Valentine’s Day PB Blossoms

I have to admit that I first saw this idea on Pinterest and immediately, I fell head over heels in love. It brought perfectly to life what my idea of ‘from the heart’ means.

I’m a giver. Making people happy with a sweet surprise, seeing their faces light up and the joy they experience when they bite into a well-deserved treat… it simply makes me giddy. So, when prompted to write about the heart, I remembered these cookies that I’d pinned to my ‘To-Do List’ pinboard. I used a simple recipe that I adapted from The New York Times and have been spreading the love ever since they came out of the oven. I took a few to my neighbors next door, I’ve left one on the desk of a co-worker and I might have even snuck a couple of them myself. And using ‘Dove’ chocolates… very fitting, right??

Valentine’s Day PB Blossoms
Adapted from: The New York Times

Yields: 2-1/2 dozen cookies

1-3/4 c all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp Kosher salt
8 tbsp unsalted butter, at room temperature
3/4 c smooth peanut butter
1/2 c granulated sugar, plus more for rolling
1/2 c light brown sugar, packed
1 lg egg
1 tbsp skim milk
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
1 (11 oz) pkg Dove Dark Chocolate Hearts, foil removed

Whisk together flour, baking soda and salt; set aside. Using an electric mixer, cream together butter, peanut butter, 1/2 cup granulated sugar and light brown sugar. Add egg, milk and vanilla; beat until well blended. Gradually add flour mixture, mixing thoroughly. If the dough is very soft, refrigerate for about 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper or a Silpat and set aside. Roll dough into 1-inch balls.

Roll cookies in sugar and place 2 inches apart on cookie sheet. Bake until very light brown and puffed, 6 to 8 minutes. Remove sheet from oven and lightly press a candy kiss into center of each cookie, allowing it to crack slightly. Cool completely* and store in an airtight container.

*You can also place the sheet of cookies in the refrigerator for a few minutes to speed up the cooling period, thus keeping your hearts from fully-melting!

Happy Valentine’s Day, sweet sisters!