Triple Chocolate Peanut Butter Sandwich Cookies

• MAKE-AHEAD
• VEGETARIAN

Ingredients

1. 1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
2. 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, preferably Dutch process
3. 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
4. 1/4 teaspoon salt
5. 4 ounces unsweetened chocolate, coarsely chopped
6. 1 stick (4 ounces) unsalted butter, cut into tablespoons
7. 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
8. 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
9. 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
10. 4 ounces milk chocolate, chopped into 1/4-inch chunks
11. 1/2 cup chunky or smooth all-natural peanut butter
12. 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar

1. Preheat the oven to 325°. Line several baking sheets with parchment paper. In a medium bowl, whisk the flour with the cocoa powder, baking soda and salt.
2. In a medium saucepan, melt the unsweetened chocolate with the butter over low heat. Scrape the melted chocolate into a medium bowl and let cool. Stir in the granulated sugar and vanilla until blended, then mix in the eggs. Stir in the dry ingredients until a soft dough forms, then fold in the milk chocolate.
3. Roll slightly rounded teaspoons of the dough into 3/4-inch balls. Arrange the balls 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets and flatten them slightly. Bake the cookies for about 13 minutes, or until firm outside but still soft in the center; rotate the baking sheets halfway through. Slide the parchment paper with the cookies onto wire racks to cool.
4. In a small bowl, blend the peanut butter with the confectioners' sugar. Spread the flat side of half the cookies with the peanut butter filling, top with the remaining cookies and serve.