This Martha Strewart Peanut Butter Chocolate Chunk recipe wins me compliments like CRAZY. Do NOT be tempted to overcook them:

http://www.marthastewart.com/340933/peanut-butter-chocolate-chunk-cookies

I got my best results with Trader Joes Chunky natural peanut butter. It is by far the best thing I've ever baked.

Thanks!

Anonymous wrote:Nestle tollhouse chocolate chip cookies win every time.
But depending on the temperature of your butter and eggs, whether you add extra flour, use different sized eggs, whether you add nuts or not, use some crisco in place of the butter... the results can be very different.

This. Make sure your butter is good quality and isn't too warm and your eggs are fresh. Double the salt. Perfection.

Nestle tollhouse chocolate chip cookies win every time.

But depending on the temperature of your butter and eggs, whether you add extra flour, use different sized eggs, whether you add nuts or not, use some crisco in place of the butter... the results can be very different.

This Cooks Illustrated recipe for Chewy Chocolate Cookies is one of my favorites!

Chewy Chocolate Cookies

1/3 cup granulated sugar (about 2 1/2 ounces), plus 1/2 cup for coating
1 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour (7 1/2 ounces)
3/4 cup Dutch-processed cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon table salt plus 1/8 teaspoon table salt
1/2 cup dark corn syrup (see note)
1 large egg white
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter , softened (70 degrees)
1/3 cup packed dark brown sugar (about 2 1/2 ounces, see note)
4 ounces bittersweet chocolate , chopped into 1/2-inch pieces (see note)

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Adjust oven racks to upper- and lower-middle positions and heat oven to 375 degrees. Line 2 large (18- by 12-inch) baking sheets with parchment paper. Place ½ cup granulated sugar in shallow baking dish or pie plate. Whisk flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt together in medium bowl. Whisk corn syrup, egg white, and vanilla together in small bowl.

2. In stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment, beat butter, brown sugar, and remaining 1/3 cup granulated sugar at medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Reduce speed to medium-low, add corn syrup mixture, and beat until fully incorporated, about 20 seconds, scraping bowl once with rubber spatula. With mixer running at low speed, add flour mixture and chopped chocolate; mix until just incorporated, about 30 seconds, scraping bowl once. Give dough final stir with rubber spatula to ensure that no pockets of flour remain at bottom. Chill dough 30 minutes to firm slightly (do not chill longer than 30 minutes).

3. Divide dough into 16 equal portions; roll between hands into balls about 1 1/2 inches in diameter. Working in batches, drop 8 dough balls into baking dish with sugar and toss to coat. Set dough balls on prepared baking sheet, spacing about 2 inches apart; repeat with second batch of 8. Bake, reversing position of the baking sheets halfway through baking (from top to bottom and front to back), until cookies are puffed and cracked and edges have begun to set but centers are still soft (cookies will look raw between cracks and seem underdone), 10 to 11 minutes. Do not overbake.

4. Cool cookies on baking sheet 5 minutes, then use wide metal spatula to transfer cookies to wire rack; cool cookies to room temperature.

For a party, so nothing too complicated. Thanks!