Peanut Butter has it hard. For so long it's always been peanut butter and jelly. But now, that smooth and alluring European named Nutella keeps stepping into J's spreadable territory. We all know PB & J belong together, but some of us have experienced the allusive combo of PB & N and we are pretty enamored by the whole thing. Don't get me wrong, PB & J will always be my first love, but now that I've experimented with PB & N, things are a little complicated.
If forced to choose between the two, I think Peanut Butter might just retreat back into the jar and hide out in the back of the pantry for as long as possible. It's unthinkable to choose between the two of them because they are so different and each have a lot of attractive qualities. Jelly is classic, familiar, dependable, sweet and bright. Nutella is deep, dark, smooth, fresh and European. It's like apples and oranges.
When faced with this dilemma while baking my Peanut Butter Cookie Cups, I did what any self-respecting player (er, baker) does. Instead of choosing between the two, I shamelessly played them both.
The fine folks at The Jelly Queens sent me a jar of their fabulous Four Berries Jam and I just had to marry it with these Peanut Butter Cookie Cups. This jam honestly tastes like berries straight off the vine. I love that some of the berries are still whole in the jar. It gives the jam a comforting and down to earth texture with a punch of sweetness and a twinge of tart just when you want it. When filled with this jam, the cookie cups taste like the best PB & J ever made.
The Nutella had immigrated into my pantry a few days before and kept calling to me from behind the door. So, it too got all mixed up in this confectionary love triangle. The combo of the peanut butter cookies and the rich and smooth Nutella tastes so decadent that you almost feel guilty after indulging. Almost.
If you are finding yourself torn between the classic and the progressive, I say keep an open mind and treat yourself to both.
I just realized you could also fill these with a dark chocolate ganache. Three is a crowd, isn't it?
Recipe
Peanut Butter Cookie Cups with Nutella or Jam Filling Recipe
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 36
Description
Bake up these irresistible soft and chewy Peanut Butter Cookie Cups and then combo them with your favorite filling; creamy Nutella, sweet jam or even a rich chocolate ganache.
Ingredients
- all purpose flour - 3 cups
- baking soda - 2 teaspoons
- salt - 1 teaspoon
- unsalted butter at room temperature - 1 cup (2 sticks)
- granulated sugar - 1 cup
- brown sugar - 1 cup - lightly packed
- peanut butter - chunky or creamy - 1 cup
- eggs at room temperature - 2
- pure vanilla extract - 2 teaspoons
- Nutella - ¾ cup
- Berry Jam - ¾ cup
Instructions
- Line 3 muffin tins with cupcake liners and set aside.
- Preheat oven to 350°.
- Combine the flour, baking soda and salt together in a bowl and whisk to combine.
- Using a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, blend together the butter, sugar and brown sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3-5 minutes. Be sure to scrape the sides of the bowl down a couple of times with a rubber spatula.
- Add the peanut butter and and cream together for about a minute, scrape the sides of the bowl down again.
- Crack the eggs into a liquid measuring cup and add the vanilla. Slowly add to the sugar mixture one egg at a time, allow the first egg to blend in completely before adding the second egg. Scrape the sides of the bowl down.
- With the mixer on a low speed, gradually add the dry ingredients. Once fully mixed, be sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl and blend until the dough is cohesive and well mixed.
- Form 2 tablespoon (about 1.4 ounces) sized dough balls and set each ball in a the lined muffin cup.
- Bake for 15-18 minutes, until the cookies puff to the top of the liners and turn a deep golden color, rotating the pans halfway through.
- While the cookie cups are still warm (not hot), create about a teaspoon sized indention in the top center of each cookie cup by gently pressing your thumb, the back of a rounded measuring spoon, or another small rounded object halfway into the cookie.
- Allow the cookies to cool and fill them as you wish. I used Nutella for half of the cookies and this Four Berries Jam from Jelly Queens for the other half.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
nichole says
Amazing!! These are so much better than your average peanut butter cookie. Everyone who has tried them loves them here. Thanks for sharing!
beckysue says
Hooray Nicole! I'm so happy to hear you and yours enjoy them. They're like a cookie & cupcake party all in one! 😀
Geena says
Do I bake again once it's filled with Nutella or jam. ?????
Wonde Ing
Thanks ????
beckysue says
Hi Geena. I bake them first, then add an indention while they're still warm and fill with Nutella or jam once they've cooled. 🙂
Renée says
Hi Becky,
here's to the end of summer with a fantastic bake.
Absolutely delicious, my daughter had 3 after she walked in from College 😀
Thank you for sharing your recipe.
Have a wonderful day,
Renée
beckysue says
Hi Renée, thanks for the sweet comment! I hope you had a wonderful summer and I am glad you wrapped it up in such a tasty way. Good luck to your daughter, hopefully the peanut butter is good brain food for her studies. 😀
Giulia says
These are fantastic. I split the recipe, which made about 16 cookies. Highly recommended. Easy to make and absolutely delicious.
Becky Sue says
Hi Giulia, so glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thanks for sharing. Now that you've got me thinking about it, I may need to bake up a half batch myself...they sound yummy right now. 😀
ashley says
I had a chance to try one of these from a friend of your's! They were delicious! Loving your blog too-keep baking!
beckysue says
Hi Ashley, so glad to hear you enjoyed them. Thanks for the kind encouragement, I really appreciate it. 🙂