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Alright, I don’t mean to brag (okay, maybe a little), but this peanut butter chocolate chip cookie recipe is the bomb! It’s ridiculously easy, and the results? Absolute salty-sweet, crunchy-chewy perfection. Heaven in every bite. Whether you're searching for the ultimate chocolate chip cookie with peanut butter recipe or just a way to elevate your dessert game, you’re going to love this one!

Now, buckle up, because today’s journey is taking us to Alabama—with a detour through Vermont and California. Don’t worry, it’s a quick trip.

The Cookbook That Started It All

When I was young and newly married, the women on my mom’s side of the family compiled a few precious, handwritten cookbooks filled with their favorite “secret” recipes. My Gram gifted me one for Christmas back in 1976. That was—well, let’s just say a while ago. The recipes in that book are even older, as most of the contributors—my grandmother, great-grandmothers, and great-aunts—have long since passed. Thankfully, their culinary wisdom lives on, as do my mom and cousin, who help keep those memories alive.

Meet Mrs. Booth’s Peanut Butter Cookies

Tucked into that cookbook is a gem from my great Gramma B in California: Mrs. Booth’s Peanut Butter Cookies, dated 1925. Nearly a century ago! But who was Mrs. Booth? I have no idea. There’s no Booth in the family tree, and Google turned up zilch. Whoever she was, she knew how to bake one heck of a cookie.

The recipe itself is sparse—just a list of ingredients and the vague directive to “cream everything, a lot.” No yield, no oven temp, no bake time. I figured, cookies are cookies, right? I took a shot with the standard 350°F for about 15 minutes. They came out perfect—crispy edges and a chewy center. My mouth is watering just thinking about them.

The Ultimate Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie

Being me, I had to tweak it. First, I toned down the creaming time; going all-in with “light and fluffy” resulted in cookies that spread everywhere. Three to four minutes worked just fine. I also chilled the dough for a couple of hours, which helped them hold their shape.

Then came the upgrades. I used super crunchy peanut butter because, let’s face it, nuts in cookies are amazing. And chocolate chips? A game-changer. Salty peanut butter paired with sweet chocolate—what’s not to love? Thus, the Ultimate Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie was born—a delicious bridge between Mrs. Booth’s timeless recipe and my modern tweaks. I like to think both Mrs. Booth and Gramma B would approve. This peanut butter chocolate chip cookie recipe has become a family favorite and is always requested at gatherings.

A Brief History of Peanut Butter Cookies

No recipe is complete without a little history. Around 1925, in Alabama (told you we’d get there), George Washington Carver compiled a cookbook featuring three peanut cookie recipes. He was promoting peanuts as a crop after the boll weevil devastated cotton. Clearly, cookies are a powerful motivator—they might’ve even changed agriculture!

By the 1930s, peanut butter started making its way into cookie recipes, and the classic crisscross fork pattern followed. It was a practical solution for flattening dense dough. But don’t worry, no forks needed here. This dough isn’t dense, and fork lines don’t mix well with chocolate chips. I simply press the dough balls into discs, and the oven takes care of the rest. If you’re looking for a chocolate chip cookie with peanut butter recipe that’s a little easier to work with, this is it!

A Few Quick Tips

A Few Quick Tips

• Space out your cookies. Only put eight dough balls on a sheet—these cookies like to spread!

• Assemble your ingredients ahead of time (mise en place). It saves you from realizing halfway through that you’re out of peanut butter. Trust me on this one.

And there you have it—a recipe that’s equal parts history, nostalgia, and indulgence. Bake a batch and taste the love that’s been passed down for generations. Whether you’re a longtime fan of peanut butter treats or just discovering the magic of this chocolate chip cookie with peanut butter recipe, I hope it brings you as much joy as it has brought my family.