Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

I’m embarrassed to say that I’ve been on a chocolate chip kick lately. From my caramel chocolate oatmeal chews to these zucchini chip cookies to smores I just can’t get enough! I’m not pregnant anymore so I unfortunately cannot claim it as a pregnancy craving :) 

Here I’ll share a cookie made with two of my favorite things: peanut butter and chocolate! I love to try making treats just a little bit better for my family by cutting out some of the sugar, using whole wheat flour and substituting applesauce for butter.
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter

1/4 cup butter, softened

1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce

1/4 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

1 egg
Beat butter, peanut butter, sugars and vanilla on medium speed until creamy. Beat in egg until light and fluffy.

Mix in the following ingredients on low speed until well blended: 

1 cup whole wheat flour

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. salt

Stir in 1 pkg semi-sweet chocolate chips. Roll dough into 2 inch balls. Place on ungreased cookie sheets 2 inches apart. 

Bake at 375 Farenheit for 9-12 minutes until light golden brown. Let cool. 

First, I tried using my little cookie scoop to save time but they didn’t spread at all in the oven. So the next time around I rolled them and it was much better!

Will loved helping with this recipe and I let him measure out the ingredients, level off the measuring cups and do some of the mixing. I’m a big believer in having kids in the kitchen (even though it sometimes makes a BIG mess!)

These were really good. I ate a lot of them (groan). And here I shake my head wondering why the baby weight doesn’t just “fall right off”. :)