Amazing Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

Sinful.  There is no other description.

Ingredients:

4 oz. (1 stick) butter, softened

2/3 C. creamy peanut butter

3/4 C. packed brown sugar

1/4 C. granulated white sugar

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1 egg

1 C. all-purpose flour

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1 1/3 C. (8 oz) semi-sweet chocolate chips

Optional: 1/2 C. dry-roasted peanuts, coarsely chopped

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375*.  In a medium bowl, with an electric mixer, mix the first five ingredients until well combined, scraping sides of bowl during mixing.  Beat in egg.  In a small bowl, combine flour and baking soda.  Slowly add to wet mixture until just mixed.  Fold in chocolate chips, and if applicable, peanuts.  Using spoons or cookie scoop, shape dough into 1" balls and place on ungreased cookie sheet.  Bake about 12 minutes, or until cookies begin to brown just slightly (you will have to watch them to make sure they don't burn).  Let sit on sheet for a few minutes before transferring to wire rack to cool.  

*Note:  If you are like me and love to eat raw cookie dough, this recipe is great for that!  Melt the butter completely in the microwave, and leave out the egg.  Tastes delicious without the egg risk!