chocolate peanut butter sandwich cookies

if you've been a long time reader or know my husband jason, you know two things: he doesn't particularly care for sweets, especially cake, and for the rare times he chooses something sweet, it almost always involves chocolate and peanut butter. so in 2011 we celebrated his birthday with peanut butter chocolate chip cookies and in 2012 it was black bottom peanut butter pie. this year, these sandwich cookies were on the menu.

normally i am a sucker for a big piece of birthday cake, slathered with homemake buttercream. but these cookies are no joke. jason definitely didn't miss the cake and neither did i. they're so rich and flavorful, we spent the couple nights after his birthday sharing one after dinner. next time, i'll make them smaller, more manageable.

chocolate peanut butter sandwich cookies
adapted from donna hay
makes 12 sandwich cookies

for the cookies
1 1/2 cups chopped dark chocolate
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 eggs
2/3 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup all purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon baking powder

for the filling
1 cup powdered sugar
1 cup creamy peanut butter
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/3 cup heavy cream

1. preheat your oven to 350F. line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
2. make the cookies. place about half of the chocolate and the butter in a saucepan over low heat and stir until melted. set aside.
3. in a medium bowl, whisk the eggs, sugar, and vanilla until creamy. add the remaining dark chocolate, melted chocolate, flour, and baking powder and mix until blended. let stand for 10 minutes.
4. spoon tablespoons of the dough onto the lined baking sheet. bake for 8-10 minutes or until they are puffed and just start to crack. cool completely on the baking sheet.
5. while the cookies are cooling, make the filling by beating the sugar, peanut butter, butter, and vanilla until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. add the cream and beat for another 2 minutes until smooth.
6. once the cookies are cool, match them up by size and shape. spread half of the cookies with the filling and sandwich with the other cookies.