Peanut Butter-Filled Chocolate Cookies Recipe

Ingredients:

• Filling:
• 3/4 cup creamy peanut butter
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 2 pinches flaky finishing salt
• Cookie Dough:
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar, plus 2 tablespoons to coat cookies
• 1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
• 2/3 cup Dutch cocoa powder
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
• OPTIONAL:
• 1/2 cup melted chocolate and 1/2 cup chopped peanuts

Directions:

1. Make filling: Line a small tray with parchment paper. In a medium bowl, mix peanut butter, powdered sugar, and salt until blended. Form heaping teaspoonful portions of filling into balls. Place on parchment-lined tray. Place tray in freezer while making cookie dough.
2. Adjust oven rack to middle position. Preheat oven to 375°F.
3. Make cookie dough: Using an electric mixer on medium speed, beat butter with peanut butter, 1/2 cup granulated sugar, and brown sugar until creamy. On low speed, mix in egg and and vanilla. In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt. Gradually beat flour mixture into butter mixture until combined.
4. Assemble cookies: Place 2 tablespoons granulated sugar in a small bowl. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Remove peanut butter balls from freezer. Form scant 2 tablespoon portions (a #40 scoop) of chocolate dough into a ball. Flatten to a disk, about 2 1/4-inches in diameter. Place a peanut butter ball in the center and wrap chocolate dough around it to seal. Roll into a ball. Roll ball in granulated sugar and place on parchment-lined baking sheet. Flatten cookie slightly. Repeat with remaining dough and filling.
5. Bake one sheet of cookies at a time on middle oven rack 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from oven. Cool cookies on baking sheet 5 minutes; then transfer to a rack to cool completely. Store at room temperature in an airtight container.
6. Optional garnish: Dip one side of each cookie in melted chocolate and immediately dip into chopped peanuts. Place on a rack until set.