Small Batch Peanut Butter Cookies {With Chocolate Chips}

Easy, soft and chewy small batch peanut butter cookies recipe, homemade with simple ingredients. Full of chocolate chips and browned butter.

*Thank you Silk for sponsoring today's post so that I can share this recipe for small batch peanut cookies with all of you. As always, all opinions are mine.*

I think cookies must be the ultimate comfort food out there. Don't get me wrong! I love cake but if I am ever having a rough day, I bake cookies instead of cakes. Maybe it's because they are faster to make and even easter to eat. This recipe is different than my Classic Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe but still tastes incredible! If you are looking for another small batch treat, be sure to try these Small Batch Sugar Cookies (Cut Out Cookies).

How to make easy small batch peanut butter cookies recipe from scratch?

1. Cream- Peanut butter, browned butter, brown sugar until lightly and fluffy. 
2. Mix in- Egg yolk and vanilla extract.
3. Add- Flour, oats, baking soda and mix until just combined.
4. Stir in- Chocolate chips.
5. Cover and chill dough- In fridge for about 20 minutes.
6. Scoop- Out small portions of the dough to make 5 balls.
7. Place- Them on a lined cookie tray.
8. Bake- At 350 degrees F for 10-12 minutes.
9. Remove- From oven and let them cool in the tray.

How to brown butter? 

In a small frying pan or pot, place butter and turn the stove on to a medium high heat. Be sure to stir and watch the butter so that it doesn't burn. You don't want that! However, browned butter is used in baking, because it adds a more nutty flavor and enhances the appearance as well.

Why are my cookies dry? Why are my cookies crumbly and falling apart?

This typically happens if the ingredients haven't been measured correctly, particularly adding too much flour. Before baking, if you see that the dough is too dry, you can mix in milk a little at a time until the dough is a better consistency.

Why are my cookies flat?

There's a few things that can happen to make cookies go flat. One is inaccurate measurements, so be sure to accurately measure! The other thing you need to watch is to chill the dough, because otherwise the cookies will spread out flat on the pan.

Variations for best small batch peanut butter chocolate chip cookies

Top them- With nuts, like pistachios or crushed peanuts, chocolate ganache, caramel sauce, preserves, more chocolate chips, toffee bits, crushed candy, or shredded coconut. The possibilities are endless! Have fun with it.

Dip them- In melted milk chocolate either fully or halfway. You can also try dipping in semi-sweet or white chocolate.

Fill them- Make cookie sandwiches by placing some yummy frosting in between two cookies

• Chocolate Ganache Frosting
• Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting
• Marshmallow Frosting Recipe
• White Chocolate Buttercream Frosting

Change their size- I made 5 regular sized cookies but you can make 4 large ones. Just be aware that baking time will obviously be longer.

Add in- Nuts, such as chopped pistachios or peanuts, dried fruit, such as cranberries or bananas, shredded coconut, and more. Just keep watch when cooking, because adding these things may change cook time.

Tips and techniques for small batch cookies

Peanut butter brand- Depending on the brand of peanut butter used, more flour may need to be added. Start with 4 tablespoon flour +1 tablespoon oats, and then adjust accordingly. Natural peanut butters without any other additives usually have a much thinner consistency.

Quick oats vs. old fashioned oats- Must use quick oats because otherwise your cookie will not have the right texture since the old fashioned oats are larger and take longer to cook.

Creamy vs Chunky peanut butter- I really recommend creamy for a better texture, but you can also use chunky, if you prefer.

Browned butter vs. Regular butter- Believe it or not, there is a difference! This is a baking "secret" that adds flavor and a special nuttiness to your cookies that you just can't get with regular butter.

Use unsalted butter- Because you don't cookies that taste too salty.

Chill dough- Because it make it easier to handle and prevent over-spreading during baking.

Don’t use whole egg- Because it will change the consistency and texture. Egg whites have a foaming effect but the yolk allows emulsification to take place.

How do you know cookies are done baking?- You can tell when the edges are firm, cookies are golden brown, and the centers are slightly soft.

Don’t over-mix dough- Because then the cookies will rise and fall, meaning you will have flat, crispy cookies.

Don’t remove cookies from pan until they cool fully- Because the residual heat continues to cook them to perfection. Plus, they can break when they are so soft. As they cool, they become firmer.

Add a little more chocolate- Stick a few more chocolate chips on top of the warm cookies before they cool for a beautiful appearance. 

Optional step- When the cookies cool down completely, spread some chocolate ganache on top of each cookie and toss some pistachios and shredded coconut.

Storage for soft and chewy cookies

Room Temperature- Leftovers can be stored in a cookie jar at room temperature for up to 3 days.

Fridge- Place cookies in a sealed container and keep for up to 5 days.

More peanut butter desserts

• Peanut Butter and Jelly Thumbprint Cookies
• Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies
• Easy Peanut Butter Cookies
• Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies (Soft and Chewy)
• Peanut Butter Chocolate Bark (4 Ingredients)
• Peanut Butter Fudge Recipe (3 Ingredients)
• Easy Peanut Butter Blossoms Recipe
• No Bake Peanut Butter Bars

I was watching the Oscars yesterday and dunking these cookies in a glass of Nutchello and it was pure bliss. Have you guys tried it? It's sooooo good! There are a few flavors available but I am crazy  about the dark chocolate and walnut flavored one. It's rich and creamy and has less than a 100 calories per serving and pairs perfectly with these nutty and chewy cookies. Moreover, it also has no artificial colors or saturated fats and is very refreshing, when poured over ice!

Furthermore, it works great in this Chocolate Ganache Frosting. I replaced half the heavy cream for this drink. Then, I topped a few cookies with this frosting, tossed some shredded coconut and pistachios and they were beyond amazing!

Recipe