Bake a batch of these sweet and salty peanut butter thumbprint cookies. With or without a filling, they’re a real crowd pleaser. Drizzle them with chocolate and they become even more popular. The recipe is an easy one and if you’re a fast worker you can get it done and dusted within half an hour.
The saltiness and creaminess of peanut butter works really well combined with the sweetness of baked goods. It’s a flavour combination I have only recently rediscovered. It works exceptionally well with chocolate, but then I would say that wouldn’t I?
When I was reviewing The Cookie Dough Lover’s Cookbook earlier this month, I noted a recipe for peanut butter and chocolate thumbprint cookies which looked appealing. With my birthday tea fast approaching, I thought these would provide something a little different and would fill in the gaps between the slabs of cake.
Peanut Butter Thumbprint Cookies
There’s something rather nostalgic about a thumbprint cookie. They’re the sort of biscuits our grandmothers made when we were little. Although to be truthful, I’m not sure my grandmother ever made one. But that’s beside the point, they’re a simple bake and a great one to get kids involved.
The original recipe for these peanut butter thumbprint cookies included a chocolate cookie dough filling. Whilst I love chocolate cookie dough, I thought it might make these cookies rather overwhelming. So I didn’t use it.
But perhaps, more to the point, I was running out of time.
I was slightly flummoxed by the recipe’s cup measurements, but I mostly went with them. Although I reckon that measuring cups of butter and peanut butter is not really on. Anyway, although I’ve kept the cup measurements in the recipe card, I’ve made it simpler for you and have also included grams.
The recipe made thirty two very substantial cookies. Despite my ineptitude with the melted chocolate, more of which covered the kitchen than the cookies, I was rather pleased with the results. They were sweet, salty and delicious and not surprisingly, proved to be very popular.
Chocolate Drizzle
Although I’ve called these thumbprint cookies, I haven’t actually filled them with anything. You could do if you want to. However, as the cookies are quite sweet, I find a little dark chocolate drizzled over the top tempers the sweetness and that adding anything else sweet would be too much.
By all means use milk chocolate if you prefer. Even I sometimes find dark chocolate can be a bit to bitter.
I made a greaseproof paper cone from which to drizzle the melted chocolate. If you don’t fancy that, just use a spoon. For best results, drizzle lightly in a zig zag motion.
For a more traditional thumbprint cookie, just add a spoonful of chocolate to the thumbprint middle rather than drizzling it. Alternatively, use jam or a filling of your choice. Or just leave the cookies plain, they’re delicious just as they are.
Other Peanut Butter Bakes You Might Like
- caramelised banana cake with peanut butter icing
- chocolate and peanut butter cupcakes
- crunchy peanut butter and orange oat cookies
- peanut butter blondies
- peanut butter brownies
- vegan peanut butter banana muffins
Keep in Touch
Thank you for visiting Tin and Thyme. If you make these peanut butter thumbprint cookies, I’d love to hear about it in the comments below. Do you have any recommendations or advice for suitable fillings?
Please rate the recipe. If you post pictures of your creations on social media, use the hashtag #tinandthyme so I can see them.
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If you’d like more cookie recipes, follow the link and you’ll find I have quite a lot of them. All delicious and nutritious, of course.
Choclette x
Peanut Butter Thumbprint Cookies. PIN IT.
Peanut Butter Thumbprint Cookies
Ingredients
- ⅔ cup smooth peanut butter (about 175g)
- ¼ cup unsalted butter (2oz, ½ stick, 60g) softened
- ½ cup golden caster sugar (110g)
- ½ cup light muscovado sugar (90g) or use light brown sugar
- 1 large egg (I used a duck egg)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1¼ cup flour (150g) (I used half wholemeal and half plain white)
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ¼ cup granulated sugar (50g)
Chocolate Drizzle (optional)
- 50 g dark chocolate (¼ cup) (I used Green & Black's Cook's 72%)
Instructions
- Cream the peanut butter and butter together until well combined.⅔ cup smooth peanut butter, ¼ cup unsalted butter
- Add the sugars and cream until the mixture is light in colour and fluffy in texture.½ cup golden caster sugar, ½ cup light muscovado sugar
- Beat in the egg together with the vanilla extract.1 large egg, 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Sift in the flours and baking powder, the stir until everything is just mixed.1¼ cup flour, 1 tsp baking powder
- Pour the granulated sugar into a shallow bowl.¼ cup granulated sugar
- Roll tablespoons of dough between the palms of your hands to form large walnut sized pieces. If the dough is too soft, place it in the fridge for half an hour to firm up.
- Roll them around in the bowl of sugar to coat and place onto two lined baking trays, leaving a 3 cm (1 inch) gap between them.
- Indent the centre of the balls slightly with your thumb or a teaspoon.
- Set the oven to 180℃ (160℃ fan, 350℉, Gas 4).
- Bake in the middle of the oven for 12-15 minutes until golden and firm.
- Leave to cool slightly for a couple of minutes, then use a spatular to transfer them to a wire rack to cool.
Chocolate Drizzle
- Melt the chocolate in a bowl suspended over a pan of hot, but not boiling water.50 g dark chocolate
- Using a spoon or cone made out of greaseproof paper, drizzle over the cookies in a zig zag motion.
- Leave the cookies in a cool place to set. Half an hour should do it.
Notes
Nutrition Estimate
Sharing
These peanut butter thumbprint cookies make excellent fare for an afternoon tea, summer fete or cake stall. I’m thus submitting them to Tea Time Treats hosted this month by Karen of Lavender and Lovage.
Caroline says
They look lovely and the chocolate and PB combination is always a winner! I love the way you’ve drizzled them with chocolate too!
Laura loves cakes says
What a deadly combination…chocolate and peanut butter…I think I’ve put on half a stone just looking at them!!! These sound absolutely heavenly…I think it would be impossible to stop at one! 🙂
Fishfingers for tea says
Peanut butter and chocolate is one of my all time favourite combinations, they are perfect for each other. I wouldn’t say your drizzling was inept, it actually looks rather artistic!
Janice says
My favourite cookie of all time are PB choc chip, so these would be right up my street.
laura@howtocookgoodfood says
I absolutely love peanut butter and think it works so well in cookies and biscuits. It is less sticky and cloying when baked. The chocolate drizzle finishes them off perfectly! x
timeforalittlesomething.com says
Yum they look delicious! I don’t really know why but I hated peanut butter as a kid… let’s just say I’m making up for lost time now. I think these cookies could help. And a duck egg? wow!
corrie says
My Pop (grandfather) always used to make peanut cookies. Since he died, aged 92 in November, my 15 year old Son has been missing him and his baking, (Pop kept cooking until only a couple of months before he passed away) and so now my Son has started cooking them himself, carrying on the family tradition.
Angie's Recipes says
These cookies look droolworthy!
The Caked Crusader says
Peanut butter works so well in biscuits – and I love your decoration
Jacqueline says
They look very tasty. I also like peanut butter in cookies. The chocolate drizzle just finishes them off nicely.
Gloria says
Love these cookies look amazing and yumm!!
Blue Kitchen Bakes says
They look delicious, I love peanut butter cookies but haven’t made any with chocolate yet and am definitely going to give these a go.
Karen S Booth says
Can I “fess” up? I am not a lover of peanut butter or peanut butter cookies, BUT, I KNOW that if these were on a cake stall, they would be gone in minutes!! I know I am in the minority here, I have TRIED so hard to “like” peanut butter in baking, but I am still learning how to love it! A FABULOUS entry into Tea Time Treats however, just ignore me! Karen 🙂
Camilla @Fabfood4all says
I never liked peanut butter until about 10 years ago, I always associated it with Sunpat which would still turn my stomach. Later I tried organic crunchy peanut butter made with sea salt and oil which was delicious – last week I ventured for the first time to buy organic smooth paste as there seem to be so many cookie recipes that use it. These cookies look like the perfect place to start!
Choclette says
The thing is Karen, if you don’t like peanut butter, there is all the more for us 😉 I know what you mean though, I can’t quite understand why everyone raves about coffee so much.
Camilla – yes Sunpat is by no means the best peanut butter, they add loads of sugar and palm oil. I use organic unsweetened as a general rule which is far better. Good luck with your smooth version 🙂
rita cooks italian says
I’ve never tried to combine chocolate and peanut butter, it sounds delicious! I’m not familiar with peanut butter and now I feel inspired to try.
Choclette says
Rita I grew up with peanut butter sandwiches, but I didn’t think to use it in baking for many years. It works really well for many people, though not everyone likes it.
Angela says
Mmm…very enticing. Love the peanut butter/chocolate combo.
Choclette says
Thanks Angela – it’s a good one and very popular it seems.
Javelin Warrior says
I love the pattern of chocolate over the tops of these, Choclette – I know the pattern is really just a random drizzle, but it looks intentional – almost like art… And you’re right – peanut butter and chocolate are such good friends in baking…
Choclette says
Thanks JW. Ha ha, if only art was my thing. This was mostly an attempt to get something that vaguely resembled a drizzle to go on top of the biscuits rather than over everything else 🙂
celia says
It’s true! Peanut butter and chocolate are an amazing combination! I love the sugar coating, Choc!
Choclette says
Thanks Celia. The sugar coating added to the general appeal and also gave an additional crunch to the texture, definitely better with I think.
Dom at Belleau Kitchen says
these look absolutely scrummy… I agree that that special salty tang that comes with peanut butter is so divine in a cookie… they look brilliant and I think I would purchase the full basket! x
Choclette says
Dom, they are yours – after we’ve negotiated the price of course 😉
Working London Mummy Working London Mummy says
Oooh my they look super! Very nice indeed.
Choclette says
Thanks WLM. Too nice and it’s a problem. I’m sorely tempted to make them again and not for a party either!
sophiesfoodiefiles says
Waw! Your home-made cookies look utterly delicious!
Just perfect for me! 🙂 Cookies that make me smile! 🙂
Choclette says
Thanks Sophie – love the idea of them making you smile 🙂
Vanessa @ Cakes and Teacups says
Chocolate and peanut butter cookies! That will not last here! Yummmm…
Choclette says
Thanks Vanessa – they didn’t last very long here either 😉
Johanna GGG says
these look so pretty that I can’t imagine the original recipe would look better. and I tend to eyeball measurements of nut butters in jars rather than measure them too,
Choclette says
Thanks Johanna – really there isn’t a very practical way of measuring things like nut butters, other than by spoonfuls I guess.
Ellen B Cookery says
These look so cute and it sounds like they taste really good! I love cookies with pretty presentation.
Choclette says
Thank you Ellen – it always gives me a real thrill when anyone applies, pretty or elegant to any of my bakes 🙂
Alessandra says
Yum!
Choclette says
Yes, yum indeed. Just as well they were made for a party & not for home consumption!
manu says
Wow looks delicious and yummy!
Have a nice weekend
Choclette says
Thanks Manu 🙂