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Thursday, April 30, 2009

Peanut Butter Cookies with Milk Chocolate Chunks



I feel like I have done a bit of an injustice here by always talking about chocolate, chocolate, chocolate.  To attempt to correct that, you may be wondering why I am here with something that, once again, has chocolate in it.  

I have a very good reason actually.  Okay, so the first one isn't really a reason, more of a justification, but there you go, nonetheless.  

These cookies don't just have chocolate... they have PEANUT BUTTER!  Ta Da!  Yes, I am well aware that was lame, but you know me and you know that is just the way I roll.


These Peanut Butter and Milk Chocolate Chunk Cookies are easy to make and ridiculously good.  The great thing is that the dough freezes and bakes really nicely right from the freezer, with only a couple of additional minutes added to the baking time.  Since this is probably one of the very first times that milk chocolate has ever made an appearance on my blog you may be surprised that it is what I used in these cookies.  Well, after the other Peanut Butter and Chocolate Cookies I made a while back, with the very dark chocolate, I decided to see the difference.  It was profound.  The milk chocolate compliments the peanut butter beautifully here, where, in the other cookies, the dark chocolate was really good, but somewhat overpowering.  The tip to NOT try to change the chocolate out came straight from the recipe, and for once I listened.  So, lesson learned, milk chocolate plays nicer with peanut butter here.

So, the REAL reason I am talking about chocolate again is that, since Mother's Day is coming up and all, the wonderful folks over at See's Candies offered to giveaway a $25 gift certificate to one of my lucky readers!  That is right!  I'm not just talking about chocolate, but now you have the chance to get $25 worth of the good stuff - of course, if you are generous and not begrudgingly greedy with chocolate like yours truly then you would actually use it to get something for a Mom in your life (and hey, maybe that is you!).

All you have to do to have a chance to win is to head over to See's website to get some great ideas for Mother's Day Gifts and tell me which is your favorite.  Contest will run until Saturday, 12 PM MST!



Peanut Butter Cookies with Milk Chocolate Chunks
SOURCE:  Baked

Note:  This dough needs to chill for at least 3 hours so plan your cravings accordingly.

Makes approx. 24 large cookies

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 cup granulated sugar, plus more for sprinkling
1 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar (the only change I made was to use light brown - it was all I had at the time, but can't wait to try with the dark)
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 cup creamy peanut butter 
6 ounces good milk chocolate, coarsely chopped

Sift the flour, baking soda and salt into a medium bowl and set aside.

In the bowl of a stand mixer with paddle attachment, beat the butter and sugars together until light and fluffy.  Scrape down the bowl and add the eggs, one at a time, beating until each one is incorporated.  The mixture will look light and fluffy.  Add the vanilla and the peanut butter and beat until just incorporated.

Add half of the flour mixture and mix for 15 seconds.  Add the remaining flour mixture and mix until just incorporated.

Using a spatula or wooden spoon, fold in the chocolate.  Cover the bowl tightly and refrigerate for at least 3 hours.

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.  Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.

Drop the dough by rounded tablespoons onto the prepared baking sheets at least 2 inches apart.  With the palm of your hand, or the flat bottom of a glass dipped in sugar, gently press each cookie down to barely flatten it - it will form a tall disk shape.

Sprinkle the tops of the cookies with a little granulated sugar and bake for 10 to 12 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through the baking time, until the tops of the cookies just begin to brown.

Remove the pan from the oven and cool on a wire rack for 5 minutes.  Use a spatula to transfer the individual cookies to the rack to cool completely (although they are also delicious warm).

The cookies can be stored, in an airtight container, for up to 3 days.

NOTE:  Since this makes so many cookies I shaped out all the dough (including pressing it down slightly) on a lined baking sheet (don't worry about spacing for freezing) and placed it into the freezer until they were frozen solid.  You can then move them to a freezer gallon ziptop bag and bake a few at a time when you want them.  Straight from the freezer just add a couple of minutes to your baking.



38 comments:

Mermaid Sews said...

Yummy, I have been craving a pb + chocolate (lactose free) dessert. Like the freezer option, although with all the baking I do, we never NEED to make a new dessert!

amanda said...

Oh yum! Peanut butter cookies are the only cookies my husband will eat but sometimes just plain PB gets boring, you know? I'll have to sneak some chocolate in next time. ;)

If I won the gift certificate, I would buy my mom the Spring Keepsake Box and then hang out with her afterwards so that maybe she would share. My mom would adore that box for all her little trinkets.

chocolatechic said...

The nuts and chews or the toffee.

Erin said...

I just love peanut butter and chocolate- it's the best combination ever! I'd have to go with the nuts and chews :)

Brenda said...

i would love to get some dark chocolates for my mother and mother in law!!! By the way, Holly is my favorite person in the world!!! I love her to death!!!!!!!!

EmmyJMommy said...

I am lovin' the peanut butter & chocolate chunk cookies!!!! If I won the gift certificate I would have to get the "Travel Mug with Little Pops"....Coffee with Latte Pops! Yum!

Forsythe said...

I grew up with SEes candy and milk choc nuts and chews will always be my favorite!

carrie said...

I could really use a bordeaux right about now.

Pam said...

The spring keepsake box is lovely; I really like the blue/violet colors!

Anonymous said...

I think I'd have to get my mom the walnut bars. She likes that kinda of stuff.
These cookies? Yum! Maybe that's what I'll make her if I don't get the certificate lol :)

VK said...

I love the blue flower box, but I want "nuts and chews."
Yum...PB and Chocolate cookies!

Anne said...

Wow, those cookies look amazing! And the See's Spring Keepsake Box is so cute, and looks delicious!

Christa said...

Just about anything that comes from See's Candies is to die for. My mom and I love the same things- so I would like a box of nuts and chews! YUM!

Memória said...

ohhh, yeah. These are cookies are so good! I first made them (a half batch) when I saw them on Smitten Kitchen. I then made them again a week or two later. I learned my lesson the second time around and made the full batch and froze the dough in the freezer like you did.

For the giveaway, I would love to do a custom mix or a Thank you box. Thanks for the giveaway!

Aisha said...

Thanks for the great recipe, peanut butter cookies are the ONLY kind of cookie my overly picky husband will eat!

If I was giving a gift to my mom, it would be the keepsake box. But since I'm a mom too, if I were to receive see's I would hope to get some scotch kisses and tipperary :) Yummo!

LaDue & Crew said...

YUM, on both the cookies and the giveaway! My fav has always been See's dark chocolate nuts and chews, especially the little rectangular almond bars with the bottoms dipped in chocolate- to die for!! Their flowered boxes are adorable, too!

Cristine said...

Your cookies look great! I just made and posted these last week and I am IN LOVE with this recipe! These cookies are so good! Your post makes me want to bake up another batch. YUM!

Manggy said...

Sigh, I don't think I'm eligible for the giveaway... But I did want to drop by and say you can post about chocolate all you want, and it's even better when there's PB involved! :)

Snooky doodle said...

wow all those boxes are so nice and yummy :) The ribbon one is my favourite though. Pity I don t think I can participate :( Anyways those cookies look delicious and I have just made some peanut butter and chocolate cookies too. Next time I ll try milk chocolate though :)

jlj914 said...

Your peanut butter cookies look absolutely scrumptious! I can't wait to try them. Everything at See's Candy looking delicious, but I would have to choose the Pink Keepsake Box, because I'm a "pink" kinda gal.

Amanda said...

Isn't it weird how some ingredients come at you all at once? What I mean is that chocolate and peanut butter combos have been appearing on my screen lately and now I have a major craving for them! These look delicious!

Cassie Leeper said...

The cookies look delicious, and what a great idea to freeze them! I will definitely have to try that - easy to pull out when unexpected guests arrive.

If I won the gift certificate, I would buy my mom the springtime truffles because they are so pretty and dainty :-)

Jacque said...

Chocolate and peanut butter go together like left and right hands. You certainly don't have to apologize for chocolate if it's with peanut butter.

These look delicious. I'll bet the dough was good too!

As for the See's, it all looks good! I'd like to try the toffee-ettes.

grace said...

your cookies look particularly soft, which is a quality i enjoy--nicely done!
meanwhile, i would never turn down any see's candy but i'm most in love with the dark chocolate coconut piece. my stars above. :)

anissa ferguson said...

These cookies are definitely ones I will try, If I won I would get my mom the spring keepsake box and my dad the sugarfree peanut brittle(so he doesn'y eat too many of moms treats)

Katrina said...

Ooh, the cookies--they look de-licious! I love milk chocolate with pb!
About See's. Well, my mom "gave up" chocolate about 25 years ago. She felt she was seriously addicted and quit eating it cold turkey. Has never had ANY since. I love her for that. BUT, since she doesn't eat chocolate, I had to look at the things I (a mom!) would like. I'm all about nuttiness, so I would love the box of Nuts & Chews!

Janelle said...

Well, if I were going to use the gift certificate for my mom (which I won't because she can't have chocolate), I'd get her the pink keepsake box, because she loves pink.

Jen said...

Mmmm, maybe the P-Nut crunch? Lovely!

Anonymous said...

Your cookies look delicious! A one-pound box of nuts and chews is always good. YUM.

The Queen of Quite a Lot said...

I don't do sharing with yummy things like chocolate. Since I've never had See's, I'd probably do a variety box, something nutty and creamy and truffles. Yum! Those cookies look great. I wish DD wasn't allergic to peanut butter.

Emily said...

I love the keepsake box! Of course, I would probably get my mom the mini one and then get myself their solid chocolate hearts. They are my absolute favorite chocolate of all time!!! And I may even share a little bit with my husband and kids :)

Susie Buetow said...

I went to See's and just love that spring keepsake box and of course the chocolates inside! I"ve only had See's one time. That was in Salt Lake City when I was there for a convention! I never thought to see if they had a website! Your cookies are making me want to bake some right now! I can't believe I'd have to wait 3 hours to chill! haha Guess that would give my craving time to settle down!

Jen said...

Mmmm...Sees is a family favorite here. I think my mom would love the Pink Keepsake box. If I win I'll even give it to her! ;)

The Duo Dishes said...

Pb and chocolate were made for each other. Delicious.

Oh, and we don't even need to see the See's site. It's the milk choc brittle all the way.

Unknown said...

Oh...I LOVE Sees! The only time I ever buy their stuff is when the have a display at the mall during Christmas. The Spring Time Truffles are just sooo pretty.

I just discovered your blog - it's so fun. I will be back for sure!

Eva said...

I would get the nuts and chews or the truffles and if they had them your cookies. The cookies look so tasty. I usually make big batches of cookie dough and shape and freeze the dough. So anytime a cookie craving comes along it's just a few minutes.....

Reva Skie said...

I would go with one of the nuts and chews assortment, funny how that is the seeming favorite selection here. I have a sickness for chocolate covered caramels. *Sigh*

Anonymous said...

I saw these cookies on Katrina's blog and had to stop by here and see the recipe. These cookies sound fantastic!

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