This is Part 1 of this week’s baking effort. Why? Well, over the weekend, among my dessert cravings, I was hit with one for chocolate peanut butter. I think peanut butter is great. I like to microwave it for about 10 seconds and then just eat it. Sometimes I add in a little jam or some marshmallows or chocolate. Of course, I like it in other things as well (Thai food, Chinese food, sandwiches, etc.). Anyway, I decided that I wanted to make a cookie involving chocolate and peanut butter. I came across two recipes that I really liked (thanks, Anna): one had a peanut butter cookie with chocolate filling, while the other was a chocolate cookie with a peanut butter filling. I simply could not decide which I would rather make, so I thought, “BOTH!”
Chocolate Peanut Butter Volcanoes
Lava Part
3 oz (1/2 c) semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 oz unsweetened chocolate
1/2 c sweetened condensed milk
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
Cookie Part
1 3/4 c all-purpose flour
1/4 tsp plus 1/8 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
11 tbs (1 stick plus 3 tbs) unsalted butter, at room temperature
3/4 c peanut butter (not crunchy)
1/2 c plus 1 tbs (lightly packed) light brown sugar
6 tbs granulated sugar
3/4 tsp pure vanilla extract
1 large egg
1. Preheat the oven to 350oF. Line several baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. Make the lava: Melt the chocolates together in the top of a double boiler placed over simmering water (or microwave). Stir the melted chocolate vigorously into the milk until the mixture is smooth and well blended. Whisk in vanilla and set aside.
4. Make the cookie dough: Sift the flour, baking soda, and salt together into a small bowl and set aside.
5. Cream the butter, peanut butter, both sugars, and the vanilla together in a medium-size mixing bowl until light and fluffy, about 10 minutes. Add the egg and beat on medium speed until blended, about 1 minute. Scrape down the bowl. Add the flour mixture and mix on low speed until blended, about 15 seconds. Scrape the bowl and mix several seconds more.
8. Roll tablespoon-sized lumps of dough into balls and place them about 2 inches apart on the cookie sheets.
9. Press a deep hole into the center of eah bowl with your finger, and drop about teaspoon of the lava mixture into the hole. You may need to use your fingers a bit.
10. Bake the cookies until they are lightly golden, about 16 minutes. Cool the cookies on the sheet.
Makes… oops, I forgot to count!
