Serves a Crowd

Nutter Butters

June 17, 2015
4
2 Ratings
Photo by James Ransom
  • Makes 16 cookies
Author Notes

Chewy peanut butter cookies and a creamy filling—what more do you need in a dessert? These nutty cookies are great on their own, but the peanut butter filling makes them even better. —Hillary Pollak

Test Kitchen Notes

For homemade Nutter Butters that better-resemble the store-bought variety, replace the all-purpose flour with 1 1/2 cups gluten-free flour as the gluten-free flour does not rise as much. —The Editors

What You'll Need
Ingredients
  • For the peanut butter cookies:
  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 8 tablespoons butter
  • 1 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 3/4 cup chunky peanut butter
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • For the peanut butter filling and assembly:
  • 4 tablespoons butter, at room temperature
  • 1/2 cup chunky peanut butter
  • 1 cup powdered sugar, sifted
  • 2 tablespoons whole milk
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Directions
  1. For the peanut butter cookies:
  2. In a small bowl, sift the flour, baking soda, and salt together. Set aside.
  3. Use a large bowl with a handheld mixer or a stand mixer to cream together the butter and brown sugar on medium speed, until the mixture is light and fluffy. Add the egg and vanilla extract and beat until well combined. Add the peanut butter and mix until just blended then reduce the speed to low and beat in the flour mixture just until the dough just comes together.
  4. Cover the dough with plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator until firm, about 1 hour.
  5. When you're ready to bake them, preheat the oven to 350° F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Fill a small bowl with the granulated sugar.
  6. Roll the dough into logs that are 1 inch long by 1/2 inch wide. The easiest way to do this is to first roll the dough into 1 inch-wide balls, then keep rolling until they turn into cylinders. Roll each one in the bowl of sugar until covered.
  7. Place the logs 2 inches apart on the baking sheets. Using the tines of a fork, create a criss-cross pattern in the dough and flatten the cookies until they are 1/4 inch high. Using your fingers, pinch the middle to create a peanut shape. Return the cookies to the freezer to cool for 15 minutes—the dough spreads quite a bit but cooling them before baking will help them retain their peanut shape.
  8. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, until lightly golden at the edges. Transfer to a wire rack. Meanwhile, make the filling.
  1. For the peanut butter filling and assembly:
  2. In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to beat the butter until smooth, about 2 minutes. Add the remaining ingredients and beat until well combined.
  3. Pair each cookie with a similarly sized partner so that the edges match up. Spread a thick layer of filling on one cookie, then press the other cookie on top to create a sandwich. They are best eaten immediately, but will keep for up to 3 days in an airtight container.

See what other Food52ers are saying.

  • FrugalCat
    FrugalCat
  • Susanna | {Re}visionaryLife
    Susanna | {Re}visionaryLife
  • nancy essig
    nancy essig
  • Hillary Pollak
    Hillary Pollak

9 Reviews

FrugalCat December 23, 2017
Also great with almond butter.
 
Mike September 5, 2015
This page still shows using 1 1/2 C gluten free flour as opposed to the original post, which shows 1 C. To be absolutely sure, are we supposed to use:
a) 1 1/2 C Gluten-free flour, or
b) 1 C Gluten-free flour + 1/2 C AP flour, or
c) 1 C Gluten-free flour
 
nancy E. November 9, 2017
nobody answered you?
 
Nicole July 17, 2015
Can I use natural chunky peanut butter?
 
Hillary P. July 20, 2015
Yep! Just make sure to stir it well.
 
Susanna |. July 10, 2015
I'm surprised by the use of chunky peanut butter. Any particular reason other than preference? I love a good chunky peanut butter, but for baking usually stick with creamy.
 
Hillary P. July 20, 2015
It's just personal preference, so feel free to try it with creamy peanut butter!
 
Diane July 8, 2015
Is there any chance you have the measurements by weight? Especially handy for the peanut butter!
 
ellen November 4, 2016
Diane- this website let's you convert anything! :)
http://www.convert-me.com/en/convert/cooking/