Peanut Butter Sandwich Cookies - Confectionary Tales of a Bakeaholic

I know what you need in your life. Peanut Butter Sandwich cookies with Chocolate Ganache. Whether it’s for Valentine’s Day treats for a loved one, Galentine’s Day for a girl’s brunch, gifts for students, or just a general cookie craving, I guarantee that these will hit the spot.

So much so that I had to give them to students AND send them to friends. Because otherwise I would have eaten every. single. cookie. Seriously.

These cookies have been a little idea in my head for the longest time. I love chocolate and I love peanut butter and the idea of combining the two of the into a sandwich cookie has been something I haven’t been able to shake.

These peanut butter cookies are delicious plain, sandwiched with ganache, appropriate for breakfast or dessert, and just all around a very versatile and flexible cookie. And, not that they lasted this long, but they ship really well! The ganache hardens enough that it stays put inside the cookie (the pictures in this post were when the ganache was still soft. I was impatiently eating them. What else is new)

These cookies are not only delicious and make a great treat for your friends and loved ones, they were baked to help raise money for pediatric cancer! I wasn’t able to participate in last year’s event but I wanted to make sure I was able to both donate and participate this year. Here’s a little message about the event and organization!

This is the second year for our Valentine’s event! We want to make a difference in the fight against pediatric cancer!

Did you know that cancer is the #1 cause of death of children by disease in the U.S.? There are 40,000 U.S. children actively battling cancer right now. With less than 4% of the National Cancer Institute’s budget going to all childhood cancer combined, I knew it was important for me to get involved.

Help us make a difference by donating to Cookies for Kids’ Cancer! Our goal is to raise at least $3000. Because these three companies: Dixie Crystals, Mediavine and OXO have each pledged to match our donations raised through this campaign up to $3000!!!

Thanks to many of you, we have reached our goal. You can still donate and help us make an even bigger difference!

Donate here.

We’ll be accepting donations through March 1!

Peanut Butter Sandwich Cookies with Chocolate Ganache

makes about 15 sandwich cookies

1 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup granulate sugar
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
3/4 cup creamy peanut butter
1 large egg
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1 1/2 cups bittersweet or semi-sweet chocolate, chopped
3/4 cup heavy cream

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. Set aside.

In a medium sized bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. In a large mixing bowl, beat together butter and both sugars until combined and smooth. Add peanut butter and mix together. Add in egg and vanilla until combined. While on slow, add in flour mixture slowly until just combined.

Scoop dough out and roll into balls, placing them on the baking sheet 2 inches apart. Using a fork, slightly flatten the cookies and turn fork in the opposite direction and flatten again.

Bake cookies for 9-10 minutes, until cookies are lightly golden brown on the edges. Let cookies cool on baking sheet for 5-10 minutes. Transfer to wire cooling rack and let cookies cool completely.

While cookies cool, chop chocolate and put in heat proof bowl. Set aside. In a small sauce pan, heat up heavy cream until simmering and little bubbles form on the side. Pour warm heavy cream over the chocolate and let sit 3 minutes. Slowly stir together until smooth and combined.

Place a piece of plastic wrap directly on top of the ganache so there’s no air between the plastic and chocolate, and either refrigerate or leave ganache on countertop to set up. When ganache has thickened, spread the ganache on the back of one cookie and place second cookie on top, or place ganache in a piping bag and pipe ganache onto back.

Store cookies in an airtight container and enjoy!

[adapted from Cooking Classy]