Peanut Butter Pillow Cookies! NOM-TASTIC!

I have been lusting after the Pillow Cookies I saw on Bakerella's blog for a week already. And though I should have probably worked on homework or applied to part-time jobs, I knew the time had come to try making some of my own!

Look how lovely they turned out!


IN YOUR FACE DELICIOUS. And it's really much simpler than it looks. Just bake a box of brownies, and whip up a batch of peanut butter cookies. Cut a piece of brownie, scoop a spoonful of peanut butter cookie batter, and excavate a hole that will fit the brownie ball. Also... while you're reading this, I'd like you to take a guess who took which pictures. Me or my amateur photographer BF...



Hide the brownie! Remember, this is supposed to be a surprise!!


Cook these guys for about 12-18 minutes, depending on the size you chose, and enjoy!


Here's the recipe!

Peanut-butter Pillow Cookies (inspired by Bakerella's Pillow Cookies)
Yield: 2 dozen (or fewer, depending on cookie size)

Brownies:

Prepare a box of brownies according to the box. I used Pillsbury because they were on sale...

Peanut-Butter Cookies (adapted from America's Test Kitchen, as posted by Haute Apple Pie):

1 C unsalted butter, softened
1/2 C granulated sugar
1 C brown sugar
1 C peanut butter (ATK recommends crunchy, but I don't roll that way)
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
2 1/2 C all-purpose flour
2 eggs, room temperature
2 tsp vanilla extract
Preheat oven to 350 F.

In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Set aside.

Brown 1/2 cup of butter on the stove-top in a small sauce pan. The butter should look and smell like caramel (don't cook it too long, or your butter will burn). After the butter has browned, remove from heat, and let sit for 10-15 minutes (if you have room, you can cool the butter in the fridge. You just don't want it runny).

In a large bowl, pour in the cooled, browned butter, add the remaining butter, and beat together butter and sugars until fluffy. Beat in peanut butter and vanilla extract until well-combined. Beat in eggs one at a time. Gradually add the dry ingredients, and beat until well-mixed.

Once you're done mixing, place the cookie dough in the fridge to cool for 30-60 minutes.
After the Peanut Butter Cookie dough has cooled, cut the brownies into bite-sized shapes and roll loosely into a ball (After I formed the balls, they were about the size of marbles. The size of your brownies will dictate the size of your cookies, so you can have as much or as little brownie as you'd like). Scoop a heaping tablespoonful of peanut butter cookie batter, and form a ball. Make an indentation that will fit the brownie ball.
Put the brownie ball inside the hole, and cover up the brownie completely. Re-shape into a ball as necessary. Place the Pillow Cookie dough on a cookie sheet, and mush the batter down to form a UFO-shaped object (peanut butter cookie batter doesn't spread well. If you forget, you will get a very puffy and under-cooked cookie).
Bake for 12-18 minutes (depending on size) or until golden brown.

Enjoy! Try not to eat all the cookies before class tomorrow morning.