Peanut Butter filled Chocolate Cookies

So I was perusing the internet for some baking inspiration for something to take along to a church group meeting. I came across these. Definately caught my interest! I think in Australia, we aren't that big on peanut butter and chocolate, but I have definately developed a taste for it! Whenever I can find Hersheys peanut butter cups I find myself fighting the urge to buy them by the boxful, because they're so hard to find around here!

So yeah.... these bickies looked absolutely mouthwatering to me, and I ceased my searching and started baking! I should probably mention that I had about 1 hour to get it done, and that I had to supervise my boy over his dinner, nurse the baby, and change both of them into pj's in that time....
.... I know. I'm crazy for even trying. Hah!

But I got it all done! So hopefully, that should give you an indication of how long it takes to make these :) Pretty quick and easy. And, well, lets just say, I can't stop eating them.

I found the recipe here, but adapted it ever so slightly. Mainly in the method because I was pressed for time and trying to multi-task haha! I've also written up the ingredients in a way more relevent to us Aussies :P.

Cookie dough
1 1/2 cups plain flour
1/2 cup dutch cocoa powder
1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda
125g butter, softened
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/4 cup smooth peanut butter
1 egg
1 tbsp milk
1 tsp vanilla extract

Filling
3/4 cup pure icing sugar, sifted
1/2 cup smooth peanut butter
white sugar for sprinkling

Method ...is easy as!

Preheat your oven to 180C. (I did 175C on mine, because it tends towards being too hot)

Sift the flour, cocoa, and bicarb of soda together into a bowl. Set aside.

In a larger bowl, beat together the butter, sugars and peanut butter until well combined.

Add egg, milk and vanilla, and beat well.

Add the flour mixture in 3 batches, mixing in gently after each addition.

Form the dough into 32 balls. I managed to get 35 out of mine for some reason.

Ok! So onto the filling now...


Combine icing sugar and peanut butter in a bowl, and beat until smooth.
Note: Beating didn't really work well for me. It formed alot of crumbs and didn't seem to come together. I was in a hurry too so in the end, I just kneaded it a little bit with my hands. Judging by the final texture though, I don't think that beating it would have worked very well anyway. It was more like a stiff dough.

Form into 32 balls - or the same amount you made for the chocolate ones rather.

Putting it together.....

Working on a non-stick surface (I used baking paper), gently flatten each chocolate ball. Top with a peanut butter ball. Then carefully fold the chocolate dough around the peanut butter and seal the edges. Then re-roll the whole thing into a ball again.

(I was rushing around pretty badly by this time, so I kinda forgot to take pics of all of this, sorry!)

Flatten each ball slightly, and sprinkle a little white sugar on top. Bake for about 8 minutes, or until the surface begins to slightly crack. Let them cool for a minute on the tray, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Done!

♪ ♫ Five little buns in a bakers' shop... Round and fat with sugar on top ♫ ♪

I must admit, I couldn't really wait for them to cool down properly before I had one. And mmmmmmm .... are they ever yummy when warm! I even popped a couple into the microwave for a few seconds the next day. But I don't recommend that, as I ended up burning one of them haha!

If you like peanut butter and chocolate, these won't disappoint. They aren't too sweet and the flavours and texture of the cookie with the filling works beautifully. My family aren't very big on the peanut butter & chocolate combination. Which is lucky for me, because I got to eat ALL the ones that were left at home... woohoo!


No, I don't feel guilty at all! >_>

xx