter are a winning combination. These chocolate peanut butter cookies are easy to make and such a crowd pleaser!
If the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, you need to a bring a dozen of these cookies when you meet your potential boyfriend.
That’s how I got my boyfriend (now husband) to fall in love with me.
I bought a dozen of these cookies on our flight from Northern California to Los Angeles during Thanksgiving break.
The fine print: he must like cookies, peanut butter, chocolate, and baked goods.
Although I can’t make any guarantees, if said potential boyfriend doesn’t like your homemade, freshly baked cookies- he’s not worth your time.
Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Cookies
One word to describe these cookies: decadent!
It’s a soft chocolate peanut butter sugar cookie with a mini chocolate covered peanut butter cup.
These cookies are soft on the inside and just a tad bit crackly and crunchy on the outside.
When you eat them straight from the oven (which is the BEST way to eat cookies), they are heavenly.
Think about it: warm cookie with almost melted peanut butter encased in silky milk chocolate with a little sprinkle of Maldon sea salt.
Yup. I’d definitely fall in love because of these cookies!
Ingredients and Substitutions
Peanut butter cup cookies are traditionally made with standard smooth peanut butter.
This version amps up the chocolate flavor using Peanut Butter & Co.’s chocolate peanut butter (named Dark Chocolatey Dreams).
If you cannot find chocolate peanut butter, standard creamy peanut butter will also work.
Be sure to use a homogenized peanut butter. Meaning one that contains stabilizer oils to prevent the peanut butter from separating.
Recommended peanut butters include: Skippy Creamy, Creamy Reese’s, or Simply Jif Creamy.
Natural peanut butters (the ones simply made with peanuts and salt) require stirring before use. Unfortunately, natural peanut butters do not work well for this recipe.
Add one tablespoon of unsweetened cocoa powder to the flour mixture when mixing ingredients. This will amp up the chocolate flavors.
Cookie Storage
Cool cookies before storing. Keep peanut butter cup cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to five days. For best results, store in a cool, dry place away from heat or direct sunlight.
Cookies are best enjoyed within three days of baking. Overtime, the cookies will stale and harden.
More Chocolate Peanut Butter Recipes
Satisfy your sweet tooth with these delicious treats:
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Chip Cookies
- Peanut Butter Cake Doughnuts with Chocolate Glaze
- Chocolate Dipped Peanut Butter Crinkle Cookies
- Peanut Chocolate Chip Cookies
Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies
Ingredients
- ¼ cup chocolate peanut butter*,, such as Peanut Butter & Co's Dark Chocolatey Dreams
- 2 Tablespoon unsalted butter, , room temp
- ⅓ cup light brown sugar
- 1 large egg
- ¾ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ cup granulated sugar,, for rolling
- 12 mini chocolate peanut butter cups
- Maldon sea salt,, to garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line baking sheet with parchment paper. Place unwrapped mini peanut butter cups in the freezer.
- In a medium bowl, cream together chocolate peanut butter and unsalted butter. Add sugar and beat until combined. Add egg and stir until incorporated. Scrape down bowl as needed to ensure thorough mixing.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Add flour mixture to creamed mixture. Fold until incorporated and there are no longer and dry streaks of flour.
- Portion dough into tablespoons and roll into balls. Coat dough balls in granulated sugar and place on prepared baking sheet, placing balls about 2 inches apart.
- Bake for 6 minutes. Remove from oven and press one chilled mini peanut butter cup in the center of each cookie. Return to oven and bake for another 6 minutes. Remove from oven and sprinkle each cookie with Maldon sea salt. Let cool on sheet tray for 5-8 minutes before transferring to wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
- If you can’t find chocolate peanut butter: add one tablespoon of unsweetened cocoa powder to the flour mixture in Step 3.
- Use a homogenized, no-stir peanut butter. Natural peanut butters that require stirring before use do not work well for this recipe.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Like this recipe? Rate & comment below!
Lovely. Love these cookies, love your story, and love your site! ~Liz (Project Pastry Love)
Thanks so much Liz!
I love this – you’re right, if he doesn’t like your cookies, it’s never going to work. (PS. I started reading this post and thought you were about to tell us you were engaged…I AM ON THE EDGE OF MY SEAT, ALEX. No pressure). I’m so jealous of your LA food blogger cookie swap – eat a dozen just for me, please?
Not liking my cooking/baking is a giant red flag. HAHA, I’m still waiting to hear the question and also still pondering my response.
If only LA and SF were closer :(
oh May: your recipes are incredible and delicious!!!!!
Thanks Carmen!
Ooh, I think you nailed it… eating cookies straight from the oven. Girl after my own heart. ;-)
That should be the only way to eat cookies! ;)
That’s such a sweet story! My husband isn’t that into cookies but I won him over with making pasta with pesto and salmon (which reminds me, it’s been too long since i’ve cooked that!) and he won me over by bringing me some sushi ;-)
And I’m só looking forward to the cookie swap this Saturday! Can’t wait to share my cookies will all of you :)
YAY! I’m excited for the cookie swap! I hope it doesn’t rain!
These look absolutely delicious, and perfect for Christmas time snacking plus gifting. What a cute story too :)
Thanks Sarah! Whenever Alex is angry with me, this is my go-to recipe ;)
Ooooh that bite shot! Pinned before I even commented. Also, the absolutely CUTEST story! My boyfriend and I met in college at our mutual friends’ house after a night of going out. I ended up making everyone macaroni, and he proceeded to ask if I would marry him. Our friends get a kick out of that story and always say that they’re going to tell everyone at our wedding!
That bite shot was torture. I had to try really hard not to eat the entire cookie!
Aw, your story is SO cute! Although that’s a bit forward after meeting someone, I sure hope you said YES ;)