Nutty Chocolate Thumbprints

Yield:
Makes 30 cookies

Ingredients

COOKIES

• 1 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
• 2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon table salt
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
• 3/4 cup powdered sugar
• 3/4 cup creamy peanut butter
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

PARCHMENT PAPER

FILLING

• 1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
• 2 tablespoons butter, softened
• 1/2 (4-oz.) 60% cacao bittersweet chocolate baking bar, chopped
• 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
• 2 to 3 Tbsp. milk, at room temperature

Preparation

• 1. Preheat oven to 350°. Whisk together first 4 ingredients in a medium bowl. 
• Beat 1/2 cup butter at medium-high speed with an electric mixer until fluffy. 
• Add brown sugar and 3/4 cup powdered sugar; beat until well blended. 
• Beat in 3/4 cup peanut butter, scraping down sides as needed. 
• Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating until blended after each addition. 
• Beat in vanilla. Reduce speed to medium-low, and gradually add flour mixture, beating just until blended.2. Shape dough into 30 balls. Place 12 balls 2 inches apart on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet.
•  Press thumb into each ball, forming an indentation. 
• Bake at 350° for 12 minutes or until set; cool 5 minutes.
•  Transfer cookies to a wire rack, and cool 15 minutes. 
• Repeat with remaining dough.3. Beat 1/4 cup peanut butter and 2 Tbsp. butter at medium speed until smooth.
•  Microwave chopped chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl at HIGH 1 to 2 minutes or until smooth, stirring every 30 seconds. 
• Add melted chocolate to peanut butter mixture, and beat at medium speed just until blended. 
• Gradually add 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar to peanut butter mixture alternately with 2 Tbsp. milk, beginning with sugar. Beat at low speed just until blended after each addition. 
• Beat in up to 1 Tbsp. milk, 1 tsp. at a time, until desired consistency is reached. Spoon filling into a zip-top plastic bag; snip 1 corner of bag to make a small hole, and pipe filling into indentations in cookies.