Peanut Butter & Jelly Cookies

Mike made these cookies the other day and I was not super excited about them. Peanut butter and jelly cookies sound weird to me. But, holy mother of shit balls, they are good. I even kept the peanut butter filling and plan to dip a chocolate bar in it later. I'm not ashamed of how fat kid crazy that is, either.

Here is the recipe in case you want to partake in this goodness:

INGREDIENTS

COOKIE DOUGH

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 stick unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1/2 cup lightly packed light brown sugar
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup creamy natural peanut butter
• 1/4 cup chopped honey-roasted peanuts

FILLING

• 1/3 cup creamy natural peanut butter
• 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
• 1/4 cup confectioners’ sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/4 cup seedless jam, such as Concord grape, raspberry or strawberry

HOW TO MAKE THIS RECIPE

1. MAKE THE DOUGH Preheat the oven to 350°. Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper. In a medium bowl, whisk the flour, baking soda and salt. In another medium bowl, using a hand mixer, beat the butter with both sugars at medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in the egg and vanilla, then beat in the dry ingredients in 3 batches, mixing well between additions. Fold in the peanut butter until fully incorporated.
2. Scoop 24 one-inch balls of dough onto the baking sheets at least 2 inches apart. Press the balls down slightly; they should be about 1 1/2 inches in diameter. Sprinkle the tops with the chopped peanuts. Bake the cookies for 10 to 12 minutes, until the edges are light golden brown and the tops are slightly cracked; rotate the baking sheets halfway through. Let the cookies cool for 10 minutes on the baking sheet, then transfer to a rack to let cool completely.
3. MEANWHILE, MAKE THE FILLING In a bowl, using a hand mixer, whip the peanut butter with the butter, confectioners’ sugar, vanilla and salt at medium speed until fluffy, about 5 minutes. Refrigerate for about 45 minutes, until chilled.
4. Spoon 1 1/2 tablespoons of the filling on the underside of 12 cookies. Spread 1 teaspoon of jam on the underside of the remaining cookies. Sandwich the halves together and serve.

MAKE AHEAD

The assembled cookies can be refrigerated for up to 3 days.