Chocolate & Peanut Butter Vs. Chocolate & Caramel

Having two kids in the house means having two totally different food loves... 

Yet both can agree on one thing...Chocolate. 

One loves it with caramel 

The other, well, it's all about the peanut butter.  

So of course when asked what kind of cookies they were wanting to bake, 

it was obvious...both!  

So there you have it, a cookie throwdown. 

In this corner, a luscious chocolate cookie 

blanketing a silky peanut butter filling

  And in this corner, a deceitfully similar cookie 

with a twist...a caramel twist.

  

 Hmmm tough choice

Let's take it play by play

(Ingredients, measurements & directions will be listed at the end, 

like in a real throwdown, it's more fun to just watch the pictures)

Start off with the basics:

flour

add the cocoa powder & baking soda

sift together and set aside.

In a second bowl you will need to add

Butter (at room temp)

Man, doesn't that look like art!

brown sugar 

granulated sugar

and mix

add one egg

one tbsp. of milk

and 

mix

add vanilla

and well you guessed it

mix some more

once it's incorporated

gradually add the cocoa mixture

one spoonful at a time

until it's well combined

now you're ready to form into

equal sized balls (approx 12)

Here is where they start to set themselves apart.

Make an indention in the middle of the ball

& place a caramel in the center.

repeat...about 6 times 

Roll the dough around the caramel and flatten.

 place on cookie sheet

Now for the other half... peanut butter. 

Place peanut butter & powdered sugar into a bowl

um feeling a little dejavu?

Mixerup!

now roll the dough baby!

add that to the center and well, I know it's a bit redundant...

but, fold over and flatten

Now, bake bake bake!

.

.

.

.

and I'll do the testing/tasting

this one I'll save for you

and these

.

.

.

are for later

midnight snack anyone?

Okay, I'll give you exact measurements and directions now

on one condition

Make sure to let me know which cookie your family picked as the winner. Deal???

     Ingredients                                      

    11/2 c. flour

    1/2 c. Dutch cocoa powder

    1/2 tsp. baking soda

    1/2 c. butter, softened

    1/2 c. granulated sugar

    1/2 C. packed brown sugar
1 egg
1 Tbsp. milk
1 tsp. vanilla

       6 caramelsPeanut Butter Filling
1/2 c. sifted confectioners' sugar
1/2 c. peanut butter 

Directions 

·         Preheat oven to 350

·         Sift together the flour, cocoa powder and baking soda in a medium bowl.

·         In a large bowl, beat together butter, 1/2 c. granulated sugar and brown sugar until well combined. Add egg, milk and vanilla. Beat well. Gently mix in the flour mixture about 1/3 at a time until incorporated. Form the dough into 1 inch balls and set aside.

·         For the filling:

·         Combine confectioners' sugar and 1/2 c. peanut butter in a mixing bowl and beat until smooth. Form into 1/2 inch balls.

·         Gently flatten the chocolate balls. Place caramel or peanut butter ball in center of chocolate dough and carefully fold chocolate dough around the filling. Roll back into a ball.

·         Place balls on a parchment lined baking sheet about 2 inches a part.

·         lightly flatted the chocolate dough balls.

·         Bake cookies for 8 minutes, until the surface begins to slightly crack. Let cool for 1 minute on the sheet. Transfer to wire racks and cool.