Chocolate Peanut Butter Surprise Cookies

They're done! Or at least some of them are! The Chocolate Peanut Butter Surprise cookies are baked (but still in progress). They are not only beautiful, but they are also delicious. Lovely mix of chocolate and peanut butter, and the cookies are quite brownie-esque in texture. I highly recommend them. A word of warning, though...they were a bit of work. You'll see when you read the recipe.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Surprise Cookies
adapted from marthastewart.com
Printer-friendly recipe

2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup Dutch-process cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 pound (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
1/2 cup solid vegetable shortening
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 1/4 cups firmly packed light-brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter

1. Preheat oven to 350. Line at least two baking sheets with parchment. This way you can work on preparing one sheet of cookies while another is baking. Sift together flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and baking soda. Set aside.
2. In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat butter, shortening, granulated sugar and 1 cup brown sugar until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well between additions. Add vanilla, beat to combine. Gradually add dry ingredients; mix on low speed until fully combined. Cover bowl with plastic wrap. Chill until firm, about 1 hour. (NOTE: I was impatient, I worked with room temp dough.)
3. In a small bowl using a rubber spatula, stir together peanut butter and remaining 1/4 cup brown sugar.
4. Drop 1 tablespoon of dough at a time onto baking sheets, spacing cookies about 2 inches apart. Make a thumbprint in the center of each cookie. Fill thumbprint with 1-2 teaspoons of peanut butter mixture. Top with a second tablespoon of flattened dough. Carefully mold dough together to cover the surprise.5. Bake until firm, about 12 minutes. Transfer baking sheets to wire racks to cool for at least 5 minutes before removing from baking sheets.

Makes about 30-40 cookies.