Peanut Butter Sandwich Cookies

Ingredients

• 8 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup creamy peanut butter
• 1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
• 1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon granulated sugar, divided
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Filling Ingredients

• 2 (3-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
• 5 tablespoons powdered sugar

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 375°. Lightly grease 2 cookie sheets.

2. Beat together first 3 ingredients and 1/2 cup granulated sugar with an electric mixer on medium speed until creamy. Stir in egg and vanilla. Combine flour, baking soda, and salt in a separate bowl. Slowly stir flour mixture into peanut butter mixture until fully incorporated.

3. Scoop dough onto prepared cookie sheets, 1 rounded tablespoonful at a time, about 2 inches apart. (Dough should yield about 24 cookies.) Press cookies flat with the back of a fork dipped into remaining 1 tablespoon sugar. Sprinkle cookies with any remaining sugar, if desired, and bake 12 minutes or until golden brown around edges. Remove from oven, and cool 5 minutes on pan; transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

4. Spread about 1 tablespoon Creamy Peanut Butter Filling onto flat side of 12 cookies, and top each with another cookie, flat side down, to make a sandwich.

They are always better the next morning after they've softened up a bit.