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Bake a batch of these adorable paw print cookies and watch your family’s faces light up! Who wouldn’t smile at the sight of soft peanut butter cookies imprinted with a chocolate paw shape?
I love a good peanut butter cookie. They’re simple but slightly rich and not too sweet. Add some semi-sweet or dark chocolate and it’s like the cookie version of a peanut butter cup.
I also love dogs, so when I saw these cookies floating around on Pinterest, inspiration struck and I was in the kitchen within 15 minutes prepping mixing bowls and ingredients.
The key to these cookies is in not overbaking them – you want them to be soft, not hard and crunchy. You also want to be sure the chocolate sets up and doesn’t melt everywhere after you create your paw print. That means popping them in the freezer for 5-8 minutes after adding the chocolate bits. It was below freezing here when I made this batch, so I just set the tray outside on our covered porch for about five minutes – perfect!
This particular peanut butter cookie recipe calls for at least an hour of chill time in the fridge. It’s a softer batter, which yields a dense, soft cookie. The chill time is necessary for the cookie to keep its shape. Otherwise, it will spread and turn out flat – not good.
If you prefer something quicker (read: no chill time required), there are lots of peanut butter cookie recipes out there. Just pick one and give it a try. I’m planning to do that the next time I make these to see which version I like best. Nothing wrong with a little experimentation!
For the toe prints, use basic chocolate chips and for the paw pad, use a chocolate wafer. I used Nestle’s semi-sweet chocolate chips for the toe prints and Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate Melting Wafers for the paw pad.
Be sure to press the chocolate pieces in so they stay put, but don’t press so hard that the cookie breaks apart. I pressed them in about 1/3 of the depth of the cookie and that worked well.
[Hubby pointed out that dogs have four toes and not three. While I knew this, I thought three looked better!]
Honestly, they’re almost too cute to eat…almost! Enjoy these for dessert or a sinful snack. They pair perfectly with a glass of milk, or for something extra indulgent, have them with a cup of homemade hot cocoa.
For other yummy cookie ideas, check out these recipes for Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies, Italian Sugar Cookies, or Molasses Crinkle Tops.
Peanut Butter Paw Print Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp. baking soda
- 1/4 tsp. kosher salt
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter softened
- 1/2 cup packed light or dark brown sugar
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 3/4 cup creamy peanut butter
- 1 large egg at room temperature
- 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment (or using a large bowl and handheld mixer), cream the butter and sugars on medium speed until combined.
- Next, add the peanut butter, egg, and vanilla and beat until incorporated. Increase the mixer speed to high and beat for another 1-2 minutes, till thoroughly combined and pale in color.
- Add the dry ingredients and mix on low speed until combined.
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and chill for at least one (1) hour and up to three (3) days.
- After chilling, preheat the oven to 350°F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. Set aside.
- Remove the dough from the refrigerator and scoop about 1½ tablespoons for each cookie. Roll the dough into balls and place on the prepared baking sheets, 2-3 inches apart. (If desired, roll each ball in granulated sugar before placing on the baking sheets.)
- Bake for 11-13 minutes, being careful not to overbake. The cookies will look soft and slightly golden. Remove them from the oven and allow to cool on the baking sheet for about five (5) minutes.
- Once the cookies have cooled slightly, begin creating the paw prints in each one using the chips and wafers. Use 3-4 chips for the toe prints (three for bear paws and four for dog paws) and one wafer for the paw pad. Transfer the decorated cookies to a freezer-safe plate or tray and freeze for 5-10 minutes, till the chocolate is set.