Peanut Butter Sandwich Cookies aka Nutter Butter Cookies

These are without a doubt my favorite cookie!  The peanut butter cookie with a peanut butter filling is impossible to resist.  These disappear quicker than I can make them. I rolled these in red and green sugar for Christmas.  You can use regular sugar which tastes just as delicious.

Recipe adapted from Food Network

Ingredients:

Cookies-

3 cups all purpose flour

1 scoop (4 tablespoons) powdered peanut butter

2 teaspoons baking soda

2 sticks unsalted butter at room temperature

1 cup granulated sugar

½ cup packed light brown sugar

1 ½ cups peanut butter

2 large eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

¼ – ½ cup sanding sugar

Filling-

1 ½ cups peanut butter

1 ½ sticks unsalted butter

3 cups confectioners’ sugar

Directions:

1. Stir together the flour, powdered peanut butter, and baking soda in a bowl. 
2. Cream the butter and both sugars with a paddle attachment until light and fluffy after around 2 minutes.
3. Add the peanut butter and beat until smooth.
4. Add the eggs one at a time and continue to beat.
5. Add vanilla extract.
6. Add the flour mixture mixing on low 1 cup at a time until dough is just combined.
7. Transfer the dough to a bowl and cover to refrigerate for at least an hour.
8. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
9. Add sanding sugar to a small bowl.
10. Use a tablespoon size cookie scooper to form balls.  Rolls the balls in the sugar and place on the baking sheet.
11. Bake 9-15 minutes depending on the size of the balls.
12. Once cookies are set but still soft remove from the oven.  Gently press down with a fork to smush each cookie.  Allow to cool on the baking sheet for 10 minutes and then transfer to a wire rack.
13. To make the filling beat the peanut butter and butter on medium speed until combined.  Slowly add the confectioners sugar a little at a time.
14. Flip over half of the cookies.  Use the cookie scooper to scoop a ball of filling to place on half of the cookies.  Top with another cookie and press down.
15. Enjoy!