Peanut Butter Surprises

By janices

MAKES ABOUT 2 DOZEN
These chewy cookies are best eaten when they are fresh from the oven, while the chocolate center is still warm.

Ingredients

• 11/2 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter. room temperature
• 1 cup packed light-brown sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 cup smooth peanut butter
• 1 cup roughly chopped, roasted
• salted peanuts, plus about 48 halves for pressing into tops
• 10 ounces semisweet chocolate cut into 1-inch chunks

Preparation

Step 1

1. Combine flour, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl, and set aside. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter and sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add egg and vanilla; beat until well combined. Add peanut butter, and beat until combined.
2. Add the flour mixture all at once, and beat on low speed until just combined_ Add the peanuts; beat until combined. Wrap dough in plastic wrap. and chill in refrigerator at least 2 hours.
3. Preheat oven to 350f. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Pinch off about 2 tablespoons of dough, and make a well in your hand with the dough. Place one chunk of chocolate in the center, and enclose with the dough to cover com-pletely. Roll dough into about a 134-inch ball with your hands.
4. Place the bail of dough on the baking sheet; repeat with the remaining dough and chocolate, placing cookies about 2 inches apart Press 2 peanut halves into the top of each cookie.
5. Bake until cookies are golden. 16 to 18 minutes, rotating the pans halfway through. Remove from the oven; trans-fer cookies to a wire rack to cool slightly.