Follower Friday: Peanut Butter Cup Cookies

 
Today's post belongs to Laura.  We've been friends since we were 13.  We both grew up in PA - yeah!  And even after we went to college (four hours apart in the West) we still made it a priority to see each other every couple semesters.  She's beautiful, creative and I've always been jealous at how comfortable she is in any situation.  She also has her own food blog - check it out!

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I feel so honored to be featured on Tiffanie's blog!

My name is Laura Larson,

  And Tiff and I met many years ago at girl's camp.

Funny story actually!

During our 1st year at girl's camp,

she totally (accidentally) walked in on me in the bathroom.

Awkward!

We didn't exactly strike up a conversation right then and there.

So it wasn't until the following year that we made the connection 

"Hey, you're that girl who...."

And we've been really good friends ever since!

She makes me laugh more than any girl I know!

I admire how she's always been herself 

and well, she's just Fabulous!

Anywho, enough about Tiff! :)

This cookie recipe that I'm featuring is one of my top 3 favorite holiday cookies ever!

My mom made it one Christmas and I've never forgotten it. 

I mean look at it, this is a decorative cookie that can be used for either

Halloween, Thanksgiving or Christmas.

I have a blog called The Cookie Jar, All things BAKING, that you can visit HERE.

Please come by and visit for more cookie recipes or pies, breads, muffins etc.

Or simply to say hello. I'd love to meet you!

Thanks for having me Tiff!

Ingredients:

makes 3 dozen

1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

2 squares (1 ounce each) unsweetened baking chocolate

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup butter or butter shortening

2 eggs

1 t. salt

1 t. vanilla

11/2 cups + 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1/2 t. baking soda

3/4 cups finely chopped peanuts

36 miniature peanut butter cups, unwrapped

 Instructions

1. Microwave 1 c chocolate chips and 2 squares (1 oz each) baking chocolate for 2 minutes. 
2. Repeat until smooth (or melt on rangetop in small saucepan on very low heat).  
3. Allow chocolate to cool slightly.
4.  In a separate bowl combine sugar and 1/2 cup butter in large bowl. 
5. Beat 1 c sugar and 1/2 c butter.  Beat in 2 eggs, 1 tsp salt and 1 tsp vanilla.
6. Add melted chocolate slowly.  Mix until well blended.
7. Stir in 1 1/2 c + 2 Tbsp flour and 1/2 tsp baking soda. 
8. Shape dough into 1 1/4 inch balls.  Roll in nuts.
9. Place 2 inches apart on baking sheet lined with parchment paper or silpat.
10. Bake at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes.  
11. Immediately after taking out of oven, Press peanut butter cup into center of each cookie
12. Cool 3-5 minutes on baking sheet before removing to cooling rack.

Drizzle

1. Place peanut butter chips in heavy resealable sandwich bag. Seal. 
2. Microwave for 1 minute.  Knead bag.  
3. Repeat until smooth (or melt by placing bag in hot water). Cut tiny tip off corner of bag. Squeeze out and drizzle over cookies. 

Microwave 1 c chocolate chips and 2 squares (1 oz each) baking chocolate for 2 minutes. 

Repeat until smooth (or melt on rangetop in small saucepan on very low heat).  

Allow chocolate to cool slightly.

 In a separate bowl combine sugar and 1/2 cup butter in large bowl. 

Beat 1 c sugar and 1/2 c butter.  Beat in 2 eggs, 1 tsp salt and 1 tsp vanilla.

Add melted chocolate slowly.  Mix until well blended.

Stir in 1 1/2 c + 2 Tbsp flour and 1/2 tsp baking soda.

Shape dough into 1 1/4 inch balls.  Roll in nuts.

Place 2 inches apart on baking sheet lined with parchment paper or silpat.

Bake at 350 degrees for 8 minutes.

Immediately after taking out of oven, Press peanut butter cup into center of each cookie

Cool 3-5 minutes on baking sheet before removing to cooling rack.

Drizzle

Place peanut butter chips in heavy resealable sandwich bag. Seal. 

Microwave for 1 minute.  Knead bag.  

Repeat until smooth (or melt by placing bag in hot water). 

Cut tiny tip off corner of bag. Squeeze out and drizzle over cookies.

 

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Chocolate and peanut butter...my favorite dessert combination!
HAPPY WEEKEND! :)