April 18, 2013

the must-do list – salty peanut brown butter sandwich cookies

cookies, nuts
the must-do list – salty peanut brown butter sandwich cookies

My To-Do list grows more often than it shrinks. Spice cabinets and pantry drawers need reorganizing, doors require repainting, and book shelves scream for clearing. (I need to accommodate my addiction for coookbook acquisition.)

I did manage to clear out three linear feet of shelf space to organize a very small portion of my cookbook horde. Seeing this empty space gave me hope, as one small task instilled such copious comfort.  I then ventured into the endless list entitled “I’ll Try These Recipes Someday.”

This peanut cookie has sat on the list for some time. I recently raised its priority because of my growing fondness for all things peanut butter. This one is simply two crispy cookies with a creamy peanut butter center where the saltiness and the use of brown butter brings out the nuttiness of the peanuts. The sweet duels with the savory, but in the end, sweetness wins out.

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Print Recipe

Salty Peanut Brown Butter Sandwich Cookies

Yield: about 20-22 sandwich cookies

Ingredients:

Peanut Cookies

4 tablespoons (2 ounces) unsalted butter

1-1/4 cups (6-1/4 ounces) raw peanuts , toasted and cooled

3/4 cup (3-3/4 ounces) all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt

1/2 cup (4-1/2 ounces) creamy peanut butter

1/2 cup (3-1/2 ounces) granulated sugar

1/2 cup packed (4 ounces) light brown sugar

3 tablespoons unsweetened coconut milk or whole milk

1 large egg

Peanut Butter Filling

3/4 cup creamy peanut butter

3 tablespoons (1-1/2 ounces) unsalted butter

1 cup (4 ounces) confectioners’ sugar

Directions:

Peanut Cookies

1. Heat butter in a small saucepan over medium heat until melted. Lower heat to medium-low and continue to cook, swirling pan frequently, until foaming subsides and butter is just beginning to brown, 2 to 4 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside to cool.

2. Adjust oven racks to middle position and heat oven to 350℉. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Pulse peanuts in food processor until finely chopped. Whisk flour, baking soda, and salt together in bowl. Whisk brown butter, peanut butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, milk, and egg together in second bowl. Stir flour mixture into peanut butter mixture with rubber spatula until combined. Stir in peanuts until evenly distributed.

3. Place 12-tablespoon size mounds, evenly spaced, on each prepared baking sheet. Using the bottom of a drinking glass, flatten mounds until 2 inches in diameter.

4. Bake, one sheet at a time, until deep golden brown and firm to touch, 14-16 minutes, rotating sheet halfway through baking. Let cookies cool on sheets for 5 minutes. Transfer cookies to wire rack and let cool completely, about 30 minutes. Repeat portioning and baking remaining dough.

Peanut Butter Filling

1. Microwave peanut butter and butter until butter is melted and warm, about 40 seconds. Using rubber spatula, stir in confectioners’ sugar until combined.

Assembly

1. Place half of the cookies upside down on work surface. Place 1 tablespoon of warm filling in center of each cookie. Place second cookie on top of filling, right side up, pressing gently until filling spreads to edges. Allow filling to set for 1 hour before serving. Assembled cookies can be stored in airtight container for up to 3 days.

adapted from Cook’s Illustrated

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cookies, nuts
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