If you are looking for a last minute sweet treat for Halloween, I’ve got you covered. These Peanut Butter Chocolate Cookies will have you and your guests drooling – they are literally that good! IMO they are way too delicious to give out for trick or treaters coming to your door. I would hoard them for myself LOL.
The cookies are a lovely deep rich chocolate, so dark they are almost black. They contrast perfectly with the caramel-colored peanut butter filling. These are a little like a crispy Reese’s. The longer you leave the cookies (overnight would be good), the softer they get and the easier the cookies are to eat. I waited about an hour and I still had filling squishing out. Oh well, what’s a little peanut butter between friends, LOL. Beware – you’ve been warned – you are not going to be able to resist them!
You could easily serve the cookies on their own. They would be fantastic with a light sprinkling of powdered sugar and served alongside a piping hot cup of coffee or espresso. When they are baked they look a little like crinkle cookies. Really lovely. I could win blue ribbons with these beauties.
Lined up and ready for filling and sandwiching
I like that we can control the sweetness in the filling. The cookies are not that sweet on their own, so I liked the ratio of sugar to peanut butter that Mary came up with. But if you have major sweet lovers in your family, you can up the ratio and make everyone happy.
The slight bitterness of the chocolate cookies balances the sweetness of the peanut butter filling. These are treats that would be lovely any time of the year, but with the coloring, I can’t wait to serve these for Halloween!
I found these cookies on Mary Younkin’s website, Barefeet in the Kitchen. Mary always has the most beautiful smile on her face and her laughter is contagious and will have you giggling along. Please pop over to Mary’s blog and check out her recipes. I know you will find many fun things to make. Her collection of recipes is impressive and you should bookmark the page – you’re going to want to come back often!
Mary’s version was also gluten-free, but I used my favorite blend in place of the combination of flours and starches she recommends. You can use whichever you prefer – check the original recipe for her suggestions. If you do not need to bake gluten-free, I have included the option to bake these with regular all-purpose flour.
Enjoy these really easy to make and luscious Peanut Butter Chocolate Cookies. I know they will bring a smile to your face!
Jane’s Tips and Hints:
Use a very small spring-loaded scoop for the easiest and most consistent size cookies. When you are laying the baked cookies out, try to match them as closely as possible in size so they will sandwich together more easily.
If you love the look and flavor of vanilla seeds in your desserts, instead of extract, use vanilla paste. It is my favorite and I love the intense flavor it gives my baked goods. Give it a try and see what you think.
Gluten-Free Tips:
Peanut butter is naturally gluten-free, but some manufacturers are more careful than others at guaranteeing safety. Some process other products that may contain contaminants on the same equipment. Always look for a GF certification on the label to be sure. Skippy and Peter Pan brands are generally gluten-free, though some varieties may contain soy ingredients.
- Cookies
- 1 cup all-purpose flour or gluten-free flour blend
- 2/3 cup unsweetened Dutch processed cocoa powder
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened to room temperature
- 1-1/2 cups firmly packed brown sugar
- 2 tsp pure vanilla extract or paste
- 2 large eggs
- Filling
- 2/3 cup creamy or chunky peanut butter, at room temperature
- 2/3 to 1 cup powdered sugar, to taste
- 2 tsp organic vanilla paste or extract
- About 2 to 4 tbsp heavy cream or milk, as needed
- Make the Cookie Dough: In a bowl, whisk the flour, cocoa, salt and baking soda together and set aside.
- In a mixing bowl, with your standing mixer, beat the butter and sugars together until smooth, about 2 to 3 minutes. The mixture will look slightly lumpy, but it should clear the sides of the bowl. With the friction of the blade(s), the butter will soften even more and incorporate the sugar. Add the egg and vanilla and beat until satiny. Add the dry ingredients and beat until combined and smooth. If you are using regular dough, do not over beat the batter or your cookies will be tough.
- Cover loosely with plastic wrap and chill the dough 1 hour. If you don’t chill dough, the cookies will spread and be much thinner. Resting also helps the gluten-free flours fully absorb the liquids, giving you a better tasting cookie.
- Preheat the oven to 375°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a Silpat.
- Using a spring-loaded scoop, portion the dough into small balls about 2 to 3 tsp each and place on the prepared baking sheet, leaving room between the cookies to allow for spreading. Keep the remaining dough chilled until ready to bake the next batch.
- Bake the Cookies: Bake for 8 minutes, only until they begin to crisp on the edges; they will still look a little moist in the center. Let the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for at least 2 to 3 minutes before sliding the parchment with the cookies on it onto a wire rack to cool completely. This allows them to finish cooking in the center and firm up. Repeat with remaining dough.
- Make the Filling: While the cookies are cooling, combine the peanut butter and 2/3 cup powdered sugar in the bowl of your standing mixer. Beat about 2 minutes until thoroughly combined. Taste and beat in more sugar if desired. If needed for thinning, add some of the cream and beat until smooth. Taste and add more sugar if desired. The filling should be creamy and smooth enough to spread easily. Add more cream if needed for a good a spreading consistency. If it gets to thin, add more powdered sugar.
- Fill the Cookies: When the cookies are cool, turn half of them over so the flat side is up and place a large dollop of the filling on top. Place another cookie (flat side down) over the filling and press gently together to spread the filling to the edges. If you like, you can spin the top cookie a bit for a slightly prettier presentation.
- Set the cookies aside for at least 30 minutes before serving. They will become softer and absorb some of the moisture from the filling.
- Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
- Yield: 2 to 3 dozen sandwich cookies
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