Velvety Brown Butter Double Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Cookies Recipe

Nutty Magic: Brown Butter Double Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Cookies Recipe

Warm, gooey cookies packed with brown butter double chocolate peanut butter cup magic beckon from the kitchen, promising an irresistible treat that’ll make taste buds dance.

Melted chocolate swirls through rich, nutty dough studded with chunks of decadent peanut butter cups.

Crisp edges give way to a soft, chewy center that melts in your mouth.

The brown butter adds a deep, caramel-like depth that transforms ordinary cookies into something extraordinary.

Layers of chocolate and peanut butter create a symphony of flavors that sing with each delightful bite.

These cookies aren’t just dessert – they’re a celebration of pure indulgence waiting to happen.

Grab your mixing bowl and get ready to bake pure happiness.

How to Make Brown Butter Double Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Cookies

  • Brown Butter Magic

Melt butter in a pan over medium heat. Whisk constantly until it turns golden and smells nutty. Watch carefully to prevent burning. Transfer to a bowl and chill in the freezer until solid.

  • Cookie Dough Foundation

Mix chilled brown butter with sugars until creamy. Add eggs and vanilla, beating until fluffy. The mixture should look light and airy.

  • Dry Ingredient Blend

Combine flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt in a separate bowl. Gently mix dry ingredients into wet mixture. Fold in chocolate chips and peanut butter cup pieces.

  • Shaping Delights

Roll dough into small balls, spacing them on a lined baking sheet. Optional: Press extra chocolate chips and peanut butter cup pieces on top for visual appeal.

  • Baking Perfection

Bake at 350℉ for 10 minutes. Cookies should look slightly underdone. They’ll firm up while cooling. Let rest on baking sheet before transferring to a storage container.

  • Storage Wisdom

Keep cookies in a sealed container at room temperature. They’ll stay fresh and delicious for about a week.

Flavor Boosts & Twists for Brown Butter Double Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Cookies

  • Master the art of browning butter by watching its color and listening to its sizzle, ensuring a rich, nutty flavor that elevates the entire cookie experience.
  • Chill the browned butter thoroughly to create a dense, chewy cookie with crisp edges and a soft, gooey center that melts in your mouth.
  • Swap peanut butter cups with other chopped candy bars like Snickers or Reese's Pieces for a personalized twist that keeps everyone guessing.
  • Freeze unbaked cookie dough balls for up to 3 months, allowing you to enjoy fresh-baked cookies whenever a craving strikes without starting from scratch.
  • Sprinkle flaky sea salt on top of the warm cookies right after baking to create a stunning sweet-and-salty contrast that takes these chocolate gems to the next level.

Ways to Serve Brown Butter Double Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Cookies

  • Serve Up Sweet Satisfaction: Delightful Pairing Ideas
  • Milk Mate: Enjoy these decadent cookies alongside a cold glass of creamy milk to balance the rich chocolate and nutty flavors.
  • Dessert Companion: Complement the cookies with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream for an indulgent treat that melts in your mouth.
  • Coffee Break Bliss: Pair with a hot espresso or cappuccino to enhance the deep, nutty brown butter notes and chocolate intensity.
  • Gifting Delight: Package these cookies in a cute box with parchment paper for a homemade gift that will make friends and family swoon.

Storage Tips for Brown Butter Double Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Cookies

  • Maximize Freshness: Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature, ensuring they remain soft and delicious for up to 7 days.
  • Freeze for Later: Wrap individual cookie dough balls in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer-safe bag. Freeze up to 3 months for quick, fresh-baked treats anytime.
  • Quick Thaw Technique: Remove frozen dough balls 30 minutes before baking, allowing them to soften slightly at room temperature for perfect texture.
  • Prevent Staleness: Place a slice of bread in the cookie container to maintain moisture and keep cookies incredibly soft throughout the week.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 45 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 55 minutes

Calories: 200 kcal

Servings: 22

What You’ll Need for These Butter Cup Cookies

For Butter Base:
  • Brown Butter: Develops a rich, nutty flavor that transforms ordinary butter into a complex, caramel-like ingredient with deep aromatic notes.
  • Vanilla: Enhances the overall sweetness and adds a warm, comforting background flavor to complement the brown butter.
For Dry Ingredients:
  • All-Purpose Flour: Provides the structural foundation for the cookies, ensuring a perfect tender and chewy texture.
  • Cocoa Powder: Delivers intense chocolate depth and creates a deep, dark base for the cookie.
  • Baking Soda: Helps the cookies rise and spread, creating a light and soft cookie texture.
  • Salt: Balances the sweetness and intensifies the overall flavor profile of the cookies.
For Sweet and Mix-In Ingredients:
  • Brown Sugar, Granulated Sugar: Contribute moisture, sweetness, and help create a soft, chewy cookie with beautiful caramelized edges.
  • Eggs: Bind the ingredients together and add richness and structure to the cookie dough.
  • Chocolate Chips: Provide bursts of melty chocolate throughout the cookie for extra indulgence.
  • Peanut Butter Cups: Add creamy, salty-sweet chunks that create exciting flavor surprises in every bite.

Tools to Make Brown Butter Double Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Cookies Perfectly

  • Stand Mixer with Paddle Attachment: Essential for creaming butter and mixing dough thoroughly.
  • Medium Saucepan or Skillet: Perfect for browning butter evenly and developing rich flavor.
  • Heat-Safe Bowl: Needed to transfer and cool browned butter quickly.
  • Medium Mixing Bowl: Great for whisking dry ingredients separately.
  • Rubber Spatula: Helps fold dough and scrape down mixer sides.
  • Baking Sheet: Provides surface for baking cookies.
  • Parchment Paper or Silpat: Prevents cookies from sticking and ensures easy cleanup.
  • Whisk: Helps blend dry ingredients smoothly.
  • Measuring Cups and Spoons: Ensures precise ingredient amounts.
Print
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Velvety Brown Butter Double Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Cookies Recipe

Velvety Brown Butter Double Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Cookies Recipe


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4.6 from 21 reviews

  • Total Time: 55 minutes
  • Yield: 22 1x

Description

Homemade brown butter double chocolate peanut butter cup cookies blend rich chocolate, nutty brown butter, and creamy peanut butter cups into an irresistible treat. Cookie enthusiasts will savor each complex, indulgent bite of this classic dessert.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 12 tbsps (170 g) salted butter
  • ¾ cup (150 g) light brown sugar, loosely packed
  • ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar
  • 1 ½ cups (180 g) all-purpose flour
  • ¾ cup unsweetened natural cocoa powder
  • 2 large eggs, at room temperature
  • ½ cup dark chocolate chips, plus extra for topping
  • 1 cup quartered mini peanut butter cups (about 17 mini cups), plus extra for topping
  • 2 tsps vanilla extract
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • ½ tsp salt

Instructions

  1. Brown Butter Preparation: Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat (177°C), whisking continuously for 3-4 minutes until it transforms into a nutty, amber-hued liquid with delicate brown specks. Transfer immediately to a heat-safe bowl and chill in the freezer for 30 minutes until solidified.
  2. Oven Preparation: Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or silicone mat.
  3. Wet Ingredient Mixing: Cream chilled brown butter with brown and granulated sugars in a stand mixer until smooth and fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla extract, beating on medium speed until light and airy.
  4. Dry Ingredient Integration: Whisk flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt in a separate bowl. Gradually fold dry ingredients into wet mixture on low speed, avoiding overmixing.
  5. Dough Enhancement: Gently incorporate chocolate chips and chopped peanut butter cups, ensuring even distribution throughout the dough.
  6. Cookie Shaping: Scoop tablespoon-sized portions of dough, rolling into uniform balls and spacing 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheet. Optionally, decorate with additional chocolate chips and peanut butter cup pieces.
  7. Baking Process: Bake for 10 minutes, monitoring carefully to prevent overbaking. Cookies will continue setting during cooling.
  8. Cooling and Storage: Rest cookies on the baking sheet briefly before transferring to a wire rack. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.

Notes

  • Brown the Butter Carefully: Continuous whisking prevents burning and develops a rich, nutty flavor that elevates the entire cookie’s taste profile.
  • Chill Thoroughly: Freezing the brown butter ensures proper cookie texture and prevents spread-out, flat cookies during baking.
  • Avoid Overmixing Dough: Gently fold ingredients to maintain a tender, soft cookie texture and prevent tough, dense results.
  • Temperature Control Matters: Let cookies cool on the baking sheet briefly to set structure before transferring, ensuring perfect consistency and preventing crumbling.
  • Prep Time: 45 minutes
  • Cook Time: 10 minutes
  • Category: Desserts, Snacks
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 22
  • Calories: 200
  • Sugar: 15 g
  • Sodium: 150 mg
  • Fat: 10 g
  • Saturated Fat: 6 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 25 g
  • Fiber: 2 g
  • Protein: 3 g
  • Cholesterol: 40 mg
Mia Reynolds

Mia Reynolds

Food Writer & Home Cooking Specialist

Expertise

Easy Home Baking, Recipe Writing and Storytelling, Local and Seasonal Ingredients, Baking for Beginners

Education

New England Culinary Institute (NECI), Montpelier, Vermont

  • Certificate: Baking and Pastry Arts Certificate
  • Focus: Hands-on baking skills, pastry basics, and creating delicious, approachable baked goods.

Community College of Vermont, Winooski, Vermont

  • Degree: Certificate in Food and Beverage Management
  • Focus: Essential knowledge of recipe development, ingredient sourcing, and food business basics.

Mia Reynolds fell in love with baking as a teenager experimenting in her family kitchen. Her passion took her to New England Culinary Institute, where she learned practical pastry techniques, and later to Community College of Vermont to deepen her understanding of food management.

Mia combines clear, simple baking instructions with heartwarming stories, making home baking approachable for everyone.

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