Soft peanut butter cookies packed with a creamy layer of peanut butter filling make these homemade nutter butters a scrumptious treat.
Prep Time15 minutesmins
Cook Time7 minutesmins
Total Time22 minutesmins
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Homemade Nutter Butters Recipe
Servings: 24
Calories: 394kcal
Ingredients
Cookies
2cupsall-purpose flour
1teaspoonbaking soda
1teaspoonbaking powder
¼teaspoonsalt
1½cupsbutter,softened
1cuppacked light brown sugar
½cupgranulated sugar
6tablespoonsgranulated sugar
2eggs
2teaspoonsvanilla extract
1½cupscreamy peanut butter
Filling
¼cupbutter,softened
½cupcreamy peanut butter
2cupspowdered sugar
½teaspoonvanilla extract
3tablespoonsmilk
Instructions
Cookies
Prepare the cookie sheets with either baking mats, parchment paper, or spray lightly with cooking spray.
In a medium bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Set flour mixture aside.
In a large bowl with a hand mixer, cream the butter on medium speed for 1 minute. Add the brown sugar and ½ cup granulated sugar and mix on medium speed until well combined. Add the eggs, vanilla, and peanut butter. Mix until well combined.
Add the dry ingredients to the mixing bowl. Starting on low speed and then gradually adjusting to medium, mix well.
Refrigerate dough for 20 minutes.
Preheat the oven to 375°F.
Place the remaining 6 tablespoons of granulated sugar into a small bowl. Using a 1-tablespoon cookie scoop, drop the dough of two cookies into the sugar bowl.
Form the dough of each cookie into a log about 2½ inches long. Roll the logs of cookie dough in the sugar to coat and place them on the prepared cookie sheet, 2 inches apart.
Using the tines of a fork, make a criss-cross pattern into the dough, pressing down so that the dough is about ¼ inch thick.
Using your thumb and index finger, give each cookie a “waist” by pinching each cookie in the middle, giving it a peanut shape. The cookies will spread some when baking, so make sure this waist is rather substantial. Repeat this step for the rest of the dough.
Bake cookies for 7 minutes. Let rest on the pan for 1 minute and then remove from each cookie in the middle, giving it a peanut shape. The cookies will spread some when baking, so make sure this waist is rather substantial. Repeat this step for the rest of the dough.
Bake cookies for 7 minutes. Let rest on the pan for 1 minute and then remove from pan to cool completly.
Filling
In a large mixing bowl, cream together butter and peanut butter.
Add the powdered sugar to the bowl. Starting on low speed and gradually moving to medium speed, mix together.
Add vanilla and milk to the bowl and mix until creamy.
Assembly
On the backside of one cookie, spread 2 to 3 teaspoons of filling. Top with a second cookie, placing the smooth side onto the thick peanut butter filling.
Notes
Do not skip the chilling step. It will make shaping the dough much easier.
These are larger than the store-bought cookies. If smaller cookies are desired, then use a ½ tablespoon of dough for each cookie.
Placing two cookies in the sugar bowl, helps keep cookies similar lengths. It also can help pair up cookies of the same length for making the sandwiches.
Oven temperatures vary and may need to be recalibrated periodically to ensure they are accurate. Make sure to keep a close eye on your cookies as the suggested baking time approaches.
These cookies are soft. If a crunchier cookie is preferred, these can be cooked 2 or 3 minutes longer.