Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. This ensures the cookies bake evenly and won’t stick.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the creamy peanut butter, sugar, and egg. Use a spoon or spatula to mix until the mixture is smooth, thick, and slightly sticky, smelling nutty and sweet.
Stir in the vanilla extract until fully incorporated. This adds depth and aroma to your cookie dough.
Fold in the chocolate chips, distributing them evenly throughout the dough. The chips should be shiny and firm, ready to melt into gooey pockets during baking.
Scoop tablespoon-sized balls of dough onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart to allow for spreading. You can use a cookie scoop or your hands for this step.
Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges turn golden brown and slightly crispy. The centers will look soft but set.
Once baked, remove the cookies from the oven and let them sit on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes. This helps them firm up and makes them easier to transfer.
Carefully transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely. The chocolate will stay gooey and shiny, contrasting with the chewy peanut butter base.
Enjoy these soft, chewy cookies with pockets of melted chocolate and a rich peanut flavor. They’re perfect for sharing or indulging when craving something homemade and comforting.