12 Days of Christmas Cookies - Chewy Chocolate-Stuffed Peanut Butter Cookies

Sometimes I like to take a look back at old posts of my blog and reminsce about recipes of days past. Or laugh at my crappy pictures.  Or cringe at my amateur writing style as I still tried to find my voice (still trying). 

When looking back, I came upon this little gem from on of my first blog posts. That's right, folks, from July of 2008.  A nascent blogger, this site was only about 2 months old, I was crying about living in DC as I had just moved a few months prior from my beloved NYC so Jack could go to grad school, I was 27 years old (my favorite age of my 30 long years), and I had just realized how much I loved cooking.  

As a young blogger, I was still titling my posts with crazy titles.  Were they funny? Maybe? Did they help in a google search? Not so much. I don't know how many people would be searching for a recipe for "These Are the Best Cookies EVERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR". 

But seriously, they were. And they still are.  I can't get over how good they are.  A soft, peanut butter cookie envelopes a deliciously smooth, chocolatey center. Rolled into a ball, the cookie is then rolled in a peanut and cinnamon sugar coating, flattened, and baked until it turns into these magically delicious bites of heaven.  As you bite through the soft, peanut buttery exterior with hints of cinnamon and delicious little nuggest of chopped peanuts, you are hit with a wonderfully chocolatey center. 

I mean, come on! Don't you want to eat at least 7 of these???

This begins 12 days of Christmas cookies on my blog.  Now, knowing my track record, these days may not be consecutive. I can already tell you that day 2 of Christmas cookies won't be until Monday, because, frankly, I haven't baked any more cookies yet and won't until tomorrow.  But don't you worry!  There will be many delicious treats to be had here! There will be plenty more of THE BEST COOKIES IN THE HISTORY OF CHRISTMAS!!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHH! SANTA!

Adapted from Baking Bites

Chocolate-Filled Double Delight Peanut Butter Cookies
PB Cookie Dough
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 peanut butter (smooth, national brand)

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

Make the cookie dough. 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, granulated sugar and cinnamon; set aside.

In another small bowl, stir peanut butter, cocoa powder, sugars and chopped chocolate until smooth. If mixture is very wet (this may be the case if it is very hot outside), add an additional tsp or two of confectioners’ sugar. 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 chocolate 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.

(This is a pre-roll-in-sugar shot)

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.

Makes 20 large cookies

 

Comments

[Jo]

These look so good. Would love for you to share this with us over at foodepix.

[Cheap UGGs for Sale]

dear friends merry christmas

[Account Deleted]

Yum! Will absolutely have to make these :)

[new era hats]

new era hats The supreme happiness of life is the conviction that we are loved.

[Jeremy Scott Shoes]

My good friends recommend this site to me.I have to say that the content here was the most completed that I found anywhere.I will be back to check some more information on this.Thanks~~

[Belstaff Jacket UK]

I really like this website , and hope you will write more ,thanks a lot for your information,thank u very much.

[Asics UK]

Thank you for putting into words what I have been feeling.

[Karen Millen Dress]

this is the interesting business,welcome to do the longterm buisnes with us.if you want to do the business donot hesitated to contact with us

[Erin]

I made these for my husband's work Christmas party and they were great! I added a half a square of a Hershey Bar inside the chocolate in each cookie because I'm particular about my peanut butter to chocolate ratio. Yummers. Thanks!

[new era snapback hats]

It looks delicious!

[Wholesale New Era Hats]

How good you are! Thank you for your post.

[cheap zenith watches]

Thank you for getting the time to look at this, I really feel strongly about this and I advantage from studying about this topic. Please, when you obtain facts, please include to this weblog receiving a complete whole lot more information. I have found it quite useful. 123

[longchamp bags]

the parents know that too much material life won't always do good to the children.