Peanut Butter Stuffed Brownie Cookies

  

1 cup butter, softened

1 cup brown sugar

½ cup white sugar

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 ¼ cups flour (or about 10 oz)

½ cup cocoa

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

Salted Caramel Peanut Butter Filling*

4 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips

Heat oven to 350 degrees.

In a large mixing bowl, cream together butter and sugar. Stir in the eggs and vanilla. Add remaining ingredients and mix well.

 

Form dough into 24 balls. Flatten each ball and place a slice of peanut butter filling* in the center. Press the dough around the peanut butter filling so it is completely encased. Place filled cookies on a cookie tray and bake for 8 to 9 minutes.

Melt 4 ounces of semi-sweet chocolate chips. Drizzle over tops of baked cookies and sprinkle lightly with flaky sea salt if desired.

 

*Salted Caramel Peanut Butter Filling

10 ounces Trader Joe’s Salted Caramel Baking Chips

5 ounces peanut butter

Place in a glass dish and heat in the microwave for about 1 ½ minutes or until melted. Stir together until smooth. Pour into a gallon ziplock back, creating a log along the bottom of the bag. Chill in the refrigerator or freezer until firm. 

When you are ready to fill the cookies, cut open the bag and remove the peanut butter log. Slice into 24 equal pieces.