Chocolate Peanut Butter Swirl Cookies Recipe
Introduction
Chocolate Peanut Butter Swirl Cookies combine the rich flavors of cocoa and creamy peanut butter in one irresistible treat. These cookies are soft, chewy, and perfect for anyone who loves the classic flavor pairing. Baking them is simple and rewarding, making them a great choice for home cooks.
Ingredients
- 1 cup salted butter (at room temperature)
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 3/4 cup white sugar
- 1 cup smooth peanut butter
- 2 large eggs
- 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled)
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
Instructions
- Step 1: Preheat your oven to 350°F and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Step 2: In a large bowl, beat the butter, white sugar, and brown sugar together until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes.
- Step 3: Add the peanut butter and mix until well combined.
- Step 4: Mix in the eggs and vanilla extract thoroughly.
- Step 5: In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt.
- Step 6: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing just until no flour streaks remain.
- Step 7: Divide the dough into two equal halves, setting one half aside.
- Step 8: Add the cocoa powder to the remaining half and mix until fully incorporated.
- Step 9: To create the swirl, tear off pieces of each dough and press them together into a large ball. Tear the ball in half and press together a few more times to create a marbled effect.
- Step 10: Scoop the dough into 3-tablespoon-sized balls and place them on the prepared cookie sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart.
- Step 11: Bake for 11 minutes or until the bottoms are golden brown. The cookies will appear puffed but will flatten as they cool. Let them cool completely on the baking sheet before transferring.
Tips & Variations
- For a crunchier texture, chill the dough for 30 minutes before baking.
- Swap smooth peanut butter for chunky to add texture.
- Add a handful of chocolate chips or chopped peanuts for extra indulgence.
- If you prefer sweeter cookies, increase the sugar slightly or drizzle melted chocolate on top once cooled.
Storage
Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. To keep them fresh longer, refrigerate for up to 2 weeks or freeze for up to 3 months. Reheat by warming in the oven at 300°F for 5 minutes to refresh their softness.
How to Serve
Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.
FAQs
Can I use natural peanut butter instead of smooth peanut butter?
Yes, but natural peanut butter tends to be thinner and oilier, which may slightly affect the dough’s consistency. You might need to chill the dough longer to make it easier to handle.
How do I prevent the cookies from spreading too much?
Make sure your butter is at room temperature but not too soft or melted. Also, chilling the dough before baking helps prevent excessive spreading and keeps the cookie shape intact.
Print
Chocolate Peanut Butter Swirl Cookies Recipe
- Total Time: 26 minutes
- Yield: About 24 cookies 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
These Chocolate Peanut Butter Swirl Cookies combine the rich flavors of smooth peanut butter and deep cocoa in a delightful swirled cookie. Soft and chewy with a perfect balance of sweetness and slight saltiness, these cookies are easy to make and perfect for any chocolate and peanut butter lover.
Ingredients
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup salted butter, at room temperature
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 3/4 cup white sugar
- 1 cup smooth peanut butter
- 2 large eggs
- 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Dry Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large bowl, beat the room temperature butter, white sugar, and brown sugar together until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. This will ensure a creamy and airy base.
- Add Peanut Butter: Incorporate the smooth peanut butter into the creamed mixture and mix until well combined, creating a rich peanut butter base.
- Mix in Eggs and Vanilla: Add the eggs and vanilla extract, mixing until fully blended to contribute moisture and flavor.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt to evenly distribute the leavening and seasonings.
- Mix Dry into Wet: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet peanut butter mixture, stirring just until no flour streaks remain to avoid overmixing and tough cookies.
- Divide Dough: Split the dough into two equal portions, setting one half aside for plain peanut butter dough.
- Add Cocoa Powder: To the remaining half of the dough, add the cocoa powder and mix thoroughly until a uniform chocolate dough is formed.
- Swirl Doughs Together: Rip off portions of each dough and press them together to form a large ball, then tear and press the ball several times to create a beautiful chocolate and peanut butter swirl pattern without fully blending them.
- Form Cookies: Scoop the swirled dough into approx 3 tablespoon-sized balls and place them 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheet to allow room for spreading.
- Bake: Bake the cookies for about 11 minutes or until the bottoms are golden brown. The cookies will look puffed up initially but will flatten as they cool.
- Cool: Allow the cookies to cool completely on the baking sheet before transferring to a wire rack or serving to ensure they set properly and maintain their texture.
Notes
- Room temperature butter is crucial for proper creaming and cookie texture.
- Do not overmix the dough once the flour is added to keep cookies tender.
- Use parchment paper for easy cleanup and to prevent cookies from sticking.
- If desired, chilling the dough for 30 minutes can help control spreading but is not necessary.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 11 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Chocolate Peanut Butter Swirl Cookies, peanut butter cookies, chocolate swirl cookies, chewy cookies, easy cookie recipe, homemade cookies
