I went for a 90 minute massage on Saturday and let me tell you, it was one of the most therapeutic things you can ever do for yourself. I haven’t felt that relaxed in over a year. You just let everything go for those 90 minutes and you come out so much more calm and ready to take on the world again. I highly recommend it. In fact, I think it’s a rule that we all should have 90 minute massages quarterly. Yup, Julie’s rules.
Another therapeutic thing that I have found, that’s also a heck of a lot cheaper is cooking. We all know that we love being in the kitchen experimenting and taking out our anger on dough, but what I have found to be therapeutic is test baking. You get lost in thought and you start scribbling everything down in your notebook, crossing things out, racking your brain for what the most logical combination is. It actually zones you out of real life for just a second because you’re so entranced by what you’re trying to create.
I’ve baked numerous cookies now and I know the gist of what goes in every cookie recipe. Flour, baking soda, butter, sugar, egg, vanilla, brown sugar (sometimes), etc. But I’ve never ever created my own recipe before. I’ve always adapted or I’ve always just followed someone else’s recipe because I’m too afraid to mess up or get deflated cookies or get cookies that are too crumbly. This past weekend I decided to take a chance and experiment in the kitchen. I whipped up a batch of cookies with what knowledge I had of baking cookies in the past and you know what? They weren’t a fail! In fact, they turned out great. I was extremely surprised.
These cookies have a very fluffy texture to them, it’s as if I used caked flour. Jason said they were delicious, and being my taste-tester, I trust him that he’s telling the truth. What I was even more happy about was that these held their shape. They didn’t deflate, but instead, they kept their big poofy cookie shape. Surprised me, that’s for sure. I used Reese’s peanut butter chips and Ghiradelli semi-sweet chocolate chips for these. I love peanut butter and chocolate together so I decided to mix both in the cookie :) the more the better, right?
Chocolate & Peanut Butter Chip Cookies
Yield: 2 dozen | Prep Time: 10 minutes | Cook Time: 13-15 minutes
Ingredients:
2 1/4 cup all purpose flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 tsp. vanilla
2 eggs
1 cup Reese’s peanut butter chips
2/3 cup chocolate chips
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheets with silicone baking mats or parchment paper. Set aside.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream together the butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Then add in the vanilla and eggs.
- Slowly incorporate the dry ingredients until well combined.
- Gently stir in the peanut butter chips and chocolate chips.
- Scoop the dough onto the prepared cookie sheets, about 2 inches apart. Bake for 13-15 minutes or until edges start to get brown.
- Store in an airtight container.
Source: Table for Two original
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Amen to quarterly massages. They are the best!!! :D Ahh… And these cookies are amazing. My two favorite flavors in one cookie…perfection! :D
Yay, congrats on your own cookie recipe! They look great, Julie. I just want that cookie tower all to myself!
You make the best looking cookies!
I agree: 90-minute massage quarterly is a rule. I used to only do the 60-minute, then finally my masseuse said ‘just do the 90′ Life-changing.
These look absolutely, positively, perfect!!
The only time I’ve ever had a massage, I hated it so much that I was more stressed coming out than I was before! You can have my quarterly massage instead ;)
I always find cookie recipes the hardest to come up with but these look just perfect! I can never get my stacks of cookies to balance so prettily either.
These cookies look awesome! I cannot wait to try the recipe.
I am hesitant, too, to make my own recipe because I have had deflated, not-sweet-enough cookies in the past!
Good job, Julie! =)
How long do you usually let your butter soften? And then how long do you usually cream your butter and sugars in your mixer? I’m having a hard time with my cookies ending up flat, which I know has something to do with my butter getting too soft.
Hi Kara! I usually forget to soften my butter to room temperature, so what I do is, put the stick of butter (still in its wrapping) on a plate, zap it for 30-40 seconds. Rotating it clockwise every 10 seconds. Perfectly softened butter! I cream my butter and sugar in my mixer for about 2-3 minutes, I start slow then I whip it fast then slow it down again. Have you tried maybe adding more baking powder or baking soda to the recipe? That might be it too.
Way to go with the original cookie recipe! These look absolutely delicious. I’ll take some of these (or a massage!) any day! :)
these sound awesome! + thanks for reminding me that i need to schedule myself a massage soon – it’s been 13 months since my last one, which i had a few days before we got married. =)
Julie! Congrats on your first cookie recipe, developed just by YOU! That’s seriously so huge in my book. I, too, have a lot of trouble just making up a recipe in my head – especially cookies. I’ve adapted most of my cookie recipes from other recipes, adding a few different ingredients here and there. These look amazing. I’m a huuuuuuuuuuuuge sucker for peanut butter. PS: I need a massage!!
Oh man, I haven’t had a massage in forever, but they are SO nice!! Though in their absence I think these cookies would do just fine :)
I remember the first time I experimented with baking something completely on my own…I think I stood by the oven the entire time with crossed fingers. Cooking, I’ve been winging it forever. Baking, scared the crap out of me. It’s pretty freeing though once you realize you can do it (until that first epic failure) :)
And love the new massage rule btw. I’ve had a spa finder gift card in my wallet for like 3 years now. I’m sure it’s expired but that’s about how often I get massages. It’s quite sad and pathetic!
Wow, a first attempt and they stayed poufy and beautiful, I’m impressed! You can never go wrong with pb and chocolate in my books – these look perfect.
Great job! They look delicious. =)
I love chocolate and peanut butter, especially when combine. But, far more than that I love an excuse to get another 90 minute massage… now I will just tell my husband it’s Julie’s Rule!! Thanks!! ;-)
Massages are amazing. You just reminded me that I haven’t had one in too long! And YAY for original cookie recipes. The PB chips are an awesome addition!
Woohoo congrats on the awesome recipe success. They sound awesome! btw that napkin is seriously too pretty. I need to have a chat with the sur la table people to put a store closer to me lol
You really do! Although, your bank account might not like the damage that would ensue if a SLT were near you. I can’t ever leave that store with under $50!
These cookies look so delicious and moist. The peanut butter chips and semi-chocolate chips sound perfect in this cookie. I love to zone out when I’m cooking too.
woah – these look so good! my hubby is not a fan of pb in baked goods, but I bet he would LOVE these!
When you say we should all have massages quarterly, you do mean 4x/week, right? RIGHT? I’ve never had a massage…sigh…
Maybe these cookies could take the place of a massage :)
I SO need a 90-min massage right now. But like you said, baking is always cheaper. And tastier.
Yum!!! Congrats on your cookie success. :)
And hmm…I have never had a massage either. But I’m wound up so tight I think my muscles might literally try to kill me (or the masseuse) if I went for one. Sigh.
love the combination! :)
I have been meaning to get a massage for the longest time, but still have yet to do so.
These cookies are the beauties that I saw on your Instagram?! LOVEE. And yay for creating your own recipe!! I hope to one day do so myself. (:
My husband sent me for a massage on mothers day (so Sweet of him!) and the spa gave me Hottie-Boy-Massager-Guy and it was pretty much the least relaxing massage ever, I was so distracted. I keep thinking, “Oh no, I’m NAKED! Wait, he just touched side boob, did he do that on purpose?! Did I shave my legs well enough? Woah, buddy watch how far up you massage my legs!” I had no idea I would be so uptight about it until it actually happened. BUT these cookies look pretty dang therapeutic.
LOL this made me laugh. I’d be so afraid if I had a guy masseuse. I’d be thinking the SAME thoughts as you..and then probably tell him to stop cause I just can’t do it anymore lol
I had a 90 minute massage Saturday, too! I like your idea but I’m thinking monthly would be even better!
I’m impressed by your biscuit bravery! gorgeous photos too
I might need you to talk to my husband, and show him these new massage rules :)
Love that giant stack of cookies. You can NEVER go wrong with chocolate and peanut butter!
The cookies turned out great and cooking is all about experimentation and doing what works for you. I’m glad that this experiment turned out great 8-)
Way to go! They look awesome! It’s always fun to create a recipe entirely from scratch. It’s just so satisfying. :)
good for you for making your OWN recipe and doing it your way! I can never actually follow anyone’s recipe..I am too headstrong and always want to reinvent the wheel with everything. lol
[...] Chocolate Peanut Butter Chip Cookies from Julie @ Table for Two [...]
Hi! I would just like to ask what is the size of the cookies that you made?
Not exactly sure what you mean as I didn’t measure it at the time of baking. I just used a medium sized cookie scoop from OXO. I would think the cookie is about 3-4 inches in diameter.
Thank you for your prompt response, Julie! I’ll try to look up the scoop you used coz I plan to bake these with my sisters. Hope it all goes well coz we really love peanut butter and chocolates. You and your recipe are heaven-sent!