I don't know if you've noticed but...
I love cookies.
Like...I really love them.
More than one person has dubbed me a "cookie monster".
Don't get me wrong-I love many desserts! But there's something about cookies...Michael mocks the huge reserve I have of cookie recipes, that I'm just waiting to make.
One of my favorite bloggers that I've recently started following is Baker Bettie. She's amazing-she has a great 50's flair topped with gorgeous photos and a real, scientific knowledge of food-especially cookies! Since cookies are sort of her specialty, she started a new series "Cookies Are The New Cupcake":
Cupcakes get all the attention, cupcakes get all the love. Baker Bettie is saying it's cookies' turn! Again, I like cupcakes-quite a lot! However...I eat cupcakes probably a few times a year...cookies are a much more frequent occurrence (we don't need to say how often...). I've already been lucky enough to be featured on her Sunday "Cookies Are The New Cupcake from the Readers Edition" with my Butter-less Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies. But, I had to share more cookies! And I had to let you all know about this amazing series.
Left--"fluffy" Right--finished dough. |
Anyway-back to these cookies. I made them right before Christmas time-and fell in love! They are thick, chewy, and rich! A large peanut butter chocolate cookie full of pieces of Reese's peanut butter cups. Um, hello heaven? They taste like the amazing cookies that you buy at a bakery and are convinced you could never make at home. But you can!! These were, in fact, inspired by some amazing cookies Annie from Annie's Eats enjoyed while on a trip in Vermont. She was so haunted by these amazing cookies that she set to task recreating them. I never had those original cookies, of course, but these are some of the best cookies that I have had the pleasure of making. They're also super satisfying-one cookie makes you feel complete. Michael loved these, I loved these, and the mean lady on the bus back to Ohio probably loved that 1/2 of the cookie she pretty much forced me to give her....but...that's a different story. Anyway! ME LOVE COOKIES! YOU SHOULD EAT COOKIES RIGHT NOW! (that's my cookie monster impression...get it?...I'm weird...)
Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Cookies
From Annie's Eats
Makes 13-16 large cookies
Ingredients:- 1 1/2 cups + 2 tbsp. all-purpose flour
- 6 tbsp. Dutch processed cocoa ( if using natural cocoa-like I did-add extra 1/4 tsp. baking soda also)
- 1/2 tsp. baking soda
- 1/2 tsp. coarse salt
- 6 tbsp. butter, at room temperature
- 1/4 cup + 2 tbsp. creamy peanut butter
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- 2 tbsp. milk
- 2 cups chopped peanut butter cups (this goes easier if you freeze the cups for around 30 minutes before chopping)
Preparation:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- In a medium bowl combine flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt.
- In a large bowl beat peanut butter, butter, and sugars on medium speed until "fluffy".
- Blend in egg, vanilla, and milk until smooth.
- On low speed (with hand or stand mixer) mix dry ingredients in with the rest until just incorporated.
- Add 1 1/2 cups chopped peanut butter cups and fold in gently with a spatula.
- Using a large scoop (3 tbsp.) place rounds of dough on parchment/silpat lined baking sheets, 2-3 in. apart.
- Press a few pieces of the reserved peanut butter cups into top of each dough ball.
- Bake 12-14 minutes, rotating pans halfway through baking time.
- Let cookies cool on baking sheets for 10 minutes, then transfer to wire wracks. (Cookies may seem soft, but just let them set-you don't want to over-bake!)