Magic in the Middles

Ingredients

• 0.5 teaspoon baking soda 
• 0.5 cup brown sugar packed
• 1 cup creamy peanut butter divided
• 1 large eggs 
• 1.5 cups flour all-purpose
• 0.5 cup granulated sugar plus more for dipping)
• 0.8 cup powdered sugar 
• 0.3 teaspoon salt 
• 0.5 cup butter unsalted softened
• 0.5 cup cocoa powder unsweetened
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 

Equipment

• baking sheet
• oven
• whisk
• mixing bowl
• wire rack

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 37
2. Whisk together first 4 ingredients in a medium-size mixing bowl. In a separate bowl, beat together granulated and brown sugars, butter, and 1/4 cup peanut butter until light and fluffy.
3. Add vanilla and egg, beating to combine. Stir in dry ingredients, blending well. Set dough aside.
4. Stir together remaining 3/4 cup peanut butter and powdered sugar until smooth. With floured hands, roll mixture into 26 (1-inch) balls.
5. Break off about 1 tablespoon cookie dough; make an indentation in center with thumb, and press 1 peanut butter ball into indentation. Wrap dough up and over filling, pressing to seal; roll cookie to smooth it out. Repeat for each cookie.
6. Dip top of each cookie in granulated sugar, and place 2 inches apart on lightly greased baking sheets. Use greased bottom of drinking glass to flatten each cookie to about 1/2 inch thick.
7. Bake cookies at 375 for 7 to 9 minutes or until set.
8. Let cool on wire rack.