Chocolate

Salted Double Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies

October 23, 2009
4
8 Ratings
Photo by Julia Gartland
  • Serves about 3 1/2 dozen
Author Notes

I created these cookies one day when I was in serious need of chocolate, peanut butter, and salt. (Ladies, you know what I mean.) I definitely recommend using coarse sea salt on the cookies because it looks pretty and provides a punch of saltiness to contrast with the rich chocolate. - Food Blogga —Food Blogga

Test Kitchen Notes

This is the ultimate peanut butter cookie for chocolate lovers. The texture is reminiscent of the peanut butter cookie we all grew up on but with every detail refined -- the base is made with cocoa and you stir unsalted peanuts and semi-sweet chocolate chips (just the right amount of each so it's not overkill) and sprinkle coarse sea salt (we like Maldon) on top. As Food Blogga notes, don't use all-natural peanut butter or you won't get the same crumbly texture. We used Skippy. - A&M —The Editors

What You'll Need
Ingredients
  • 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup cocoa powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup butter, room temperature
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • 3/4 cup creamy peanut butter (not all natural)
  • 1/2 cup unsalted peanuts
  • 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • coarse sea salt for sprinkling cookies
Directions
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper.
  2. In a medium bowl, whisk flour, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
  3. In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar with an an electric mixer on medium-high speed. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Beat in peanut butter until just combined. Beat in dry ingredients until just combined. Stir in peanuts and chocolate chips.
  4. Drop 1 heaping tablespoon of cookie dough (I used a cookie scoop, but spoons are just fine) two inches apart (as they will spread). Top each cookie with a few sea salt crystals.
  5. Bake cookies for 12-14 minutes, until the edges are firm. It's OK if the centers are a tad soft. They'll firm up as they cool. Transfer to a wire rack to cool. Cool completely before storing in an air-tight container, for up to 5 days.
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53 Reviews

Sophia A. February 10, 2021
These cookies are super easy and fantastic, accessible to beginners. I recommend creaming the butter and sugar well for the base. I added flour until it started to come together like a dough, it looked a little more like a batter initially.

If you half the sugar, and keep the rest of the recipe as is, you end up with little peanut chocolate cookie-cake clouds. Highly recommend.
 
Tyler W. August 23, 2020
Very good! I happened to have all the ingredients (except for the peanuts which I left out) and they were great. Not too sweet, excellent. I did scorch the first batch a bit, 14 minutes was too long. I did 11 minutes on the next batch and they were perfect.
 
Erika H. May 8, 2019
These cookies are a big disappointment! Followed the recipe to the letter, but the first batch did not spread like they should. The second I pressed down like a normal peanut butter cookies, however, the chocolate overpowers the peanut butter and you can't taste it. Just another chocolate cookie. Will not make again.
 
Sara N. February 21, 2018
I baked these cookies according to the recipe, but without adding the peanuts or chocolate chips--it came out perfectly light and sweet!
 
Rachel D. December 9, 2014
These cookies will change your life. Even after I "veganized" them and made them GF they still came out AMAZING! That is a christmas miracle!
 
Kristen B. December 3, 2017
how did you veganize these?
 
ctgal August 14, 2020
What did you use to make it gf?
 
Mike February 23, 2014
These were great! I followed the recipe as stated and they came out perfectly. They didn't spread as much during baking as I had anticipated, but they were cooked perfectly and tasted delicious.
 
KarenSue August 3, 2013
Not sure what I did wrong, but I used a cookie scoop, and the shape never changed. Ended up as very mounded cookies, not flat at all. They seem more like brownie bites than cookies. Three teenage boys and a husband aren't devouring them, so that is never a good sign. The flavor is OK, but I don't like the mounded cookie at all. Oh well, worth a try!
 
Mrs. L. December 20, 2012
Awesome recipe!!!!!! I added a little extra sea salt on top!! Yummy!!!!!!!!!
 
Greiser August 22, 2012
Made the cookies just as the recipe stated. They were awesome. Made one batch then had to make another to send to my daughter.
 
Cinnamonbark May 9, 2012
oooh, I wonder why natural peanut butter won't work! Hm...I wonder if it's because it doesn't have palm oil in it, which is great for baking. Maybe it's a peanut butter vs peanut butter 'spread' thing? (spread having palm oil in it and all...hm!) Just a thought!
 
judy October 28, 2018
Interesting thought about the palm oil. I would have automatically used natural peanut butter. I get mine fresh ground each week. I wonder if adding a couple of tbsp butter would help with the dough being less stiff so they spread when baking. Hmmmm
 
aepk April 11, 2012
I omitted the peanuts. i would say it turned out okay, but nothing spectacular. i think i'd be more inclined to just add cocoa to my fav peanutbutter cookie recipe and call it a day.
 
Cals November 29, 2011
All the peanut butter you could want and then some! So yummy!
 
Dr. S. November 14, 2011
Made these exactly as written, except that I subbed peanut butter chips for peanuts. SO, SO, SO GOOD!!!
 
j.palimpsest October 23, 2011
We absolutely loved these cookies.
 
the M. August 30, 2011
These are now known as Irene cookies in our house. Made a batch before we lost power and enjoyed them immensely while power was out for 3 days. Delicious blend of chocolate and peanut butter with delightful sweet salty taste. If you haven't made these yet, don't waste anymore time!!!!!!
 
19dax72 August 10, 2011
wow! .........yummmmmmmmmmyyyyyyyyyyy!
 
Ccchocolate July 4, 2011
Yummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm i made it and it went down in a while!
 
sexyLAMBCHOPx June 25, 2011
This "lady" understands right now! Love the crunchy salt on top. Nice!
 
Ccchocolate June 8, 2011
Made them last week and they just VaNIShED!!!!!
 
chef M. April 6, 2011
i love it..thanks a lot