Irresistible No-Chill Nutella Peanut Butter Cookies: Crispy Edges, Gooey Centers, and Pure Bliss!
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Get ready to bake the most incredible Nutella peanut butter cookies you’ve ever tasted! These delightful treats are a true marvel, boasting perfectly crispy edges that give way to a soft, melt-in-your-mouth gooey center. What makes them truly special is the harmonious blend of rich peanut butter infused directly into the cookie dough, expertly swirled with decadent Nutella. And the best part? There’s absolutely no chilling time required, meaning you can whip up a batch of these heavenly cookies whenever a craving strikes!
These homemade Nutella peanut butter cookies are a dream come true for any dessert lover, combining two of the world’s most beloved spreads into one sensational treat. Not only are they incredibly quick and easy to make, but they also bypass the tedious resting time often demanded by other cookie recipes. You can mix the dough and have them baking in the oven almost immediately, making them perfect for spontaneous baking sessions or when you need a delicious dessert in a hurry. The result is a cookie with a beautiful textural contrast: a satisfying crunch around the edges, yielding to a wonderfully soft and chewy interior that’s pure bliss in every bite.
Each cookie is generously loaded with the rich, nutty flavor of peanut butter, the creamy, chocolate-hazelnut goodness of Nutella, and an abundance of sweet chocolate chips. This powerful trio ensures every bite is packed with an explosion of complementary flavors. They are so straightforward to prepare and irresistibly delicious that you’ll find yourself returning to this easy cookie recipe again and again. Whether for a casual snack, a special occasion, or simply to satisfy your sweet tooth, these cookies are guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser.
If you’re looking for more fantastic cookie and Nutella-infused recipes, be sure to explore our other delights. You might love our Oreo Espresso Cookies for a caffeine kick, our soft and sweet Nutella Rolls, or the comforting indulgence of our Nutella Vanilla Loaf Cake. Each one promises to deliver a delightful baking and eating experience!
WHY THIS RECIPE WORKS
- Easy to make: This recipe is designed with simplicity in mind. Requiring just two bowls and a trusty electric hand mixer, even novice bakers can achieve perfect results. The steps are straightforward, making the process enjoyable and stress-free, proving that incredible homemade cookies don’t have to be complicated.
- Crispy edges and soft center: The magic of these Nutella peanut butter cookies lies in their perfect texture. They boast a delicate crispness around the edges, which beautifully contrasts with their wonderfully soft, chewy, and slightly gooey center. This ideal balance is achieved through careful ingredient ratios and precise baking times, ensuring every cookie is a textural masterpiece.
- No chill time: Forget about waiting around for dough to chill! This recipe ingeniously utilizes room temperature butter, which creams beautifully with the sugars to create a perfect cookie dough consistency from the start. This means you can mix your dough and pop it straight into the oven, saving you precious time and allowing you to enjoy your warm, freshly baked cookies much sooner.
- Flavor Powerhouse: By combining smooth peanut butter and creamy Nutella, these cookies deliver an unparalleled depth of flavor. The peanut butter provides a savory, nutty base, while the Nutella adds a sweet, rich chocolate-hazelnut dimension. This combination is truly addictive and creates a unique taste profile that stands out from standard cookies.
- Versatile and Customizable: While perfect as is, this base recipe is also fantastic for customization. Want more chocolate? Add extra chips or chunks! Prefer a different nut butter? Experiment with almond or cashew butter for a new twist. The robust flavor profile can handle subtle variations, making it a versatile go-to for your baking repertoire.
INGREDIENT NOTES
Understanding the role of each ingredient is key to successful baking. Here are some detailed notes on the essential components for these delicious Nutella peanut butter cookies. For a complete list of quantities, please refer to the recipe card below.
- Peanut butter: For the best results in this recipe, it’s crucial to use smooth peanut butter. Avoid “natural” or “stir” varieties that often separate, as their oil content can significantly alter the cookie’s texture, making it too crumbly or greasy. A classic creamy peanut butter provides the perfect consistency and rich flavor.
- Nutella: This beloved chocolate hazelnut spread plays a dual role, contributing to the incredible flavor and visual appeal of these cookies. It’s generously swirled into the cookie dough to create beautiful marbled patterns and dolloped on top of the baked cookies for an extra layer of gooey indulgence. Using good quality Nutella ensures that rich, authentic chocolate-hazelnut taste.
- Butter: Always use unsalted butter at room temperature. Taking the butter out of the fridge at least 30 minutes before you begin baking is essential. Softened butter creams easily with sugar, incorporating air that leads to a light and fluffy cookie dough, which is vital for achieving those desirable crispy edges and soft centers.
- Brown sugar: This ingredient is a game-changer for chewy cookies. Brown sugar not only adds a lovely caramel-like depth of flavor but also provides more moisture to the cookie dough compared to granulated sugar. This increased moisture content is what helps create that wonderfully soft, tender, and chewy texture that we all love in a perfect cookie.
- Granulated Sugar: Working in tandem with brown sugar, granulated sugar contributes to the crispness of the cookie edges and adds to the overall sweetness. The combination of both sugars ensures a balanced texture and flavor profile.
- All-purpose flour: The structural backbone of our cookies. Sifting the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together ensures an even distribution of leavening agents and prevents lumps, leading to a consistently textured cookie.
- Baking Powder & Baking Soda: These leavening agents work together to give the cookies their perfect rise and spread. Baking soda reacts with the acidic brown sugar, while baking powder provides additional lift, contributing to the soft interior.
- Salt: A pinch of salt is crucial for balancing the sweetness and enhancing all the other flavors, particularly the peanut butter and chocolate. Don’t skip it!
- Large Egg: The egg acts as a binder, holding all the ingredients together and adding moisture. It also contributes to the richness and chewiness of the cookies. Ensure your egg is at room temperature for better incorporation into the creamed butter and sugar.
- Vanilla Extract: A classic flavor enhancer that complements the chocolate and peanut butter beautifully, adding a warm, aromatic note to the cookies. Use pure vanilla extract for the best flavor.
- Chocolate Chips: While the Nutella adds a chocolatey element, chocolate chips provide bursts of solid chocolate, adding another layer of texture and rich flavor. You can use milk, semi-sweet, or dark chocolate chips depending on your preference.
STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS
Crafting these delectable Nutella peanut butter cookies is a straightforward process, promising delicious results every time. Follow these detailed steps to achieve perfectly crispy-edged, gooey-centered treats. This recipe does require an electric hand mixer to ensure the best texture for your cookie dough.
The full, printable recipe with precise measurements can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this page.
Before you begin, make sure your oven is properly preheated to 175ºC (350ºF) for a conventional oven. Prepare your baking sheet by lining it with baking paper or parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
STEP 1: In your first mixing bowl, sift together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Sifting helps to aerate the dry ingredients and ensures they are evenly combined, which is crucial for uniform cookie texture. Set this bowl aside.
STEP 2: In a separate, larger bowl, combine the smooth peanut butter, softened room-temperature butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar. Using your electric hand mixer, cream these ingredients together on medium speed for about 2 minutes. Continue mixing until the mixture becomes visibly light in color and fluffy in texture. This step incorporates air, which contributes to the cookies’ final texture.
STEP 3: Crack the large egg into the creamed mixture, then add the vanilla extract. Mix again with the electric hand mixer on medium speed until the egg and vanilla are fully incorporated and the mixture is smooth and cohesive. Be careful not to overmix at this stage.
STEP 4: Gradually add the sifted flour mixture to the wet ingredients. Switch from the electric mixer to a sturdy spatula. Gently fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture until they are just combined. Be careful not to overmix, as this can develop the gluten in the flour, leading to tough cookies. Once the flour is mostly incorporated, fold in the chocolate chips until they are evenly distributed throughout the dough.
STEP 5: Now for the Nutella magic! Dollop spoonfuls of Nutella generously on top of the cookie dough. Using a butter knife or a skewer, gently swirl the Nutella into the dough. You want visible streaks and pockets of Nutella, not a fully mixed chocolate dough, so aim for a marbled effect. This ensures delightful bursts of Nutella flavor in every bite.
STEP 6: Using a 2 tbsp (1.35 ounce) cookie scoop, portion out the cookie dough into uniform balls. Place no more than 6 cookies at a time on your prepared baking sheet, ensuring adequate space between them for spreading. Bake one baking tray at a time in your preheated oven for exactly 10 minutes. Baking one tray at a time helps maintain consistent oven temperature and even baking.
STEP 7: Once baked, the cookies will still appear soft in the center, which is perfectly normal. Carefully remove the baking tray from the oven. For an extra touch of indulgence, immediately decorate the warm cookies with additional dollops of Nutella and a sprinkle of extra chocolate chips if desired. Allow the cookies to cool down on the baking tray for 5-10 minutes. This crucial cooling time allows them to set properly, preventing them from breaking when moved. After they’ve firmed up slightly, use a spatula to gently transfer them to a wire cooling rack to cool completely.
EXPERT BAKING TIPS
Achieving bakery-quality Nutella peanut butter cookies is easier than you think with a few expert insights. These tips will help you master this recipe and impress everyone with your baking skills:
- Use a kitchen scale: When it comes to baking, precision is paramount. While cup measurements can vary, using a kitchen scale to measure ingredients in grams ensures accuracy, especially for flour and sugar. My recipes are typically developed using grams as the default, and I highly recommend investing in a good quality kitchen scale for consistent, perfect results every time. It eliminates guesswork and guarantees your cookies turn out exactly as intended.
- Don’t over mix your batter: Overmixing cookie dough is a common pitfall that can lead to tough, dense cookies. Once the dry ingredients are added, mix only until they are just combined. To ensure everything is fully incorporated without overmixing, I always finish by hand-folding the batter gently with a spatula. This final fold ensures no pockets of unmixed flour remain at the bottom of the bowl, while keeping the dough tender.
- Light vs. dark baking pans: The type of baking pan you use significantly impacts your cookie’s texture and color. For optimal results, use a light-colored aluminum baking pan, greased lightly and lined with baking paper. Aluminum pans are light in color and reflect heat, allowing for a more gentle and even bake, which results in a softer, chewier cookie with a golden bottom. Dark baking pans, conversely, absorb more heat, leading to a darker, crispier crust that can sometimes result in a drier cookie.
- Don’t overcrowd the baking sheet: Always leave ample space between your cookie dough balls on the baking sheet (at least 2 inches). Cookies spread as they bake, and overcrowding can cause them to merge, bake unevenly, or result in soft, underbaked centers. Baking in batches ensures each cookie gets enough heat and air circulation for proper development.
- Cooling is key: It’s tempting to move warm cookies straight to a cooling rack, but resist the urge! Allowing the Nutella peanut butter cookies to cool on the hot baking sheet for 5-10 minutes after baking allows them to continue cooking slightly, firm up, and set their structure. This prevents them from breaking apart when you transfer them to a wire rack for complete cooling.
- The perfect scoop: Using a cookie scoop of a consistent size (like the recommended 2 tbsp / 1.35 oz) ensures that all your cookies are uniform in size. This not only makes for a visually appealing batch but also guarantees that all cookies bake evenly and are done at the same time, preventing some from being over- or under-baked.
FAQ
Here are answers to some common questions about making and storing these Nutella peanut butter cookies:
Absolutely! Preparing the cookie dough in advance is a great time-saver. Simply scoop the cookie dough into uniform balls and place them in an airtight container. Alternatively, cover the container tightly with plastic wrap to prevent the dough from drying out. Store the cookie balls in the fridge overnight. When you’re ready to bake, let the cookie dough sit at room temperature for about 10-15 minutes to take off the chill, then bake them as instructed in the recipe for fresh, warm cookies.
Yes, freezing cookie dough is an excellent way to have fresh cookies on demand! Scoop the cookie dough into individual balls and arrange them on a baking sheet. Freeze until solid, then transfer the frozen cookie balls to an airtight freezer-safe container or a heavy-duty freezer bag. They can be stored in the freezer for up to 30 days. When you want to bake, let the cookie balls thaw on the counter for a while (about 20-30 minutes) before baking them as instructed in the recipe. Baking from frozen might require an extra minute or two in the oven.
Certainly! If you prefer larger, more substantial cookies, simply use a bigger cookie scoop (e.g., a 3-4 tbsp scoop). When baking bigger cookies, you’ll need to adjust the baking time slightly. Scoop out about 10 larger cookies per batch and bake them for approximately 11-12 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown and the centers are still slightly soft. Keep an eye on them, as oven temperatures can vary.
While smooth peanut butter is recommended for the best texture and consistency, you can certainly use crunchy peanut butter for an added textural element. Be aware that the cookies might be slightly more crumbly, but the nutty crunch will be a delightful addition if you enjoy it. Just ensure it’s not a natural, oily variety that separates.
These Nutella peanut butter cookies are perfectly baked when their edges are set and lightly golden brown, but the centers still look slightly soft and puffy. They will continue to set as they cool on the baking sheet. If you wait until the centers are firm in the oven, you risk overbaking them and losing that desirable gooey texture.
STORAGE
To maintain their deliciousness and optimal texture, store your baked Nutella Peanut Butter cookies in an airtight container or a cookie jar at room temperature. For the best flavor and chewiness, they are ideally enjoyed within 3-4 days of baking. While they will last longer, their freshness and soft centers are at their peak during this period. For longer storage, see the FAQ section on freezing cookie dough.
Other Cookie Recipes To Try
- Red Velvet Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting
- 25 Best Summer Dessert Ideas
- Carrot Cake Cookies
- 20 Best Easter Dessert Ideas
Make sure leave a STAR REVIEW if you loved this recipe! We’d love to hear your feedback and see your creations. Make sure to tag me on Instagram @juliemarieeats. To get more delicious ideas and inspiration, you can also follow me on Pinterest.
Nutella Peanut Butter Cookies
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Ingredients
Nutella Peanut Butter Cookies
- 125 g all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 80 g butter room temperature, unsalted
- 100 g peanut butter smooth, not natural/stir
- 50 g granulated sugar
- 150 g brown sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 100 g chocolate chips
- 100 g Nutella
Instructions
Nutella Peanut Butter Cookies
- Preheat your oven to 175ºC (350ºF) for a conventional oven. Line a baking sheet with baking paper.
- In a medium bowl, sift together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.125 g all-purpose flour, ½ teaspoon baking powder, ½ teaspoon baking soda, ½ teaspoon salt
- In a large bowl, combine the peanut butter, room temperature butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar. Using an electric hand mixer, beat for 2 minutes until light and fluffy.80 g butter, 100 g peanut butter, 50 g granulated sugar, 150 g brown sugar
- Add the large egg and vanilla extract to the mixture. Mix well until fully combined.1 large egg, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Gradually add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients. With a spatula, gently fold until just combined. Then, fold in the chocolate chips until evenly distributed.100 g chocolate chips
- Dollop the Nutella on top of the cookie dough. Using a butter knife or skewer, swirl it into the dough to create a marbled effect; do not fully mix.100 g Nutella
- Using a 2 tbsp (1.35 ounce) cookie scoop, scoop out 6 cookies at a time per baking sheet, ensuring they are spaced apart. Bake one tray at a time for 10 minutes.
- Once baked, remove from oven. If desired, decorate with extra dollops of Nutella and chocolate chips while still warm. Let them cool on the baking tray for 5-10 minutes to set, as they will still be soft. Then, carefully transfer them to a cooling rack to cool completely.