Chocolate Peanut Butter Chip Cookies are rich, soft, and chewy cookies made with instant chocolate pudding mix. The pudding mix gives the dough a tender texture and deep chocolate flavor, while Reese’s peanut butter chips add the perfect sweet and salty peanut butter bite.
Chocolate and peanut butter are a classic combination, and these cookies make the most of both flavors. Many peanut butter chip cookie recipes are tasty, but they can sometimes bake up thin, crisp, or a little too dry. This version is designed for anyone who loves a thick, soft chocolate cookie with chewy centers and plenty of peanut butter chips in every bite.
The secret ingredient is instant chocolate pudding mix. It blends right into the cookie dough and helps create a soft, bakery-style texture without complicated steps. Combined with cocoa powder, brown sugar, butter, and vanilla, it makes the cookies taste extra chocolatey while keeping them moist and tender after baking.
CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER CHIP COOKIES
These Chocolate Peanut Butter Chip Cookies are made with everyday cookie ingredients, plus dry chocolate pudding mix for extra softness. The dough comes together quickly with butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar, eggs, vanilla, cocoa powder, flour, and peanut butter chips. Once baked, the cookies are rich, chewy, and full of chocolate-peanut butter flavor.
They are a great choice for cookie trays, bake sales, after-school treats, holidays, or any time you want a simple homemade cookie that feels a little more special. The peanut butter chips stand out beautifully against the dark chocolate cookie dough, making them look just as good as they taste.
TIPS FOR MAKING THE BEST COOKIES
- Do not overmix the cookie dough. Mix the flour in only until it is combined so the cookies stay soft.
- Use softened butter, not melted butter. Melted butter can cause the cookies to spread too much and become flat or crisp.
- Measure the flour carefully. Too much flour can make cookies dry, while too little flour can make the dough too sticky and cause spreading.
- Bake the cookies for the minimum recommended time. The centers may look slightly underbaked, but they will continue to set as they cool on the baking sheet.
- Let the cookies rest on the baking sheet for 2-3 minutes before moving them to a wire rack.
- Store the cooled cookies in an airtight container to keep them soft and chewy.
- Avoid storing soft cookies with crisp cookies, because the textures can affect each other.
- Use light-colored aluminum baking sheets when possible. Dark baking sheets can cause cookies to brown too quickly on the bottom.
- Parchment paper or a silicone baking mat helps the cookies release easily and keeps the cookie sheets clean.
INGREDIENTS IN CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER CHIP COOKIES
Butter – Use butter that has been softened to room temperature. It should be soft enough to cream with the sugars but not melted.
Brown sugar – Light brown sugar adds moisture, sweetness, and a slightly caramel-like flavor. Make sure it is fresh and soft.
Sugar – Granulated sugar adds sweetness and helps create the right cookie texture.
Eggs – Two large eggs help bind the dough and give the cookies structure.
Vanilla – Vanilla extract rounds out the chocolate flavor and makes the cookies taste richer.
Instant chocolate pudding mix – A small 3.9-ounce box of dry instant chocolate pudding mix adds chocolate flavor and helps make the cookies soft and chewy.
Cocoa powder – Two tablespoons of cocoa powder deepen the chocolate flavor.
Baking soda – Baking soda helps the cookies rise and spread properly. For best results, use fresh baking soda.
Cornstarch – A tablespoon of cornstarch helps create a softer cookie texture.
Salt – A small amount of salt balances the sweetness and enhances the chocolate and peanut butter flavors.
Flour – All-purpose flour works well in this recipe. Bread flour or pastry flour may also be used.
Reese’s Peanut Butter Chips – One package of peanut butter chips adds creamy peanut butter flavor throughout the cookies. If needed, you can use chocolate chips, baking bits, or candy pieces instead.
HOW TO MAKE PEANUT BUTTER CHIP CHOCOLATE COOKIES
Preheat the oven to 350°.
In a large mixing bowl, cream the softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar together for about 2 minutes, until the mixture is smooth and creamy. Add the eggs and vanilla, then continue mixing for another 2-3 minutes.
Add the dry chocolate pudding mix, cocoa powder, baking soda, cornstarch, and salt. Mix until the dry ingredients are fully incorporated.
Add the flour and mix just until combined. Fold in the peanut butter chips, making sure they are evenly distributed throughout the dough.
Scoop the dough onto a prepared baking sheet, spacing the cookies about 2 inches apart. Line the baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat for easy cleanup and even baking.
Bake the cookies for 9 minutes. Let them cool on the baking sheet for 2-3 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
PEANUT BUTTER CHIP CHOCOLATE COOKIES
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter room temperature
- 1 cup brown sugar
- ½ cup sugar
- 2 eggs
- 2 tsp vanilla
- 1 3.9 oz box instant chocolate pudding mix
- 2 Tbsp cocoa powder
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 Tbsp cornstarch
- ½ tsp salt
- 2 ½ cups flour
- 1 pkg Reese’s Peanut Butter Chips
Instructions
-
Preheat the oven to 350°.
-
In a large bowl, cream the butter, brown sugar, and sugar together for 2 minutes. Add the eggs and vanilla, then mix for another 2-3 minutes.
-
Add the dry pudding mix, cocoa powder, baking soda, cornstarch, and salt. Mix until well combined.
-
Add the flour and mix just until combined. Fold in the peanut butter chips.
-
Scoop the dough onto a prepared cookie sheet, placing the cookies about 2 inches apart.
-
Bake for 9 minutes.
-
Cool on the baking sheet for 2-3 minutes, then transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.
Nutrition
HOW DO YOU SOFTEN BUTTER TO ROOM TEMPERATURE?
The easiest way to soften butter is to leave it at room temperature for a few hours before baking. Softened butter should give slightly when pressed but still hold its shape. It should not be oily, melted, or warm.
If you need to soften butter quickly, use the microwave carefully. Place the unwrapped butter in the microwave and heat it for about 6-7 seconds. Check it, then heat in short 5-second intervals as needed. Stop as soon as the butter is soft enough to mix. If your microwave has a defrost setting, that can also help soften butter more gently without melting it.
HOW DO I PREVENT MY COOKIES FROM GETTING FLAT?
- Make sure the dough has enough flour. If the dough feels overly sticky, add a small amount of flour.
- Do not use melted butter. Softened butter gives the cookies a better shape and texture.
- Cream the butter and sugars for 2-3 minutes. This step helps create a thicker, softer cookie.
- Preheat the oven before baking. Starting with the correct oven temperature helps the cookies bake evenly.
- Give the cookies enough space on the baking sheet so they can spread without touching.
WHAT IS THE EASIEST WAY TO GET PERFECTLY SHAPED COOKIES?
- Use a cookie scoop to portion the dough evenly. This helps every cookie bake at the same rate and keeps the size consistent.
- For smooth edges, place a round biscuit cutter or circle cookie cutter around each cookie immediately after baking and gently move it in a circular motion.
- Line the baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat so the cookies lift off easily without sticking or breaking.
These cookies are simple enough for everyday baking but special enough to share. The pudding mix keeps the texture soft, the cocoa adds rich chocolate flavor, and the peanut butter chips make each bite sweet, creamy, and satisfying. If you enjoy chocolate peanut butter desserts, this cookie recipe is an easy one to keep in your regular baking rotation.
MORE DELICIOUS CHOCOLATE AND PEANUT BUTTER RECIPES:
- Peanut Butter Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Reese’s Peanut Butter Cookies
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Candy
- Snickers Peanut Butter Cookies
- Best Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Cookies
- Fudge Peanut Butter Cookie Cups
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookie Cups
- Reese’s Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies
- Rice Krispie Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Cookies
- Chocolate Caramel Peanut Butter Poke Cake
- Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Brownies
Chocolate Peanut Butter Chip Cookies made with chocolate pudding mix are soft, chewy, and loaded with rich chocolate flavor and sweet peanut butter chips.