Milk/Cream

Two-Bite Buckeye Cookies

by:
July 25, 2011
4.8
8 Ratings
Photo by James Ransom
  • Makes roughly 2 dozen filled cookies
Author Notes

These tiny sandwich cookies pack a one-two heat punch, the first comes in the peppery snap of the chocolate icebox cookies, the second in the slower, smoky burn of chipotle in the peanut butter cream filling. The flavor combo was inspired by the PB&C bar from Sweeteeth, an awesome chocolatier here in Charleston, SC. These are best the same day they’re made, but allow time for the ganache to chill. - Midge —Midge

Test Kitchen Notes

WHO: Midge, a well-rounded, well-traveled journalist, and beloved veteran FOOD52er.

WHAT: Buckeye-inspired sandwich cookies -- a kiddy treat for grown-up tastes.

HOW: Smooth peanut butter made that much creamier by the addition of, well, cream, smooshed between spiced cocoa cookies.

WHY WE LOVE IT: With all that cayenne and ancho bringing a pleasantly slow but undeniable burn from the cookie side of things, the creamified peanut butter filling presents a welcome, soothing contrast. —Food52

What You'll Need
Ingredients
  • Ganache Filling
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 1/4 cup smooth natural peanut butter, like Whole Foods or Trader Joe’s
  • 1 teaspoon chipotle puree* --or more depending on your heat tolerance.
  • 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt, or to taste depending on the saltiness of your peanut butter
  • Cookies
  • 1 1/2 cups AP flour
  • 3/4 cup natural cocoa powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground ancho chiles
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne
  • 12 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
Directions
  1. Place peanut butter, chipotle puree, and salt in bowl of standing mixer (with whisk attached). Gently warm cream in small pan over low heat. Pour cream over peanut butter mixture and whip until smooth. Taste and adjust for salt and chipotle. Chill until firm, a couple hours or even overnight.
  2. Sift together flour, cocoa, salt, pepper, ancho, and cayenne.
  3. In bowl of standing mixer, cream butter. Add vanilla, sugar, and beat thoroughly. Beat in egg and gradually add dry ingredients. Blend only until mixed.
  4. Turn dough out on lightly floured cutting board/silpat/counter and shape dough into two cylinders about 1 ½ to 2 inches in diameter. Wrap cylinders in wax paper and place in freezer until firm, about 20 minutes.
  5. Preheat oven to 375. Unwrap dough and cut into slices 1/8-inch thick. Place about 1 1/2 inches apart on parchment-lined cookie sheets. Bake about 8 minutes. Watch carefully; cookies are done when they are firm to touch. Cool.
  6. Gently spread chilled ganache on cookies and top with another cookie to make a sandwich.
  7. *chipotle puree: empty the contents of a can of chipotle chiles in adobe sauce into your food processor or blender and pulse until smooth. The remainder will keep in a glass jar in the fridge for at least a month. Delicious stirred into scrambled eggs, mayo, hummus, and butter (to spread on corn on the cob, yum)

See what other Food52ers are saying.

  • MIGirl
    MIGirl
  • Ms. T
    Ms. T
  • TheWimpyVegetarian
    TheWimpyVegetarian
  • BlueKaleRoad
    BlueKaleRoad
  • healthierkitchen
    healthierkitchen
Midge

Recipe by: Midge

I’m a journalist who’s covered everything from illegal logging in Central America to merit pay for teachers, but these days I write mostly about travel. I’ve been lucky enough to find myself in some far-flung locales, where poking around markets and grocery stores is my favorite thing to do. Cooking, especially baking, is my way of winding down after a long day; there’s nothing like kneading bread dough to bring you back to earth.

57 Reviews

Alli April 22, 2020
I love these cookies so much! They are super easy and delicious.
 
Lisa W. September 26, 2012
Can you swap the AP flour out for another non-gluten variety? Also with the cream, a non dairy option? Have I just destroyed this recipe? Ha. Thanks! / Lisa
 
MIGirl February 28, 2012
Yum Midge!
 
Midge February 28, 2012
Thanks MIG!
 
MIGirl February 28, 2012
Yum Midge!
 
Ms. T. February 25, 2012
Congratulations on being a finalist! These look evil delicious ;)
 
Midge February 26, 2012
Thanks Ms.T!!
 
TheWimpyVegetarian February 23, 2012
Oh wow! These look wonderful. One of my very favorite combinations is peanut better and chocolate, but have never added chipotle to the mix. I can't wait to try them. Many congrats on being finalist this week!!
 
Midge February 26, 2012
Thanks ChezSuzanne! It's one of my favorite combos too.
 
BlueKaleRoad February 23, 2012
Congratulations, Midge! Love these cookies.
 
Midge February 26, 2012
Thanks BKR!
 
healthierkitchen February 23, 2012
These sound terrific! congratulations
 
Midge February 23, 2012
thanks hk!
 
Midge February 23, 2012
Wow! I'm totally honored. Thanks so much everyone!
 
Huckelberry February 23, 2012
Wiow Midge! Simply divine.
 
Midge February 23, 2012
thanks Huck!
 
vrunka February 23, 2012
yum yum! congrats, midge!
 
Midge February 23, 2012
thanks vrunka!
 
arielleclementine February 23, 2012
yay Midge! these are absolutely perfect!!
 
Midge February 23, 2012
thanks so much ac!
 
Panfusine February 23, 2012
Congratulations Midge!
 
Midge February 23, 2012
thanks Panfusine!
 
Devangi R. February 23, 2012
Congrats!
 
Midge February 23, 2012
thank you Devangi!
 
mrslarkin February 23, 2012
yay midge!
 
Midge February 23, 2012
thanks mrsl!!
 
EmilyC February 23, 2012
Congrats Midge!
 
Midge February 23, 2012
thanks EmilyC!!
 
fiveandspice February 23, 2012
Ahem, did I call that or what?! :) Huge congrats Midge!
 
Midge February 23, 2012
Ha! Thanks so much fiveandspice!
 
Bevi February 23, 2012
Congrats, Midge!
 
Midge February 23, 2012
thank you Bevi!
 
gingerroot February 23, 2012
Yippee!! Congrats, Midge! I'm thrilled these are a finalist.
 
Midge February 23, 2012
thanks so much gingerroot! I'm thrilled too!
 
fiveandspice February 9, 2012
I have a suspicion these will be a finalist. That's just my guess... :)
 
Midge February 9, 2012
Wow, thanks fiveandspice. That means a lot coming from you!
 
arielleclementine August 4, 2011
what a delightful little cookie! love the combination! saved!
 
Midge August 4, 2011
thanks arielleclementine!!
 
gingerroot August 3, 2011
Oh wow, Midge! These sound amazing. I love chili and chocolate but adding peanut butter to the mix is brilliant.
 
Midge August 3, 2011
Thanks gingeroot! It sounded over-the-top to me at first but the flavors really work together.
 
lorigoldsby July 28, 2011
this might make an interesting switchup for our Christmas cookie exchange. HMMM how many days left in July? Christmas in July, anyone?
 
Midge July 29, 2011
Thanks lorigoldsby. What a good idea!
 
checker July 27, 2011
Well I would have loved these as it is, but as someone born and raised in Ohio I simply can't resist a Buckeye!
 
Midge July 28, 2011
Thanks checker! I'm currently hooked on buckeye ice cream.
 
EmilyC July 27, 2011
Yum! These are adorable!
 
Midge July 28, 2011
Thanks so much EmilyC!
 
BlueKaleRoad July 26, 2011
Oh yum, what a combination of flavors. I like to dip chili spiced chocolate bars into peanut butter so I know I'll love these!
 
Midge July 26, 2011
Thanks BKR!!
 
fiveandspice July 25, 2011
Ooooooooooh. So awesome!
 
Midge July 26, 2011
Thanks a million fiveandspice!
 
wssmom July 25, 2011
Sweet and spicy, great combo!
 
Midge July 26, 2011
Thanks so much wssmom. Your west-enders got me through the heat wave last weekend;)
 
hardlikearmour July 25, 2011
This sound awesome! Think you could ship me a box?
 
lapadia July 26, 2011
Me too!!!!
 
Midge July 26, 2011
Sure! I'll swap you for a bottle of shrub hla;) and maybe lapadia could box up one of her pizzas for me? Thank you both!
 
aargersi July 25, 2011
Yum Midge! I have been noodling a sweet application as well but yours sounds so delish!!
 
Midge July 26, 2011
Thanks so much aargersi. I'm sure whatever sweet application you come up with will be amazing!