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Peanut Butter Paw Print Cookies

Peanut Butter Paw Print Cookies

These charming peanut butter cookies feature adorable chocolate chip paw prints, making them the perfect easy treat for animal lovers and baking enthusiasts alike. They are chewy, soft, and bursting with classic peanut butter flavor.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 27 minutes
Servings: 36 cookies
Course: Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: American
Calories: 140
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Cookie Dough
  • 1 ¾ cups All-Purpose Flour
  • 1 teaspoon Baking Soda
  • ½ teaspoon Salt
  • ½ cup Unsalted Butter (1 stick), softened
  • ½ cup Creamy Peanut Butter
  • ½ cup Granulated Sugar plus extra for rolling
  • ½ cup Packed Light Brown Sugar
  • 1 large Large Egg
  • 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
For Paw Prints
  • 36 chips Standard Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips (for the main pad)
  • 108 chips Mini Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips (for the toes, 3 per cookie)

Equipment

  • Stand Mixer or Hand Mixer
  • Large Baking Sheets
  • Mixing Bowl
  • Parchment paper

Method
 

Preparation and Mixing
  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
  2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
  3. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or using a large bowl and a hand mixer, cream together the softened butter, peanut butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy, usually about 3 to 4 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
  4. Beat in the large egg until just combined, then stir in the vanilla extract.
  5. Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until the dough comes together and no streaks of flour remain. Be careful not to overmix.
Baking and Decorating
  1. Place a small amount of granulated sugar in a shallow dish for rolling. Scoop the dough using a standard tablespoon or a small cookie scoop (about 1.5 inches in diameter). Roll each portion into a smooth ball.
  2. Lightly roll each dough ball in the extra granulated sugar, ensuring it is fully coated. Place the dough balls onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing them approximately 2 inches apart.
  3. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the edges are set and lightly golden brown, but the center still looks slightly soft.
  4. Create the Paw Prints (Immediate Action): As soon as the cookies come out of the oven, while they are still hot and pliable, gently press one standard semi-sweet chocolate chip into the center of each cookie to form the main pad of the paw.
  5. Add the Toes: Immediately follow by pressing three mini semi-sweet chocolate chips above the standard chip to form the smaller toe pads. Arrange them in a slight arc, pressing gently enough that they adhere without cracking the cookie.
  6. Cool: Allow the cookies to cool completely on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to finish cooling. This ensures the cookies hold their shape and the chocolate chips set firmly into the dough.
  7. Serve: Once fully cooled, the Peanut Butter Paw Print Cookies are ready to serve.

Notes

For a richer peanut butter flavor, you can substitute 2 tablespoons of the all-purpose flour with 2 tablespoons of powdered peanut butter. Ensure your butter is truly softened (room temperature) for the best creaming texture. If the dough seems too sticky to roll, chill it for 15 minutes before proceeding.