Description
Peanut Butter Valentines Day Cookies: Irresistibly chewy treats with creamy peanut butter and rich chocolate chunks. Quick, easy, and perfect for sharing!
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup (250g) creamy peanut butter
- ½ cup (115g) unsalted butter, softened
- ½ cup (100g) granulated sugar
- ½ cup (100g) light brown sugar, packed
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 ½ cups (190g) all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup (90g) red, pink, and white M&Ms or Valentine’s themed candies
- ¼ cup (45g) semi-sweet chocolate chips
- Optional: 2-3 tablespoons red or pink colored sugar for decoration
Instructions
- Step 1: Prepare the Cookie Dough In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and peanut butter until completely smooth, about 2 minutes on medium speed. Add both granulated and brown sugars, beating for another 3 minutes until light and fluffy. This extended creaming process incorporates air for a tender texture. Mix in the egg and vanilla extract until fully incorporated. In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt, then gradually add this dry mixture to the wet ingredients on low speed. Stop mixing as soon as the dough comes together to prevent toughness.
- Step 2: First Chilling Period Form the dough into a disc, wrap tightly in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. This initial chilling makes the dough much easier to roll and helps develop flavor. While waiting, prepare your baking sheets with parchment paper and locate your heart-shaped cookie cutters.
- Step 3: Roll and Cut Cookies Place the chilled dough between two sheets of parchment paper and roll to a consistent ¼-inch thickness. Use heart-shaped cookie cutters of your preferred size to cut shapes, maximizing dough usage by cutting close together. Transfer the heart shapes to your prepared baking sheets using a thin spatula, spacing them about 2 inches apart. Gather scraps, re-roll, and cut additional cookies until all dough is used.
- Step 4: Second Chilling and Decorating Return the cookie-laden baking sheets to the refrigerator for 20 minutes while preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). This second chill ensures your Peanut Butter Valentines Day Cookies maintain their perfect heart shape during baking. Just before baking, gently press some of your Valentine’s candies or colored sugar into the tops of the cookies.
- Step 5: Bake and Final Decoration Bake for 9-11 minutes until the edges are just set but the centers still look slightly underdone. They’ll continue cooking on the hot baking sheet. Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack. While still warm, add any additional decorations like chocolate drizzle or extra candies so they slightly melt and adhere to the cookies.
Notes
Fresh ingredients will always yield the best flavor results.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 13g
- Sodium: 105mg
- Fat: 11g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 15mg