Family Recipe: So Good Ooey-Gooey Peanut Butter Cookies

During my wedding in early December, my mother's uncle, Tom Pritchard, came into town. He is a baker and made a fabulous Chewbacca groom's cake for my husband, Brian. He also, knowing my love of cooking, left me a few of his favorite recipes.

When I met with my mom, Colleen, this week to make our yearly batch of Christmas cookies, I brought along a tasty-looking peanut butter cookie recipe. I was amazed by how good these cookies are. They are similar to the classic peanut butter cookies that have the Hershey's Kiss in the middle, but these are much larger and, in my opinion, full of more flavor.

So, in honor of my Great-Uncle Tom and his wonderful groom's cake, I share with you his recipe for ooey-gooey peanut butter cookies.

To make this recipe, you'll need the following:

Cookie dough

• 1/2 c. unsalted butter, softened
• 1/4 c. butter-flavored shortening
• 1 c. peanut butter
• 3/4 c. white sugar
• 3/4 c. firmly packed dark brown sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 Tbsp. pure vanilla extract
• 2 1/2 c. all-purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp. baking powder
• 1/4 tsp. baking soda
• 1/8 tsp. salt
• 1/2 c. miniature semisweet chocolate chips
• 1 1/2 c. chopped Reese's peanut butter cups

Ooey-gooey filling

• 3/4 c. peanut butter
• 1/3 c. firmly packed dark brown sugar
• 1/2 c. sweetened condensed milk
• 2 Tbsp. honey
• 1/4 c. confectioners sugar
• 1/4 c. unsalted butter, softened

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

To make the cookie dough, cream together the butter and shortening until well-blended. Add the peanut butter and sugars until well-blended. Fold in the eggs and vanilla, then fold in the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Next, mix in the chocolate chips and peanut butter cups. Set aside.

In a food processor, combine all the ingredients for the filling. Mix together for 2-3 minutes to make a paste that holds together.

For each cookie, take the dough and form a golf ball-size ball and gently press onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Then, deposit a large spoonful of filling onto the center of each round of cookie dough, press lightly.

Stack a second cookie sheet under the first and place the stack into the oven. Bake 12-15 minutes, until each cookie is set. Let cool on the baking sheet for at least five minutes, then move to a wire rack to cool completely. Enjoy!