Description
Delightfully festive Chocolate Peanut Butter Reindeer Cookies combine rich cocoa, creamy peanut butter, and melty chocolate chips for a perfect holiday treat. These soft and chewy cookies bake up with a chocolatey base, enhanced by the nutty flavor of peanut butter, making them irresistible and fun to decorate for the season.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ¼ tsp salt
Wet Ingredients
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- ¾ cup creamy peanut butter
Sugars
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup packed brown sugar
Mix-ins
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, unsweetened cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt until well combined.
- Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened unsalted butter together with the granulated sugar and packed brown sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy.
- Add Peanut Butter and Eggs: Mix the creamy peanut butter into the butter and sugar mixture until smooth. Then, beat in eggs one at a time, making sure each egg is fully incorporated before adding the next.
- Combine Wet and Dry Mixtures: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing just until combined to avoid overworking the dough.
- Fold in Chocolate Chips: Gently fold in the semi-sweet chocolate chips to distribute them evenly throughout the dough.
- Shape and Bake: Drop tablespoon-sized portions of dough onto the prepared baking sheets spaced about 2 inches apart. Bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes or until the edges are set but centers remain soft.
- Cool and Decorate: Let the cookies cool completely on the baking sheets before decorating with icing and edible eyes to create festive reindeer faces.
Notes
- For best results, ensure the butter is softened but not melted before creaming with sugars.
- Room temperature eggs help the batter mix more evenly and create a better texture.
- Do not overmix the dough once the dry ingredients are added, to keep cookies tender.
- If desired, substitute peanut butter with a nut-free alternative for allergies.
- Use parchment paper or silicone baking mats to prevent sticking and for easy cleanup.
- Cool completely before decorating to prevent icing from melting.
