Magic in the Middle

Jen made these a few weeks ago, and I was delighted to find that I had all the ingredients on hand to make up a batch today! Although there is a certian contentment that comes along with pulling piping hot cookies from the oven, today's little morsels of heaven also brought a sense of urgency: Get as many plates together and give them away ASAP, these are dangerous!


INGREDIENTS

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar (plus more for dipping)
• 1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup creamy peanut butter, divided
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 large egg
• 3/4 cup powdered sugar

1. Preheat oven to 375. Whisk together first 4 ingredients in a medium-size mixing bowl. In a separate bowl, beat together granulated and brown sugars, butter and 1/4 cup peanut butter until light and fluffy. Add vanilla and egg, beating to combine. Stir in dry ingredients, blending well. Set dough aside.

2. Stir together remaining 3/4 cup peanut butter and powdered sugar until smooth. With floured hands, roll mixture into 26(1-inch) balls.

3 Break off about 1 tablespoon cookie dough, make an indentation in center with thumb, and press 1 peanut butter ball into indentation. Wrap dough up and over filling, pressing to seal; roll cookie to smooth it out. Repeat for each cookie.

4. Dip top of each cookie in granulated sugar and place 2 inches apart on lightly greased baking sheets. Use greased bottom of drinking glass to flatten each cookie to about 1/2 inch thick.

5. Bake cookies at 375 for 7-9 minutes or until set. Let cool on wire rack.