The last few weeks have been full of celebration. We’re at that stage in life where everyone is turning thirty, getting married or engaged with the various drinks and parties and hen dos that go with it. In between all the socialising there’s been little time for baking, so what I end up making tends to involve minimal time and effort for maximum results.
These cookies are the perfect low maintenance bake: quick to put together, easy to make and using the a simple set of store cupboard ingredients I always have to hand. They’re a crowd pleaser too, as proven by their disappearance in less than 24 hours this weekend just gone (ostensibly a present to my mother-in-law for having us to stay, but I’m pretty sure Carnivorous Husband ate 80+% of them).
The recipe comes from Tara O’Brady’s beautiful new Seven Spoons cookbook. I’ve mentioned it before (not yet tried this epic Walnut Oat Cherry Butter Tart Pie? What are you hanging round here for?) and it hasn’t left my kitchen since landing on the doormat a month or so back. These cookies are the perfect example of a simple recipe made better by Tara’s magic touch: these aren’t just peanut butter cookies, these are Seven Spoons peanut butter cookies . . .
The only real tweak I made to the recipe was adding chocolate chunks (Sara mentioned this on Instagram and I couldn’t resist) and omitting the the sea salt sprinkle on top (no real reason, I just fancied my cookies straight up sweet). The result is every bit as delicious as Tara suggests – if you’re looking for an easy bake in the coming weeks, make these cookies. You’re welcome. 
- 65g plain white flour
- 60g wholemeal flour
- ¾ tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp sea salt
- 200g chunky natural peanut butter
- 115 unsalted butter, softened
- 140g light brown sugar
- 70g granulated sugar
- 2 tbsp runny honey
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 150g milk and dark chocolate, roughly chopped
- Preheat the oven to 175 degrees C. Line 2 - 3 baking trays with parchment paper, depending on their size.
- in a bowl, whisk together the flours, baking powder and salt. In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the peanut butter and butter until light and fluffy, about one minute.
- Add both sugars and honey and beat on high speed for minutes, scraping down the sides as needed. Add the egg and vanilla, beating again to combine, then fold in the dry ingredients and chocolate.
- Roll the dough into balls, about 2 tbsp each then place on a baking sheet and freeze for 10 - 15 minutes.
- Divide the balls among the 3 prepared baking sheets, spacing about 5cm apart to allow for spreading. Bake 14 - 16 minutes until the cookies are crisp and golden and the edges but still slightly soft in the middle.
- Allow to cool on the trays for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. Will keep in an airtight container for several days (if they last that long!).
Will defiantly be giving these a go, I love peanut butter and I love cookies! Yum. Be nice to take on a picnic with the kids. Wholemeal makes them sound healthy too 😉
X
Haha, I think perhaps the wholemeal is a little misleading… Delicious, but not diet food 😉 xxx
They look like the disappearing kind of cookies! Thanks for sharing the recipe.
I am in the exact same life stage of you. Recipes for low maintenance baked goods are KEY! These cookies sound incredible!
I can’t blame your husband, I’d be all over these cookies! Love those big chocolate chunks.
I may just have to make these… they look like a perfectly executed chewy crispy cookie! And I love the chocolate chunk addition!
Tara’s book is so good isn’t it? I love her recipe for chocolate chip cookies and these are definitely next on my to bake list. They look so delicious.
They look delicious! Serious cravings for cookies now.
Cookies that use wholemeal flour!!!!!!!! OK so I’m probably a little late on that one but nevertheless these look good. I might try them but swap out peanut butter for almond.