Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Cookies

Santa Baby by Everclear

Somehow I just don't believe Everclear when they sing this song!  I think that they've really been bad - very bad!  And I find myself smiling and secretly hoping that they have been bad!  What?!?!  I know, I know.  But, when they sing this song, they make me think of those bad boys in class in high school.  The ones that had the nerve to say the things that everyone else was thinking, even if it sent them to the principal's office.  Quietly I'd smile to myself and have a bit of a crush for a moment.  It's always said that girls like those bad boys.  There might be a little truth in that, I suppose.  Today I've been a little naughty myself.  Taking a perfectly good cookie and hiding secrets inside.  And once I started, I couldn't stop the naughty train until I smashed right into a full-blown sundae with peanut butter oozing down the sides!  I just know that when my husband reads this post and sees that sundae he's going to come into the kitchen and give me that look that says "Why is this on your blog but NOT IN MY BELLY!"

Dear Santa,

I hope you will forgive me for being a little naughty this week!  I should leave well enough alone, I know!  But these thoughts!!!  They just come into my head UNINVITED!!!  

You know those Soft Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookies that you love so much?  Well, while thinking of another cookie I had last year that I loved so much, this idea just BURST into my head.  The idea that I could wrap the chocolate cookie dough around a peanut butter cup and bake it up!  I figured that it would come out with this incredible peanut buttery middle and that the chocolate coating would bake right into the cookie.  I was half right.  There was an incredible peanut buttery middle - but that chocolate coating acted more like a chocolate chip, leaving a chocolatey drip as you pulled apart the cookie!  So it was magnificently even BETTER than I had anticipated!

Even with as decadent as the cookie turned out, my mischievous mind was not happy.  It started thinking about this idea!

A warm cookie with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream and melted peanut butter drizzled ALL OVER THE TOP!  

It.  Was.  Delicious!!!

I'll tell you what, dear Santa.  You're a smart man and probably have an eye for a good deal.  How's about I leave some of this naughty goodness out for you Christmas Eve - and we call it fair and square ~ and I get to be a good little girl again!?  

With much LOVE and APPRECIATION and ADORATION,

~ Janice

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Cookies

makes 16 monster cookies

Printable Recipe Card

1 c. butter, softened (227 g)

2 c. sugar (400 g)
2 eggs
1 T. vanilla
2 1/4 c. flour (333 g)
3/4 c. cocoa powder (70 g)
1 t. baking soda
1/2 t. kosher salt

16 peanut butter cups, regular size

Cream together the butter and sugar on high speed until light and fluffy - about 5 minutes.  Add the eggs, one at a time, making sure to mix well after each.

In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt until well-combined.  Add the dry ingredients to the mixing bowl and mix on low just until the dry ingredients are incorporated.  Don't over mix. 

Using a #16 scoop (about 1/4 c.) portion out some dough.  Divide the amount in half and pat half into slightly flat disc.  Place a peanut butter cup on the disc and place the other half of dough on top.  Gently pat the dough around the peanut butter cup until you form a sort of hockey puck shape.

Place on a lined cookie sheet and continue with the rest of the dough and peanut butter cups.  Cover the shaped cookies with plastic wrap and freeze or chill for about an hour.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Place about 4 frozen/chilled cookie dough discs on each lined cookie sheet.   These are big cookies and need room to grow!  Bake for 15 minutes.  Do not give in to the temptation to cook them longer or they will be dry, dry, dry!

Remove from the oven and give the tops a slight pat down and let cool - or use when still warm for the sundae!