Peanut Butter Chocolate Chunk Cookies are the ultimate treat for cookie lovers — soft, chewy, and packed with rich peanut butter flavor and melty pockets of chocolate. They strike the perfect balance between salty and sweet, making them completely irresistible with every bite.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
These cookies take classic peanut butter cookies to the next level by adding big chunks of chocolate for extra decadence. They’re quick and easy to make with simple ingredients you probably already have in your pantry. They bake up thick, soft, and perfectly chewy — ideal for sharing or indulging in a warm, fresh batch straight from the oven.
Ingredients
(Tip: You’ll find the full list of ingredients and measurements in the recipe card below.)
- All-purpose flour
- Baking soda
- Salt
- Unsalted butter
- Creamy peanut butter
- Brown sugar
- Granulated sugar
- Large egg
- Vanilla extract
- Semi-sweet or dark chocolate chunks
Directions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt.
- In a large bowl, beat together the softened butter, peanut butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until creamy and smooth.
- Add the egg and vanilla extract, mixing until well combined.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture and stir until just combined.
- Fold in the chocolate chunks until evenly distributed.
- Scoop tablespoon-sized portions of dough and roll into balls. Place on the prepared baking sheet, leaving about 2 inches between each cookie.
- Bake for 10–12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden and the centers look slightly underbaked.
- Let cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
Servings and timing
This recipe makes about 18–20 cookies. Total time, including prep and baking, is approximately 30 minutes.
Variations
- Use crunchy peanut butter for added texture.
- Swap chocolate chunks for chocolate chips or white chocolate chips.
- Add a sprinkle of flaky sea salt on top before baking for an extra sweet-salty bite.
- Mix in chopped peanuts for extra crunch.
Storage/Reheating
Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. To keep them soft, place a slice of bread in the container. Freeze baked cookies for up to 2 months and thaw at room temperature. To enjoy warm, microwave for 10–15 seconds.
FAQs
Can I use natural peanut butter?
Yes, but make sure it’s well-stirred and not too runny — it can affect the texture of the dough.
Can I freeze the dough?
Absolutely! Scoop the dough into balls, freeze on a tray until firm, then store in a freezer bag for up to 2 months. Bake from frozen, adding a minute or two to the bake time.
Why did my cookies turn out dry?
Be careful not to overbake. They should look slightly underdone in the center — they’ll firm up as they cool.
Can I make these gluten-free?
Use a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend to keep the same texture.
Should I chill the dough?
It’s not necessary for this recipe, but chilling for 30 minutes can help prevent spreading if your kitchen is warm.
Can I use chocolate chips instead of chunks?
Yes! Any type of chocolate works — chunks just give bigger pockets of melted chocolate.
Can I make these cookies bigger?
Sure! Use a larger scoop and adjust the baking time by a few extra minutes.
Can I make them dairy-free?
Use a dairy-free butter substitute and dairy-free chocolate.
How do I get perfectly round cookies?
Use a round cookie cutter to gently swirl around the hot cookies right after baking to shape them.
What’s the best way to serve these cookies?
Enjoy them slightly warm with a glass of milk for the ultimate treat!
Conclusion
Peanut Butter Chocolate Chunk Cookies are a classic recipe with a delicious twist that’s sure to become a family favorite. With their rich peanut butter flavor, gooey chocolate, and soft, chewy centers, they’re the kind of cookies everyone will ask you to bake again and again. Happy baking!
Print
Peanut Butter Chocolate Chunk Cookies
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 27 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Soft and chewy cookies loaded with creamy peanut butter and big chunks of rich chocolate — the perfect sweet and salty treat.
Ingredients
- 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chunks
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt.
- In a large bowl, beat butter, peanut butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy.
- Beat in egg and vanilla extract until well combined.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients and mix until just combined.
- Fold in chocolate chunks.
- Drop rounded tablespoons of dough onto prepared baking sheets, spacing about 2 inches apart.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until edges are lightly golden. Centers will look slightly underbaked.
- Cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
- For extra texture, use crunchy peanut butter instead of creamy.
- Top with a sprinkle of flaky sea salt before baking for a sweet-salty bite.
- Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 100mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 20mg