Chocolate Peanut Butter Sandwich Cookies - 2 peanut butter cookies sandwiched together by the chocolate peanut butter filling. So good!
A while back last year, when the Smitten Kitchen cookbook just came out, and I finally received it, it made me very happy because I really wanted her book. Since then, I have been using that cookbook mainly as my night time comfort reading, enjoying Deb's stories and pictures right before I fall asleep. Then, I had a realization last week that I haven't even cooked anything from that cookbook yet, and that was about to change when I started flipping through the pages and saw her chocolate peanut butter cookies, sandwiched together with a thick chocolate peanut butter frosting.
These cookies are so-o-o special! They will appeal equally to kids and adults, to those who like chocolate-based desserts and those who don't. These Chocolate Peanut Butter Sandwich Cookies have a perfect ratio of sugar to peanut butter: they are perfectly sweet and the chocolate frosting does not overwhelm the peanut butter taste.
I also love that the cookies don't have a large amount of butter in the frosting (only 2 tablespoons of butter in the frosting enough for 40 sandwiched cookies!) - just enough to fluff up and soften up the creamy peanut butter! As a result, I don't have that feeling in my stomach that I am stuffed even after I eat a whole bunch of these sandwich cookies!
I also love the small size of each individual cookie! Sometimes peanut butter cookies could be too rich, but these are not! They are just perfect little dessert.
I am definitely adding these easy-to-make Chocolate Peanut Butter Sandwich Cookies to my collection of simple-to-make but good-looking cookies!
Chocolate Peanut Butter Sandwich Cookies
Ingredients
Ingredients for Peanut Butter Cookie Dough:
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter , room temperature
- 8 tablespoons unsalted butter (1 stick), room temperature (let the butter from refrigerator sit on the counter for about an hour or so)
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup light brown sugar packed
- 1 large egg
- 2 cups all-purpose flour , sifted or aerated (see important note below!)
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
Ingredients for Chocolate and Peanut Butter Filling:
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter , room temperature
- ¼ cup creamy peanut butter , room temperature
- ⅓ cup powdered sugar
- 4 ounces semi-sweet chocolate
Instructions
Important note about properly measuring flour using measuring cups:
- The proper way to measure flour using measuring cups is to aerate it first. This is done either by sifting flour, or aerating it by fluffing it up and whisking it well, then spooning it into the measuring cup, then carefully removing any excess flour with a knife. If you just stick that measuring cup in the bag of flour and scoop some out, you will get a lot more flour than what the recipe calls for. Do aerate the flour, or you will end up with dry dough!
Peanut Butter Cookies:
- Beat butter and peanut butter in a large bowl until well combined and fluffy. Add the sugars and beat until combined. Add egg and beat until smooth.
- In a separate bowl, combine dry ingredients (flour, baking soda, salt).
- Add dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and beat on low speed until just incorporated.
- Divide dough into 4 parts: the dough will be crumbly. Form a rectangular shaped log out of each cookie dough part and wrap in plastic wrap. Freeze for 30 minutes until cookie dough firms up.
- Preheat oven to 350 F. Line baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Slice each log of cookie dough (after it’s been in the freezer for 30 minutes) into ¼ inch thick slices.
- Carefully place sliced cookies onto the prepared baking sheet (remember the dough is very crumbly). You don’t have to space them too far apart because these cookies won’t flatten. Bake for 10 minutes until lightly puffed and just a little bit golden brown at the edges.
- Transfer cookies to the cooling rack and cool completely before filling.
Chocolate and Peanut Butter Filling:
- In a medium bowl, using an electric mixer, beat the butter and peanut butter until light and fluffy.
- Gradually add the powdered sugar, beating until well combined.
- In a microwave melt the chocolate and add it to the peanut butter mixture, beating until well incorporated, fluffy and spreadable.
- Place about 1 teaspoon of chocolate frosting on top of a cookie and place a second cookie on top of the chocolate frosting. Press 2 cookies together. Repeat with the rest of cookies.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition Disclaimer:
The nutritional information on this website is only an estimate and is provided for convenience and as a courtesy only. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed. It should not be used as a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
can you please post the recipe for the chocolate cookies. i don't see it on the blog. pb looks great! but hubby prefers choc. want to make some of b oth
thanks!
These looks so delicious! Buttery and crunchy with a soft, fluffy peanut butter chocolate filling - right up my alley... and those other cute chocolate ones in the background look fantastic as well. Pinned and on my list to try 🙂
These are absolutely amazing! I made these just for the cookie and they are so light and crispy, yet not overly sweet. The peanutbutter is not too overwhelming either. Simply wonderful.
These cookies look delicious! I don't see anything about the chocolate ones though. Can you tell me what kind & how much chocolate is needed to make them?
Thanks!
Allison, if you look under "ingredients for filling" there is chocolate listed there: 4 ounces semisweet chocolate. For the filling you just beat the butter and peanut butter, then add powdered sugar, and then add 4 ounces of melted semisweet chocolate. That's how you make the peanut butter - chocolate filling, which holds the sandwich cookies together!
I'm sorry, I wasn't clear! There are chocolate cookies in the picture too. Are they a completely different recipe or are they the same cookie with chocolate added?
I see! 🙂 Yes, I made chocolate cookies too - I should post the recipe soon 🙂 I've been saving it for the holiday season! 🙂
These cookies look amazing, my mouth is watering! i can't wait to give these a try.
Those photos are gorgeous! I want to run out and get the ingredients right now. Thanks for sharing the recipe. Can't wait to try it!!
Quick question.... Do these cookies turn out crunchy (like a shortbread cookie)? I'm just curious. I love soft, chewy, and crunchy. Nice photos!
Juliana, yes they are like a shortbread cookie. They are very crunchy if they are kept uncovered :). If the cookies are kept in an air-tight container, they become less crunchy the next day but still have that nice shortbread cookie quality.
Oh, these are so so cute! But dangerous--I think I could eat a dozen. 🙂
Love how you stacked them in all those piles. The shape is fantastic! Makes me want to bake some cookies 🙂
I've had these bookmarked as must make from Deb's cookbook but have never gotten around to it! They came out perfect - although pretty much anything with peanut butter and chocolate is a win in my eyes : ) I like that they aren't huge cookies either!
Julia, I never get tired of looking at your gorgeous food photography. 🙂 These cookies look so cute and delicious. I know I won't be able to stop eating after a few cookies.
These are adorable! I can probably eat a whole batch. Yum!!!
We are making the cookies now! How do you store them?
You definitely need to store them in airtight container: they are very similar to shortbread cookies.
Those chocolate ones look so moist. I love that they are square and not round.
I'm pretty much in love with that photo where the front is out of focus and the back is in focus! So pretty. These look amaaaaazing!