Peanut Butter Brownie Cookies

I wish I could say that I was the genius who thought this recipe up. But no, this recipe has been a family favorite for years. They start out innocent enough. They look like just a chocolate cookie with some chocolate frosting on top. But they have a special surprise waiting inside. When you bite into them…

BAM!

You are hit with a whole lot of peanut butter goodness, much like a peanut butter cup.

My mom started making these Peanut Butter Brownie Cookies from Pillsbury over a decade ago during the holiday season. While these cookies work great for holiday baking, they can be enjoyed year round.

Ingredients

1 (18.4-oz.) box Pillsbury™ Family Size Chocolate Fudge Brownie Mix
1/4 cup butter, melted
4 oz. cream cheese (from 8-oz. pkg.), softened
1 egg
1 cup powdered sugar
1 cup creamy peanut butter
1/2 (16-oz.) can chocolate fudge ready-to-spread frosting

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°F. Beat brownie mix, melted butter, cream cheese and egg until well mixed with spoon in medium sized bowl.

Make 24 cookies by dropping tablespoons of dough on parchment paper or silicone baking sheet lined cookie sheets. (Alternatively, you can use ungreased cookie sheets.)  Place dough 2 inches apart and smooth out edges of cookies to form a rounded shape.

In small bowl, mix powdered sugar and peanut butter with spoon until well combined. Shape peanut butter mixture into 24 rounded balls with hands.

Gently press one peanut butter ball into center of each chocolate cookie dough piece.

Bake in preheated oven for 10 – 14 minutes. (Edges should be fully set.)

Let cookies cool completely on cookie sheets. (At least 30 minutes.)

Remove from cookie sheets.  Gently spread thin layer of frosting over peanut butter portion of each cooled cookie.

If you are having trouble spreading, you can heat the frosting up in the microwave for a few seconds to soften slightly.

If you love the chocolate and peanut butter flavor combination, you will love these cookies!