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Kitchen Equipment Needed
- Mixing bowl
- Electric mixer (handheld or stand mixer)
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Spatula or wooden spoon
- Baking sheet
- Parchment paper or silicone baking mat
Step-by-Step Directions
1. Preheat the Oven
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. This prevents the cookies from sticking and makes for easy cleanup.
2. Cream the Butter and Sugars
In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter, peanut butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar using an electric mixer. Beat on medium speed for about 2-3 minutes, until the mixture is light and fluffy.
3. Add the Egg and Vanilla
Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until fully incorporated. The dough should be smooth and creamy at this point.
4. Combine the Dry Ingredients
In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined. Be careful not to overmix the dough.
5. Stir in the Chocolate Chips
Using a spatula or wooden spoon, gently fold the chocolate chips into the dough, ensuring they’re evenly distributed.
6. Form the Cookies
Using a cookie scoop or tablespoon, drop rounded balls of dough onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart. For flatter cookies, you can gently press down on the dough balls with the back of a fork or spoon.
7. Bake the Cookies
Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are set and the tops are lightly golden. The centers may look slightly underdone, but they will firm up as the cookies cool.
8. Cool and Enjoy
Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. Enjoy warm, with a cold glass of milk, or store them for later!
Notes and Tips
- Peanut Butter: Use creamy peanut butter for a smooth texture, but if you like a little extra crunch, feel free to use chunky peanut butter instead. Just avoid using natural peanut butter, as it tends to be too oily for baking.
- Chocolate Chips: Semi-sweet chocolate chips work well for balance, but you can use milk chocolate or dark chocolate chips depending on your preference. You can also add white chocolate chips or peanut butter chips for extra flavor.
- Cookie Dough: If you want to make these cookies ahead of time, you can refrigerate the dough for up to 24 hours. Chilled dough may require a couple of extra minutes of baking time.
- Freezing Cookies: These cookies freeze beautifully! After baking and cooling, place them in an airtight container or freezer bag and freeze for up to 3 months. You can also freeze the unbaked dough balls and bake them as needed.
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