mini chocolate peanut butter chip cookies

this week.  oh, this week.  *insert a dramatically long sigh here*

we had a power-packed schedule this week.  our work days were crazy, and our evenings where packed full of all sorts of stuff (most of which was not fun).  we're exhausted and tired of running like nuts.  we need a vacation.  i think i hear a tropical island calling our names.

sometimes i get to travel for work.  on wednesday evening, i had to take a trip to give two presentations at a not-so-nearby university.  three hours in the car in heavy rush-hour traffic is not glamorous.  anyway, i got to take ryan with me.  after the presentations were over, we grabbed a bite to eat for dinner and the waiter called us twins . . . so there was that.  my dad always says "the longer you're married, the more you start to look like one another" . . . but twins?  come on.

on the drive home we found ourselves dreaming about taking a winter vacation: "can we squeeze it in after christmas? . . . sure! . . . rates are cheaper in the winter . . . let's go!"  did i mention we need a vacation?  :-)

at least there are cookies to make crazy weeks better.  thank goodness for cookies.

last night after work, before running to another commitment, we headed home to quickly whip up a batch of cookies for a co-worker's birthday today.

we had been talking about the glorious cookies at levain bakery in nyc.  the dark chocolate peanut butter chip cookies at levain bakery are insanely good.  then again, all of their cookies are crazy good.  so, we made some levain-inspired cookies of our own.

if you've ever visited levain, you know that their cookies are ginormous.  since quarter-pound cookies are not work place friendly, we made mini bite-sized versions.  perfect for our co-workers to pick up on the run.    

these mini chocolate cookies with peanut butter chips were so easy to make.  they came together in no time and baked super quick.  just the kind of recipe you want when you have a packed schedule.

the cocoa power gives the cookie a wonderful deep chocolate flavor, and the peanut butter chips are such a great added bonus.  (if you're wondering, our favorite cocoa powder to use is hershey's 100% cocoa natural unsweetened cocoa powder, and our favorite peanut butter chips are trader joe's peanut butter baking chips.)

these cookies smell really great too.  you just can't beat the combination of chocolate and peanut butter.  yum!  so, if you've had a crazy week, or even if you haven't, i highly recommend these cookies to make you smile.  and remember, it's friday!  have a great weekend!

mini chocolate peanut butter chip cookies
prep time: 5-10 minutes
baking time: 15 minutes
yields: 34 mini cookies
adapted from annie's eats

ingredients:
1/2 cup (1 stick) salted butter, softened
1/2 cup plus 1/8 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/8 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
dash of salt
1 1/4 cup peanut butter chips

directions:
preheat your oven to 350 degrees F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.  cream the butter in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment.  add the granulated sugar and beat well until light and fluffy (about 3 minutes).  beat in the egg.  scrape down the bowl and mix in the cocoa powder until completely combined.  add the flour, salt, and baking powder and mix until incorporated.  fold in the peanut butter chips with a spatula.  scoop 1 teaspoon-sized balls of cookie dough onto the cookie sheet.  gently press the cookie dough balls down into discs.  bake for 15 minutes.  once baked, allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5-10 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to finish cooling completely.

enjoy!

love, laurie