1 3/4cupsall-purpose flour218 g, weighed or spooned and leveled
1teaspoonbaking soda
1/2teaspoonkosher salt or 1/4 tsp table salt
1/2cupunsalted butter, 1 sticksoftened
1/2cupsmooth peanut butter130 g
1/2cupfirmly packed light brown sugar100 g
1/2cupgranulated sugar100 g
1large eggroom temperature
1teaspoonvanilla extract
1/3cupred or pink sanding sugarfor rolling
25-35Chocolate Heartsunwrapped
Instructions
In a medium bowl whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
Add the peanut butter, softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar to a large bowl or standing mixer.
Mix on medium for 2-3 minutes until the mixture is super light and creamy.
Add the egg and vanilla extract and mix until combined, scraping down the sides of the bowl with a spatula as needed.
Add the prepared flour mixture, and mix on medium for until just combined, about 1-2 minutes. Do not overmix the cookie dough.
Cover the bowl of cookie dough with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
While the dough is chilling, preheat the oven to 350℉ and unwrap your chocolate hearts.
Once the dough has chilled, scoop out a heaping tablespoon-sized portion of dough and roll them into balls (a small ice cream scoop works great for this!).
Bake one baking sheet at a time in the middle rack of the preheated oven for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges just start to brown and there is some slight cracking.
Remove from the oven and immediately press the chocolate heart into the center of each cookie. You must add the hearts right when they get out of the oven and before the cookies firm up.
Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5-10 minutes, and then move to a cooling rack to finish cooling. Repeat with remaining cookie dough. Once cool, Enjoy!
Notes
Make sure all your ingredients are at room temperature.
Measure out the flour using a scale or the spoon and swipe method of fluffing up the ingredients and then spooning into the measuring cups. Then, swipe the excess flour off the top of the cup with a knife. If you dip the measuring cup directly into the flour it can pack down and you will add too much flour to the recipe.
An ice cream scoop works great for getting even-sized cookies.
Make sure to unwrap your chocolate candy before the cookies come out of the oven! This way you can quickly press them into the cookies.
These cookies will last up to 5 days in an airtight container at room temperate or can be frozen up to 2 months.