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Peanut Butter Cookies with Bittersweet Chocolate Ganache

Teresa R.

Taking 3rd Place in the 2022 Holiday Cookie Recipe Contest is an innovative take on a classic buckeye ball created by Teresa R.! There’s even a peanut butter surprise at the center of each cookie. Add this cookie to your holiday baking for the peanut butter-lover in your life.
3 hr Prep Time
14 min Cook Time
  • Prep Time: 3 hr
  • Cook Time: 14 min

Ingredients

  • Peanut Butter Cookie Dough

  • 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/4 teaspoons salt
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 cup packed dark brown sugar
  • 1 cup creamy peanut butter
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

  • Peanut Butter Filling

  • 3/4 cup creamy natural peanut butter
  • 3/4 cup confectioner’s sugar, sifted
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

  • Chocolate Ganache

  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 2 cups bittersweet chocolate chips
  • 1/2 cup chopped salted peanuts
  • Flaky sea salt

Instructions

Step 1

Whisk flour, salt and baking soda in a small mixing bowl.

Step 2

Cream butter, sugar and dark brown sugar together in a medium mixing bowl with an electric mixer on high speed until light and fluffy, 3-4 minutes.

Step 3

Mix in peanut butter. Add in eggs one at a time and mix well. Mix in vanilla.

Step 4

Stir in flour mixture and mix until just combined.

Step 5

Divide two into two logs, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1-2 hours.

Step 6

To make the peanut butter filling, stir peanut butter, confectioner’s sugar, vanilla extract and salt together in a medium mixing bowl. Form mixture into 24 approximate 1-inch balls.

Step 7

Heat oven to 375˚F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.

Step 8

Slice peanut butter cookie dough into 24 slices. Wrap one slice of cookie dough around each peanut butter ball and seal it in, rolling dough carefully into a ball. Place dough balls on cookie sheet.

Step 9

Place 1/4 cup granulated sugar on a small plate. Dip a flat bottom glass into sugar and flatten down dough balls slightly.

Step 10

Bake for 10-14 minutes or until cookies are golden. If using 2 baking sheets, rotate baking sheets halfway through baking.

Step 11

Cool on baking sheets for 5 minutes. Remove to wire rack to cool completely.

Step 12

To make the chocolate ganache, simmer cream in a small sauce pan over medium heat. Pour hot cream over chocolate chips in a small mixing bowl. Let sit for 3 minutes. Stir cream and chips together until smooth.

Step 13

Spread ganache on half of each peanut butter cookie. Sprinkle ganache with chopped salted peanuts and sprinkle with flaky sea salt.