Salted Peanut Butter Cup Chocolate Chip Cookies
You have to make these cookies. No iffs, ands or buts about it. These might be my all-time, numero uno favorite cookie. That’s an incredibly serious distinction around these parts. Let me try to explain how much I love these cookies… if you told me that for the rest of my life I could have these cookies, and these cookies only, no other dessert ever again, I would be an incredibly happy woman.
There really is nothing more I could ask for in a cookie. They are enormous cookies, first of all. They are also wonderfully thick and chewy, as they are an adaptation of my favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe, The New York Times Chocolate Chip Cookies. Peanut butter is added to the batter, and a trio of add-ins are included in the batter – peanut butter chips, milk chocolate chips and chopped peanut butter cups. Seriously, I don’t think these could get any better.
I made these a few days before we left for the beach; I kept a few cookies out for nibbling, and wrapped and froze the rest. I took the bags straight out of the freezer and into the car when we left, and those cookies were gone by the second day at the beach. They were a huge hit and I was half-tempted to track down some baking supplies so I could make them again while we were away. The relaxing effect of the ocean swayed me and I didn’t bake anything, but I am seriously craving those cookies now! I foresee a Monday project in my future…
If you are even the most fair-weather peanut butter fan, you owe it to yourself to make these cookies. You’re going to fall in cookie love; just make sure to stash a few in the freezer for emergencies! :)
One year ago: Katharine Hepburn Brownies
Two years ago: Hummingbird Cupcakes
Three years ago: White Sangria
Four years ago: Parmesan & Thyme Crackers
Salted Peanut Cup Chocolate Chip Cookies
Ingredients
- 8½ ounces (240.97 g) bread flour, (2 cups )
- 8½ ounces (240.97 g) cake flour, (2 cups + 2 tablespoons )
- 1½ teaspoons (1.5 teaspoons) baking powder
- 1½ teaspoons (1.5 teaspoons) salt
- 1¼ teaspoons (1.25 teaspoons) baking soda
- 1¼ cups (283.75 g) unsalted butter, at room temperature
- ½ cup (129 g) creamy peanut butter
- 10 ounces (283.5 g) light brown sugar, (1⅓ cups )
- 8 ounces (226.8 g) granulated sugar, (1 cup + 2 tablespoons )
- 2 eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1½ cups (67.5 g) mini peanut butter cups, halved, (8-ounce)
- ¾ cup (135 g) milk chocolate chips
- ¾ cup (127.5 g) peanut butter chips
- Fleur de sel, for sprinkling
Instructions
- Whisk both flours, the baking powder, salt, and baking soda together in a medium bowl; set aside.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter and peanut butter together on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes, stopping to scrape down the sides of the bowl as necessary. Add both sugars and continue beating on medium speed until very light, about 3 to 4 minutes.
- Mix in the eggs, one at a time, until well combined, then beat in the vanilla. Reduce the mixer speed to low and gradually add the dry ingredients, mixing just until combined. Using a rubber spatula, stir in the chocolate chips, peanut butter chips and peanut butter cups by hand until evenly distributed.
- Press plastic wrap against dough and refrigerate for 24 to 36 hours. Dough may be used in batches, and can be refrigerated for up to 72 hours.
- When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper or a silicon baking mat.
- Divide the dough into 2½-ounce balls and place on the prepared baking sheet, leaving at least 2 inches of space between the cookies. Sprinkle lightly with sea salt then bake for about 15-17 minutes, or until the edges are set and golden brown.
- Transfer the baking sheet to a wire rack and allow the cookies to cool for a few minutes before removing the cookies to the rack to cool completely. Repeat with remaining dough (be sure to allow the baking sheet to cool between batches or use additional baking sheets). The cookies can be stored at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
Notes
Did you make this recipe?
Leave a review below, then snap a picture and tag @thebrowneyedbaker on Instagram so I can see it!
What does a 2-1/2 oz. ball look like in terms of size?
Not sure how I happened on to this particular recipe while I was poking around but I did and was interested in the use of bread flour and cake flour in the cookie dough (plus I LOVE a peanut butter cookie) so decided to give this one a try. Mixed up
The dough and waited 24 hours before baking last night. Thank goodness I only baked 8 cookies! 2 1/2 ozs makes a generously sized cookie – to which I am rarely opposed. I thought it was a perfect size for this particular cookie due to the 2 different kind of chips included and the chopped candy (I used a mix of milk chocolate and white chocolate mini pb cups). You want to make sure each cookie has a little of each so it needs to be a decent sized cookie! I didn’t know what to expect from the bread flour and cake flour mix vs. AP flour but we found the cookie to be a great texture! Crispy and chewy at the same time – which makes me very happy! So I baked 8 and we sampled while warm and then completely cool. There is not a wrong way to eat this cookie but I definitely prefer completely cool, my hubby prefers warm – but this is how it goes with most chocolatey cookies for us! I have about 24 dough balls in my freezer to bake “as needed” and I very much look forward to needing them! Thanks for another keeper! This recipe will be used again and again!