I don't usually have trouble coming up with ideas for what to blog about. I have a world of inspiration right here at home but when it comes to thinking of something to suit a theme, I so often draw a blank. I leave it to the last minute and have to scrounge around for something that fits the occasion.
For this month's Sweet Adventures Blog Hop however, I had just the recipe. Nuts about sweets is this month's theme and the perfect excuse for me to make double chocolate peanut butter biscuits.
I know I don't usually need an excuse to make anything but these biscuits are rather indulgent. Melted chocolate, chocolate shards, cocoa and peanut butter make them absolutely heavenly rich.
The sprinkling of salt on top is an unusual but welcome addition that leaves your mouth wondering what's going on and hankering for more.
If you want to be a part of this month's blog hop, head over to Dining with a Stud, this month's lovely host, to find out how.
It looks like a lot of ingredients but don't be put off, these biscuits are really quite simple to make - dangerously simple.
Make the filling first. Throw the butter, peanut butter, icing sugar and vanilla in the bowl of an electric mixer and beat them together until light and creamy. I know it seems rather sinful to be mixing butter with peanut butter. These are definitely not an everyday treat.
It just looks like fluffy peanut butter when it's done. Scrape it into a bowl and set it aside.
Now start on the biscuits. Put the butter, brown sugar and vanilla in the bowl of the electric mixer and beat them all together until light and creamy.
Then add the eggs one at a time making sure the first one is well beaten in before you add the next one.
Pour in the chocolate. It's best not to have the motor running when you add the chocolate or it might end up from one end of the kitchen to the other.
Beat it into the batter.
This is what I think Willy Wonka's chocolate river must have been made of. Couldn't you just dive right in?
Sadly we can't so keep going with the biscuits. Add the sifted flour, cocoa and baking powder and mix until they are just combined.
Take the bowl off the stand and scrape down the sides and then fold the chocolate shards into the batter. Yes these are very chocolaty biscuits.
It takes a few to get the hand of how to fill them but once you work it out it's not too messy. Use a heaped tablespoon of dough and roll it into a ball then flatten it out between your palms. It needs to be pretty flat so you can wrap it around the filling.
Spoon one teaspoon of peanut butter filling into the middle and then fold the sides up and around to enclose it.
They're not the prettiest sight before they go in the oven. Repeat the steps with the rest of the dough and leave at least 3cm between each one so they've got room to spread out.
Sprinkle the top with a little bit of sea salt and then it's into the oven. Bake them for 10-12 minutes at 180C fan-forced.
When they're ready, leave them to sit on the trays for 5 minutes or until they harden a little.
Transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
I would suggest wrapping up a few and taking them to you neighbours.
Otherwise, savour one as a very special treat. They're very rich and best shared. Enjoy!
What about you? Do you go nuts for nuts?
Recipe
Ingredients
Filling
- ⅓ cup peanut butter
- ⅓ cup icing sugar
- 20 g 4 teaspoon butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
Biscuits
- 50 g 2oz butter
- ⅔ cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 200 g dark chocolate melted plus 150g dark chocolate, chopped
- 2 eggs
- 1 ¾ cup plain AP flour, sifted
- 1 ½ teaspoon baking powder sifted
- 2 tablespoon cocoa sifted
- sea salt for sprinkling
Instructions
- Start by making the filling. Put all the ingredients in the bowl of an electric mixer and beat until light and fluffy.
- Set it aside.
- Pre-heat the oven to 180C (356F) fan-forced and line two baking trays with baking paper (or grease them).
- In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the butter, brown sugar and vanilla together until light and creamy.
- Add the eggs one at a time and beat each one in well.
- Pour in the melted chocolate and mix it through.
- Add the sifted flour, baking powder and cocoa and beat until they are just mixed in.
- Take the bowl off the stand and scrape down the sides.
- Stir through the chopped chocolate.
- Using a tablespoon of dough, roll it into a ball and flatten it between your hands (if the dough is too sticky, put it in the fridge for 10 - 20 minutes to firm).
- Spoon a teaspoon of peanut butter filling into the middle and fold the edges up and over to enclose it.
- Lay the dough on the baking tray. Repeat with the rest of the dough, leaving at least 3 cm between each ball.
- Sprinkle each one with a little bit of sea salt.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes.
- Let them rest on the trays for 5 minutes (or until they firm up) and then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Amy says
Oh my goodness Claire!!!
These are ridiculously good, I especially love the sprinkle of salt flakes. They are so rich but a perfect blend between chocolate and peanut butter! I think if you ate more than one you would feel pretty sick though. So thank you, thank you, thank you for this recipe! Next on my list is your peppermint mud cake, my favorite combination!!! Your peppermint cookies are my favorite recipe! Anyway, congrats on the 3 year blog anniversary! P.s. Did I read somewhere that you have a bun in the oven???
happy baking!
Amy xx
Claire says
Ahh yes they're a little dangerous aren't they? Best to share. You're very welcome! I hope you like the peppermint cake.
You did indeed. 5 months in now. The time is flying! Thanks Amy! x
Erica @ Mixotrophy says
Gorgeous photos of very tasty looking biscuits! I love the combination of peanut butter with chocolate.
Sugary Flower says
Oh, WOW. Those look awesome, I am DEFINITELY going to be trying these out.
Nic says
I don't like peanut butter but I LOVE the look of these, it's awesome to have a centre in a cookie!
Claire says
The more layers the better Nic!
JJ @ 84thand3rd says
Good lord woman - these are insane! I think I'm in love ;)
Chris says
Just by reading your post I reckon these biscuits are very dangerously delicious. It's such a lovely combo. One more thing: can anything be too chocolaty? I don't think so. You right if you share, there should be no problem.
Claire says
No Chris you're probably right. There's no such thing as too much chocolate!
celia says
Oooh, look at those oozy centres! Peanut butter and chocolate is such a perfect combination, Claire! :)
Claire says
Isn't it?! I don't know why I didn't discover it earlier.
Erin @ she cooks, she gardens says
Oh man, these look insanely good and I love that the middle has an extra salty, peanutty surprise. These are so naughty - peanut butter mixed with butter, oh my!
Claire says
I think they're even more than naughty.. melted chocolate AND chocolate AND peanut butter AND butter. Oh so good!
Maureen (@OrgasmicChef) says
How American are these cookies?? If you mix chocolate and peanut butter together I think they flow from biscuits to cookies, don't you? LOL
I've gotta have these!
Claire says
Yes I think you're probably right Maureen. I'm guilty of using the words interchangeably.
Katie says
You can never have too much chocolate! I love how you have wrapped the peanut butter in the chocolate cookie dough. What a great idea!
Claire says
That is very true Katie!
Swah says
Oh wow these look absolutely divine!! I would demolish them :)
vanessalilllian says
Oo-ooooh... they look pretty amazing!
I recently made Heather Baird's (Sprinkle Bakes) coca cola cupcakes with peanut butter frosting, and the addition of butter and peanut butter in the frosting totally did my head in... but in a good way! Definitely a "sometimes" food :)
Claire says
It's quite amazingly delicious isn't it? No we wouldn't want to eat it every day. Well we might but our waists and arteries might not agree!
Hotly Spiced says
I'm so impressed with these gorgeous cookies. I love how they have that little surprise element of the additional flavour inside them. Great recipe Claire xx
Claire says
Thanks Charlie. I love a good surprise filling!
Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella says
This is one of my favourite flavour combos! How delicious! :D
Claire says
Oh yes I forget your love of choc and peanut butter. You would love these!
Jennifer @ Delicieux says
I'm not normally much of a peanut butter dessert lover, but your cookies look divine Claire! I'd love one of these with my cup of tea right now.
Nic@diningwithastud says
Ok. I want one. No. I want ALL :) YUM!!! Awesome cookies Claire - Im def making these. Thanks for joining the hop :D
Claire says
Thanks for hosting Nic!