Chocolate-Filled Peanut Butter Cookies

I am in love with peanut butter cookies. These peanut butter cookies are sandwiched together with a delicious chocolate peanut butter filling.

Chocolate-Filled Peanut Butter Cookies
Makes 20 cookies
1 1/3 cups all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter, slightly softened
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
1 large egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup unsalted, creamy peanut butter

Filling and Topping
1/4 cup finely chopped unsalted, dry roasted peanuts
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup unsalted, creamy peanut butter
2 tbsp cocoa powder
3 tbsp confectioners’/powdered sugar
3 tbsp granulated sugar
2 tbsp finely chopped chocolate (semisweet/bittersweet)

Sift together flour, baking soda and salt in a small bowl.

In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugars until light. Beat in egg, followed by the vanilla and peanut butter. Gradually add in dry ingredients and beat on low speed until just combined.

Spoon dough onto a sheet of wax or parchment paper, shape into a roll about 3-inches in diameter and refrigerate until firm, about 2 hours.

Preheat oven to 375°F.

Prepare topping and filling. In small bowl, mix chopped peanuts, and granulated sugar; set aside.

In another small bowl, stir peanut butter, cocoa powder, sugars and chopped chocolate until smooth. Shape mixture 20 small (1/2 inch) balls and place each on a sheet of parchment paper. Set aside.

Remove cookie dough from fridge. Cut the log lengthwise in half, then make 10 horizontal cuts to slice the dough into a total of 20 even pieces. Each piece should be a semi-circle in shape. Flatten each piece of dough and place a peanut butter ball into it. Shape each cookie dough piece around the filling, making sure to cover the ball completely. Repeat with remaining dough and balls. Roll each ball in peanut-sugar mixture and place onto a parchment-lined baking sheet, leaving about 2-inches between balls. Use a flat-bottomed drinking glass to flatten the cookies down to 1/4-inch thickness. Bake for 9 – 11 minutes or until edges are golden brown. Cool for 1-2 minutes on the baking sheet, then remove cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.