Best Peanut Butter Cocoa Cookies Recipes

PEANUT BUTTER COCOA COOKIES

Steps:

• HEAT oven to 350 degrees F.
• COMBINE shortening, peanut butter, brown sugar and granulated sugar in bowl of electric mixer; beat at medium speed until well blended. Gradually add eggs and vanilla, beating well.
• COMBINE flour, cocoa, baking powder and baking soda in medium bowl. Add to shortening mixture, beating at low speed until blended. Stir in chocolate chips. Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls 2 inches apart onto ungreased baking sheets.
• BAKE 10 to 12 minutes, or until edges are lightly browned. Cool 2 minutes on baking sheets. Place on cooling racks to cool completely.

COCOA-PEANUT BUTTER HEART-SHAPED SANDWICH COOKIES

Steps:

• Whisk flour, cocoa and baking powder in small bowl to blend. Using electric mixer, beat butter, 1 cup sugar and 1/2 cup powdered sugar in large bowl until well blended. Beat in egg, then peanut butter and vanilla. Add dry ingredients; beat until well blended. Divide dough into 4 pieces; flatten each into disk. Wrap dough in plastic; chill overnight.
• Position 1 rack in center and 1 rack in bottom third of oven and preheat to 375°F. Butter 2 baking sheets. Sprinkle work surface generously with additional sugar. Place 1 dough disk atop sugar on work surface (dough will be soft; keep remainder refrigerated). Sprinkle top of dough with additional sugar. Roll out dough to generous 1/4-inch thickness, sprinkling with additional sugar as needed to prevent sticking.
• Using 3-inch heart-shaped cookie cutter, cut out cookies. Transfer cookies to prepared baking sheets, spacing 2 inches apart. Using small heart-shaped or round cookie cutter, make 1 hole in center of half of cookies. Gather dough scraps; reshape into disk and refrigerate. Bake cookies until puffed and beginning to crack on top, about 7 minutes. Using spatula, transfer cookies to rack; cool completely. Repeat rolling, cutting and baking with remaining dough disks and scraps. (Can be made 2 days ahead. Store between layers of waxed paper in airtight container.)
• Stir chopped milk chocolate in top of double boiler over barely simmering water until melted and smooth. Remove chocolate from over water. Sift additional powdered sugar over cookies with hole. Place 1 solid cookie, bottom side up, on work surface. Spread 1 teaspoon melted chocolate over. Spoon 1 scant teaspoon strawberry jelly atop chocolate in center. Immediately top with cookie with hole, placing hole over jelly and pressing gently to adhere (cookies are very tender). (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Store in single layer in airtight container and refrigerate. Cookies may soften slightly.)

PEANUT BUTTER COCOA NO-BAKE COOKIES

Steps:

• Place a piece of wax paper or foil on cookie sheet. Combine sugar, butter, milk and cocoa in medium saucepan.
• Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture comes to rolling boil.
• Remove from heat; cool 1 minute.
• Add peanut butter; stir to blend. Add oats, peanuts and vanilla; stir to mix well. Quickly drop mixture by heaping teaspoons onto wax paper or foil. Cool completely. Store in cool, dry place.