There are a lot of shortcut recipes doing the rounds lately, with three-ingredient peanut butter cookies the latest trend to go viral (#CookingInTheTimeofTikTok!).

While I’m all for fuss-free few-ingredient baking, when it comes to cookies I have to admit I’m rather old-fashioned. I stick with what I know best: a classic family recipe adapted by my cousin who happens to be a star baker (I really can’t take credit for this one).

Tried and tested time again, it culminates in sheer joy. Gloriously-golden edged cookies which are equal parts sweet and salty, with all the craveable creaminess of peanut butter and gooeyness of melted chocolate chips!

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Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup All-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup Butter (room temp)
• 1/3 cup Peanut butter
• 1/2 Whipped egg
• 1/2 cup Caster sugar
• 1/4 tsp salt (I used sea salt)
• 1/4 tsp Baking soda
• 1/2 tsp Vanilla extract
• 3/4 cup Dark chocolate chips/chunks (increase to 1 cup if you’d like your cookie more chocolatey)
• 1/3 cup Peanuts chopped (increase to 1/2 cup if you’d like your cookie super nutty)

Method:

• Preheat the oven at 180° C; and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Whip the butter and sugar till fluffy; then add the peanut butter, egg and vanilla syrup and whip again.
• Sift the flour, baking soda and salt in a separate bowl; mix to combine well.
• Fold in the flour mixture into the wet mixture, but be careful that you don’t over-mix! Finally, fold in the chocolate chips and peanuts.
• Scoop your cookie dough onto the baking parchment, flatten slightly with a fork and bake at 180° C for for 8-10 mins. Be sure to leave space between the cookies as they will expand whilst baking in the oven. You’ll know you’re done when the cookies are golden-edged but squidgy in the centre!

However, if you prefer your cookie to be evenly-crisp, with a not-so-tender crumb, then bake for slightly longer (15 minutes). While these crunchier cookies might be missing that melt-in-your-mouth chewy feel, they have a rather delicious bite to them too, pairing moreishly with an afternoon cup of coffee!

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