Chocolate Peanut Butter Pillows

This was originally a vegan recipe that called for non-dairy milk, but since I don't ever have that in the house, I used regular.  I also used regular peanut butter instead of the natural because, again, that's what I had on hand.  Luckily, I did have some black cocoa, so the cookies came out very dark and rich looking (see photo).  To me, they look more like UFOs than pillows, but who cares what they're called?  They're delicious!!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Pillows
makes 24 cookies

Preheat oven to 350°F. Line baking sheet with parchment paper.

Chocolate dough

1/2 cup canola oil
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup pure maple syrup
3 tablespoons milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup unsweetened dutch processed cocoa powder
2 tablespoons black unsweetened cocoa (or more dutch processed cocoa)
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt

Peanut Butter Filling

3/4 cup natural salted peanut butter, crunchy or creamy style
2/3 cup confectioner’s sugar
2 to 3 tablespoons milk
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

In a large mixing bowl combine oil, sugar, maple syrup, milk, and vanilla extract and mix until smooth. Sift in flour, cocoa powder, black cocoa, baking soda and salt. Mix to form a moist dough.

Make the filling. In another mixing bowl beat together peanut butter, confectioner’s sugar, 2 tablespoons of milk, and vanilla extract to form a moist but firm dough. If peanut butter dough is too dry (as different natural peanut butters have different moisture content), stir in remaining tablespoon of milk. If dough is too wet, knead in a little extra powdered sugar.

Shape the cookies. Create the centers of the cookies by rolling the peanut butter dough into 24 balls. Scoop a generous tablespoon of chocolate dough, flatten into a disc and place a peanut butter ball in the center. Fold the sides of the chocolate dough up and around the peanut butter center and roll the chocolate ball into an smooth ball between your palms. Place on a sheet of parchment and repeat with remaining doughs. If desired gently flatten cookies a little, but this is not necessary.

Place dough balls on lined baking sheets about 2 inches apart and bake for 10 minutes. Remove sheet from oven and let cookies for 5 minutes before moving to a wire rack to complete cooling. Store cookies in tightly covered container. If desired warm cookies in a microwave for 10 to 12 seconds before serving.