Peanut Butter Cup Cookies

NOTE: I clearly started writing this before Christmas, then got distracted/abducted. Sorry, but I still want to share it!

In honor of Christmas, I wanted to spread a little Holiday Cheer with these delicious cookies! I cannot take credit for this amazing idea, I got the recipe from Brown Eyed Baker. They are everything a Christmas cookie should be...rich and decadent. You could use pre-made peanut butter cookie dough for this if you wish, but this recipe is so simple and you probably already have all the ingredients on hand.

Ingredients:

• 11/4  cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temp
• 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup light brown sugar, not packed
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 48 miniature Reese's peanut butter cups, unwrapped (side-note, the bag will tell you it has 45 cups in it, do not be fooled! I think it had less than 30, but somehow it worked out just fine)

Method:

Preheat oven to 350°

Combine the flour, baking soda and salt. Set aside.

Using a mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat together the peanut butter, butter and both sugars on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the egg and vanilla and mix until combined. Reduce the mixture speed to low (unless you want to be covered in flour) and add the dry ingredients. Mix just until combined, then give the dough one final mix by hand to make sure all of the flour is incorporated.

Shape the dough into 1-inch balls (I used an ice cream scoop to ensure they were all even) and place into cups of a mini muffin pan. Very important to keep the dough in the balls, do not press into the pan.

Bake for 8-10 minutes or until light golden brown and puffy. Remove from the oven and immediately place an unwrapped peanut butter cup into each cookie. Make sure to press them down enough so that the top of the peanut butter cup is even with the top of the cookie. Let cool almost completely before you try removing them from the pan, otherwise you will end up with a ooey gooey mess (don't ask, just trust me).

Voila! Deeeeelcious peanut butter heavenly goodness!