Saturday, September 25, 2010

Chocolate Peanut Butter Surprise Cookies


 I think I'm getting old... I remember going to the movies when I was little and it was SO fun.  The big screen, the big bowl of fake buttered popcorn, a friend sitting next to me.  A kid's dream!  Somehow, I've changed over the years and now I usually prefer watching a video in the comfort of my own home, without all the crackling papers, crunching popcorn (I'm not a popcorn fan!) and coughing patrons.  

I haven't been to the actual theater in over a year, and was really looking forward to an evening out with my daughter and her friend to see the new You Again movie (it really was cute!).  Pizza was the treat of choice before heading in to find our seats, and luckily, by choosing the earlier showing we didn't have a full theater.  The girls sat in front of me and I settled in behind them with a nice big row all to myself.  With the theater being just a bit over 1/2 full, what are the chances that someone would pick the seat right next to me??  Tonight, the odds were 100%.  Really??  With 1/2 the theater open she had to pick that seat?  It's not like it was even a really good seat, and the entire rest of the row was open.  She then proceeded to eat each and every piece of her popcorn one, agonizing piece at a time.  I made it about half way through the movie before scooting down a few seats, giving myself a bit of breathing space.  The movie was cute, and I truly enjoyed watching the girls laugh and giggle.  The ride home was filled with their laughter and comments about the show that made me smile and to top it all off, we finished up our evening with a special Chocolate and Peanut Butter Cookie treat.

Somehow, chocolate and peanut butter make everything better!  My Mom made these cookies for us a few years ago and I have a note, handwritten by my son, that these are the "best cookies in the world"!  The tender cookies, just ever so slightly crisp on the outside give way to a beautifully soft, peanut butter center.  Covered with a sprinkle of sugar the cookies melt in your mouth and any frustrations you may have simply slip away.  Easy to make, quick to bake and tasty to eat.  The perfect finish to a fun evening.  For my next movie though, I think I'm queuing up on Netflix! 


Chocolate Peanut Butter Surprise Cookies
Made by my Mom in 2006... not sure of the source! 

1½ cups all-purpose flour
½ cup unsweetened cocoa
½ tsp baking soda
¼ tsp salt
½ cup granulated sugar (plus more for dipping)
½ cup packed brown sugar
½ cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup creamy peanut butter, divided
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 egg
¾ cup powdered sugar

Preheat oven to 375º.  Whisk together first 4 ingredients (flour through salt) in a medium bowl.  Set aside.

In a large bowl beat together sugars, butter and ¼ cup of peanut butter until light and fluffy.  Add the vanilla and egg, beating to combine.  Stir in the flour mixture and stir to combine, blending well.  Set dough aside.

Stir together the powdered sugar and remaining ¾ cup of peanut butter until smooth.  


To put the cookies together, break off a generous tablespoon of chocolate cookie dough, flatten a bit with your hands and then break off a smaller piece of the peanut butter mixture, placing it in the center of the chocolate dough.  Wrap the chocolate dough around the peanut butter center, pressing to seal.  Roll the cookie to smooth it out.  Drop into a bowl of sugar and roll the cookie in the sugar.  Place cookies on a silicone lined (or lightly greased) baking sheet 2 inches apart.  Using the bottom of a glass, flatten each cookie to about a ½ inch thickness.

Bake at 375º for 7 to 9 minutes, or until set.  Let stand on the baking sheet for 2 minutes, then remove to a wire rack.  Watch carefully as cookies tend to disappear if your back is turned and you are not alone in the house!! =)




42 comments:

  1. I love the combination of chocolate and peanut butter. These look wonderful :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anything with chocolate and peanut butter, I can gobble even on a full stomach- so, how can I resist these amazing looking cookies! Super delicious :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. I showed my husband the photo and he said, "Oh dear, God those look delicious!" I'm going to bake these for his plane trip for yet another training session. I'm sure they'll make him nice and happy :) Thanks, Kelly!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I love the contrast of colors in these cookies!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I like renting movies now more than going to the movies because going out to the theater is such an expensive experience! (Maybe that's me being old and complaining about how inexpensive the prices used to be though!) These cookies look like the perfect at home movie snack :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. Oh My Goodness! My all time favorite combination. These look sinful.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Can these be any more delicous? It's like a Reeces PB cup in cookie form! Completely irresistible.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I love peanut butter and chocolate, two of my favorites. I make the peanut blossoms at Christmas, but these look even better, more peanut butter!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I've been making these for years Kim - they always go over well! Good choice!

    ReplyDelete
  10. I'm old and tired too, so I like to curl up in a ball on my couch and watch a movie, next time I'm doing it with these cookies. I'm thinking maybe tonight!
    -Gina-

    ReplyDelete
  11. People are so weird! Why wouldn't she just take another seat? Very strange.

    This is antithetical to everything thing my native NYC self tells me about choosing a seat on the subway.

    Ah but these cookies. I think they could move mountains. Nothing like chocolate and peanut butter!

    ReplyDelete
  12. I love these surprised in middle cookies, I love peanut butter so this is so perfect!

    I too love watching movies at home now a days, maybe I am getting old too :-) It is lot easier at home, with putting my feet up, in pajamas, eating chocolate peanut butter cookies and watching Colin firth in Pride and Prejudice, that is simply heaven!

    ReplyDelete
  13. I've been looking for this recipe forever! I tried it a while ago and loved it, but then lost the recipe. Thank you so much for bringing this back into my life!

    Your photos are gorgeous, too! Making me hungry. :D

    ReplyDelete
  14. Before I get to these yummy cookies, I feel for you with the bad movie manners. My sister and I talk about that too - there is such a thing as movie etiquette and some people just don't have a clue.

    Now these cookies! Great combination and they look delicious!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Dimah, chocolate and PB is one of our favorites too!

    Suchitra, I can attest, that even if you are are full from a large meal, there is definitely still room for at least one of these!

    Summer, these would be perfect to send along! I sent batches of cookies with my husband too. They are always appreciated!

    Thanks Angie and Katerina!

    Sarah, I'm with you on the price... two girls, me and bucket of popcorn, almost $40!

    Torvie & Joseph, thanks!

    Reeni, perfect description!

    Becky, those are a favorite for us too! My son asks for them every year.

    Thanks Joe!

    Sounds like a perfect plan Gina!

    Joanne, I had to laugh at that one!!

    Pam, an excellent plant!

    Koci, I'm so glad you found it! My mom made these for us years ago and I had forgotten about them. Thanks!

    One, even the girls were upset at the "talkers" during the movie, and someones cell phone rang too!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Chocolate and peanut butter are definitely a match made in heaven! And these cookies sound like an amazing treat!

    ReplyDelete
  17. These look amazing! I love anything chocolate and peanut butter...definitely trying this one soon! :)

    ReplyDelete
  18. These look fantastic, Kim. My kids would love them, I am definitely saving for future reference.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Hey Kim - these cookies look awesome, especially with the surprise center! You're trip to movies sounds about like how mine go ;-) (PS, I'm also not a popcorn lover and would prefer to be in the comfort of home in front of my own big screen!)

    All the best,
    Veronica

    ReplyDelete
  20. These are one of my fav's. Love your pics!

    ReplyDelete
  21. I will definitely have to try these! My family loves anything chocolate and peanut butter, and these cookies combine them in a fantastic way:)

    ReplyDelete
  22. Hold on while I wipe the drool from my keyboard...

    Okay, all better. *ahem*

    Chocolate and peanut butter. Delish. Double delish when made into a cookie, hence the drooling.

    As for movie theaters, I no longer go to them either. One, I can't stand most patrons. Unfortunately here in Henderson/Vegas many are rude and do not respect the space or quiet time involved with a movie. For two, I'm cheap. I can't see spending $10 on a movie when I can wait 2-4 months and rent it for $1 at a Redbox. I am just much more comfy getting into my favorite PJs with a glass of wine and curling up on the couch with my fiance.

    I definitely want to see "You Again", especially since it has Betty White in it. No doubt she stole so many scenes. She's a riot! "I'm also on Facebook and the Twitter!" Heelarious! A definite must rent in a few months.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Oh wow we can expect to see *these* on the Top 9 in the very near future! If I came across one of these I would make a scene explaining how good they were...it doesn't get much better than chocolate and peanut butter. Such gorgeous photos!

    We saw a movie last weekend in the theatre and the movie was good, what I saw of it. Every time someone coughed without covering their mouths I felt the particles latch onto me I swear. The flamboyantly rude people behind me kept kicking my seat. It took all of my self control to refrain from sitting directly behind them and doing the same just to return the darn favor. I would rather have someones two-year-old come over and point on me with a slobbery chocolate finger and offer me a bite of a slimed cookie than that! I think the kid would be much more adorable about it too.

    You know, these cookies would be perfect to sneak into the theater the next time I get dragged kicking and screaming.

    ReplyDelete
  24. I bet if you'd had a few of these cookies with you in the theater, you could've placed them like a lure a few seats away and noisy popcorn eating woman would have: 1) moved away from you; and 2) forsaken her popcorn for these treats! Just a thought for if you ever venture back into a movie theater :)

    ReplyDelete
  25. Yes please!! Wow those cookies are so great!

    ReplyDelete
  26. Another family favorite, I can see. I wish I liked chocolate because the cookies look so incredible, but I'm excited to find them and make them for hubby and Dudette. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  27. If all I could eat for the rest of my life was peanut butter and chocolate, I think I'd be okay with it.
    These look SO wonderful! I love that the peanut butter is in the middle, rather than PB cookies with chocolate chunks. Great idea!

    ReplyDelete
  28. I luv these cookies! My hubby would adore these...what a great idea, they're better than peanut butter cups!

    ReplyDelete
  29. I tried it to day! It's just sooooo good! Great combination. Both are my favorite ever! Even mines are not as good than your cookies. I put too (way too little) little peanut butter and it's not really in the center too but it's still wonderful. Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  30. Hahaha, geez some people are just oblivious to their surroundings, aren't they? *chew chew chew* Would drive me batty as well. Although, I must say, I still like going to the actual theatre vs renting a movie and watching it on the couch. I still feel the magic!

    Talking about magic, those cookies look ma-gi-cal! I definitely need some after the day I just had.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Those look so amazingly decadent and delicious! I love peanut buttery desserts :) My co-blogger recently made peanut butter bars with chocolate ganache and they were amazing!

    ReplyDelete
  32. I'm having stomach pains just looking at these, and trust me, that is a good sign. I cannot wait to try these!

    ReplyDelete
  33. This looks like a great recipe! I can't help but smile when I read about the person in the theater choosing to sit next to you when it was half full as it was....I don't get people like that - and that is exactly what would happen to Grumpy (but he would probably make a comment about there being a lot more seating than what is right next to him - he can't take people being loud with their food!) I guess that is why we do netflix....but I can never stay awake when watching it at home. ;) ha ha.

    Thank you for the visit on my site and the link to your cookie!!

    ReplyDelete
  34. I just tried out this recipe and the cookies came out amazing! I took some photos and posted them over on my blog. I really love your blog and all the amazing sounding dessert recipes. I plan on trying more of them out! :)

    ReplyDelete
  35. i just made these from a sheet i tore out of Cottage Living in 2006. love them...sooo good! i'm linking back to you in my blog post, hope that's okay, thank you for posting the recipe!

    ReplyDelete
  36. Made these today and for some reason my dough turned out kind of dry and crumbly, making it hard to flatten out and wrap around the peanut butter center. The final, baked result is still tasty, but crumbly. I'm interested to try Martha's version of these cookies (with just some slight variations) here:
    http://www.marthastewart.com/recipe/chocolate-peanut-butter-surprise-cookies

    ReplyDelete
  37. These were abosulutely wonderful. I loved them. I stored mine in an airtight container with a few slices of bread to keep the cookies soft. I noticed they were beginning to harden not long after they cooled. The bread slice method really helped soften them up over the next few days.

    ReplyDelete
  38. I'm pretty sure the source is martha Stewart. They are awesome.

    ReplyDelete
  39. just to gare at them Im become more fat... I have to I must find in italy pinut butter to make them very soon

    ReplyDelete

Your comments make our hearts sing!