PEANUT BUTTER CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

These Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies are soft, chewy, and absolutely packed with rich peanut butter flavor and sweet chocolate chips. Made with pantry staples and ready in just minutes, this no-fuss recipe creates a batch of cookies that’s reliably perfect every time.

Recipe Highlights

• Soft and chewy texture: These cookies bake up tender in the center with lightly crisp edges, never dry or crumbly.
• Simple ingredients: You likely have everything you need in your kitchen already—no fancy flours or special tools.
• Customizable: Add chocolate chips, swap in mini chips, or skip them entirely. You can even sprinkle in sea salt for a gourmet touch.
• Foolproof and family-approved: This has been a go-to recipe for years. It turns out right every time and gets rave reviews from kids and adults alike.
• Quick to make: Mix, scoop, and bake in under 30 minutes. Perfect for a spontaneous cookie craving!

Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Cookies are not just my favorite Peanut Butter Cookies recipe, but my favorite COOKIE recipe.  Period.  It is really that good.  Just try it!  I always add chocolate chips to mine, but they are good without also…totally up to you! And call me strange, but I usually prefer mini chocolate chips to the regular-sized ones. I think it’s because I actually prefer cookie dough to baked cookies, and I like just a hint of chocolate mixed with the cookie – I don’t like my cookie dough to be overshadowed by too much chocolate!

Ingredients You’ll Need

• Chocolate chips – Semi-sweet chips give that rich chocolatey bite, but mini chips or even chopped chocolate work just as well.
• Peanut butter – Creamy, shelf-stable peanut butter (like Jif or a store brand) works best. Avoid natural varieties, which can make the dough oily and unpredictable.
• Butter – Softened to room temperature, it adds richness and moisture. Don’t use melted butter—your cookies will spread too much.
• Granulated sugar & brown sugar – A perfect balance of sweetness and chew, thanks to the mix of light brown and white sugar.
• Egg – Binds the ingredients and helps with that soft, chewy texture.
• Milk – Adds a bit of moisture to keep the dough soft and pliable.
• Vanilla extract – Enhances all the other flavors with warm, subtle depth.
• All-purpose flour – Provides structure and creates that classic cookie base.
• Baking powder – Gives the cookies just the right lift.
• Salt – Balances sweetness and brings out the flavor in the peanut butter.

Helpful Tips

Full instructions for making the cookies can be found on the recipe card below, but here are a few helpful tips.

• Don’t use natural peanut butter – Stick with creamy, shelf-stable brands for best texture and consistency.
• Soften your butter properly – If short on time, use your microwave’s defrost setting in short bursts to avoid melting.
• Customize your chips – Mini chocolate chips, dark chocolate chunks, or even peanut butter chips are great swaps.
• Don’t overbake! – Cookies should look slightly underdone in the center when you pull them out. They’ll finish setting as they cool.
• Use parchment paper – Helps prevent over-browning and makes cleanup a breeze.

Storage Instructions

Freezer: Freeze baked cookies or unbaked dough balls in a zip-top bag for up to 3 months. Bake from frozen, adding 1–2 extra minutes to the bake time.

Room temperature: Store in an airtight container for up to 5–6 days. Add a slice of white bread to help maintain softness.

FAQs

Can I use natural peanut butter in this recipe?
It’s not recommended. Natural peanut butter separates and is too oily, which can lead to dry, crumbly cookies that don’t hold their shape well.

Why do peanut butter cookies have fork marks?
Peanut butter dough is denser than most cookie doughs, so pressing them helps flatten and spread the cookie for even baking. It’s also a classic look!

Can I make the dough ahead of time?
Yes! You can refrigerate the dough for up to 48 hours or freeze it for up to 3 months. Just scoop before freezing for easy baking later.

Can I skip the chocolate chips?
Absolutely. These cookies are delicious with or without chocolate. You can even replace them with chopped nuts or leave them plain.

More delicious peanut butter cookie recipes to try:

• We love classic peanut butter cookies. Cake Mix Peanut Butter Cookies are so easy to make. Grandma’s Peanut Butter Cookies have a few more ingredients, but they are worth it.
• Chocolate and peanut butter are the perfect pair. Peanut Butter Cookie Pizza starts with a chewy peanut butter cookie base, is topped with gooey marshmallows, and finished with melty chocolate chips.
• Some of our favorite peanut butter cookie recipes are naturally gluten-free. Flourless Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies and Monster Cookies are two of our favorites.

The BEST Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies are soft and chewy, and they turn out perfect every single time! Delicious peanut butter cookie recipe that is loaded with chocolate chips!