Prepare the Dough: In a large bowl, mix together the peanut butter, butter, applesauce, and brown sugar. The mixture won’t be completely smooth, but keep mixing until the sugar dissolves.

Add Dry Ingredients: Add all of the dry ingredients to the bowl, then use a silicone spatula to mix everything until a thick dough forms. It might seem dry at first, but keep mixing, and it will come together.

Fold in Chocolate Chips: Gently fold in the chocolate chips or chunks. Once everything is well incorporated, refrigerate the dough for 1 hour. This step is essential for preventing the cookie from spreading too much during baking.

Preheat the Oven: While the dough is chilling, preheat the oven to 325°F (165°C).

Shape the Cookie: After chilling, form the dough into an oval shape, making it slightly taller than it is wide (this will help keep the cookie thick). Place it on a parchment paper-lined cookie sheet.

Bake: Bake the cookie for 12 minutes. Keep an eye on it to avoid over-baking.

Cool and Set: Once done, remove the cookie from the oven and let it sit for at least 1 hour. The cookie will continue to set as it cools. If you cut into it right away, it will be too gooey. After the hour, the cookie will be soft inside but set perfectly.