I’ve been working from home recently and it’s been going very well. I predicted that my proximity to my kitchen would result in an overindulgence of sweets and baking projects, but surprisingly I’ve been able to restrain myself. And actually I’ve been finding that I’m eating more healthy because I have the time and resources to cook great food every day.
Despite that, we all have dessert cravings every so often. One recent afternoon I repeatedly walked over to my pantry to stare at the stacked jars of nutella and peanut butter. I wanted them both. I thought about dipping a spoon sideways into each one so that I could taste them equally as I slowly licked the spoon. (I’m a pro at this technique.) But I wanted something more than just a spoonful of this super combination. So one late afternoon, I whipped up a small batch of shortbread cookies, with sole purpose to deliver the nutella and peanut butter to my mouth. They were so much better than the spoon method. The 20 minutes of chilling time aside (sweet cravings can make me a little impatient), these were so simple and quick to whip up. This could get dangerous…
Mini Shortbread Sandwich Cookies with Nutella and Peanut Butter
Makes about 8-10 mini cookie sandwiches
- 2 sticks butter
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 cups flour
- 1 cup corn starch
- Preheat oven to 325°
- Cream butter and sugar together. Sift in flour and corn starch and blend together using a pastry cutter (you know, that attachment that looks like Captain Hook’s hook?)
- Form dough into a big ball (it might be a little dry and flaky but thats ok) and wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate 20 minutes.
- Roll out the dough on a floured surface and cut into rounds using a small round cookie cutter (the rim of a shot glass can work for this too). Place on a cookie sheet and bake for about 20 minutes, but don’t let them them brown.
- Spread nutella, creamy peanut butter, or even some raspberry jam between two cookies. Snack on while you drink your afternoon coffee.
Do you have a go-to afternoon sweet snack? Something to help get you through the last few hours of the work day? I’m always taking suggestions!
The peaches at the DC farmer’s markets have been pretty good. (Maybe even peach festival worthy.) I’ve been grabbing a couple every weekend and if I don’t devour them right away, I’ve been trying out baking different things with them.
