Hockey Puck Cookies

I got this recipe from one of those cookie swap cookbooks a few years ago. They are really called Chocolate Peanut Butter Surprise Cookies.  Because you see, when you bite into them you realize there is a layer of peanut butter gleefully waiting for you.  Over the years, the name has evolved into Hockey Puck cookies because of their resemblance to well....hockey pucks.  Really good dense chocolatey hockey pucks.  

The list of ingredients seems long.  Don't be intimidated.

Here is what you need:
1 1/2 cups All Purpose flour
1/2 cup baking cocoa
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup butter (softened)
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
3/4 cup creamy peanut butter; divided
1 egg
1 Tablespoon milk
1 1/2 teaspoons of vanilla
3/4 cup powdered sugar


The first step will be to combine the flour, cocoa, and baking soda together in a medium size bowl.  Once that is sifted, set aside.  The next step will be to cream the butter, sugars, and 1/4 cup of peanut butter.  Once that is mixed well, add the egg, milk, and vanilla. 


Then you will add the liquid mixture to the flour mixture you set aside earlier. 

Once the two are mixed, you end up with a very dense thick chocolate dough. Place bowl in the fridge.  Now it's time to make the gleeful peanut butter center I mentioned earlier.  Take the remaining peanut butter and powdered sugar and mix together in small bowl.  It will be very crumbly.  Roll the peanut butter mixture into small 1/2 inch balls. When done, pull the chocolate dough out of the fridge.  You will roll this dough into 1 inch balls.  

Now comes the magic...

Flatten out the chocolate dough ball a little.  Ignore the chubby hands and pajama t-shirt.  Place the smaller peanut butter ball in the middle and fold the chocolate dough around the peanut butter center.  Roll back into a ball shape. Place onto a cookie sheet with plenty of space in between.  

Then take a small glass and dip it in powdered sugar.  Flatten out the chocolate dough.  If you want, sprinkle the top with mini chocolate chips.  Bake the cookies at 350 degrees for 8 minutes.  Let the cookies cool on the cookie sheet for a few minutes and then transfer to a cooling rack.  Voila!   Hockey Puck Cookies!