Peanut Butter and Chocolate Chunk Cookies

Ingredients

• 2 teaspoons baking soda 
• 1 cup firmly brown sugar packed
• 0.5 cup butter softened
• 11.5 ounce chocolate chunks divided
• 2 cups creamy peanut butter 
• 3 large eggs 
• 4.5 cups regular oats divided uncooked
• 1.5 cups pecans coarsely chopped
• 0.3 teaspoon salt 
• 1 cup sugar 
• 0.5 teaspoon vanilla extract 

Equipment

• baking sheet
• oven
• hand mixer

Directions

1. Beat butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy; gradually add sugars, beating well.
2. Add peanut butter, eggs, and vanilla; beat well.
3. Add 4 1/4 cups oats, soda, and salt; stir well. Stir in 1 cup chocolate pieces and pecans. (Dough will be stiff.)
4. Pack dough into a 1/4-cup measure. Drop dough 4 inches apart onto parchment lined cookie sheets. Lightly press each cookie with fingertips into a 3 1/2-inch circle. Press 3 or 4 remaining chocolate chunks into each cookie and sprinkle with remaining oats.
5. Bake at 350 for 14 minutes (centers of cookies will be slightly soft). Cool 3 minutes on cookie sheets; remove to wire racks to cool.