homemade oreos with peanut butter filling {revisited}

I love driving. Especially near the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. I don't know what it is, but it's cathartic.


Just me, the stereo, gorgeous scenery, and the long road ahead.

I could literally drive for hours by myself.

I remember one occasion last summer, I was particularly unhappy about something. Feeling suffocated at home and needing to clear my head, I jumped in the car, and drove. Didn't have any idea where I was going, I just picked a road and drove. Took a few turns here and there, through the woods, across wide country roads, parked the car, stepped out, and sat on a patch of grass under the sun.

And it was wonderful.

I would still be doing frivolous things like that now if paying to fill up my tank to go to the grocery store didn't cost an arm and a leg. But the memory still brings a small smile to my face.

I did have the chance to drive for a bit today, though, through the mountains, stereo blaring The Shins, peering through fog as thick as clouds. Drove to visit one of my dearest friends, Nora, who celebrates her twentieth birthday next week. Unfortunately, I can't up and skip all of my Monday classes and visit the day of, so I figured I'd take a small roadtrip tonight to see her.

Nora was one of my best friends in high school, and still is, though I don't get to see her quite as much as I'd like.


And yet, some things never change.

Like Nora's love for chocolate and peanut butter. Which, I've noticed, is a love that quite a lot of my friends share. And a love that's great for me, because it gives me an excuse to bake with peanut butter.

This isn't a new recipe, though I suppose since the last time I made it for Zach back in November, I've gotten a new lens. And learned a thing or two about the beauty of natural sunlight. The recipe can be found here, and is definitely one worth checking out.

I'm actually obsessed with these. They're amazingly delicious, ridiculously easy, and impossible to resist. It's a winner-winner situation all around, really.

And Nora loved 'em.

And I was happy.

And she was happy.

And I got to drive home through the mountains.

So I'd say it was a success.

Happy early birthday, Nora!!! Love, love, love, always. 


Edit: The very sweet hostess of Sweet as Sugar Cookies, Lisa, has invited me to participate in her Sweets for a Saturday with this recipe post. Thanks so much, Lisa! I'm truly honored. :)

oreo-stuffed chocolate chip cookies

The scene is set; you can picture it in your head the second you try. You're six years old, it's a lazy snow day, bundled up in front of the television watching classic Nick cartoons, reveling in the beauty of the weekend, and suddenly you can smell it.

Immediately, you know what it is.

[It's a no brainer, really.]

Warm, fresh-baked, chocolate chip cookies.

And you don't think you've ever loved your mother more than you do the moment she appears by your side with a plate of hot treats and a tall glass of cold milk in hand.

There are few things in life more comforting than homemade cookies and milk. A source of joy, a reminder of your youth, a cozy memory that brings a smile to your face and a nostalgic ache to your heart.

Today was one of those days where it just felt right to relive that memory.

[Plus, when there's snow still clinging to car windows in the middle of the afternoon in March, it's basically fate.]

We may have been lacking in the milk department, but we made up for it by baking a cookie inside a cookie.

Yeah, I caved. I normally am not big on baking fads *coughcupcakes*, but these were just too intriguing to pass up. That being said, I still think stuffing cake inside of a cookie is nothing short of, ahem, silly, to say the least, and you'll never ever see me baking such a thing.

But Oreos inside chocolate chip cookies? Tantalizing, with just the right amount of bizarre on the side.

Plus, Chelsea and Roods have been dying to make these for ages, so I figured it was now or never. And so, Chelsea, Roods, and Matt came over this afternoon for a baking date, fresh package of Oreo cookies in tow.

Oreo-Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies
Adapted from Very Culinary

You'll need:

• 1 cup [2 sticks] butter, softened
• 3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 tbsp vanilla
• 3 1/2 cups flour
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
• 1 package Oreo cookies

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

In a large bowl, cream butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until fluffy. Add in eggs, one at a time, and then vanilla. In a separate bowl, combine flour, salt, and baking soda. Slowly sift the flour mixture into the sugar mixture on low speed until just mixed. Stir in chocolate chips.

With a cookie scoop or spoon, form small balls of dough. To assemble cookies, place one ball on top of an Oreo cookie, and another ball on the bottom. Seal edges together by pressing and cupping in hand until Oreo cookie is fully enclosed with dough.

Place cookies about one and a half-inch width apart on the baking sheet. Bake for 13-15 minutes, until tops are golden brown. Let cool in tray for 5 minutes, then transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.

To be honest, these look more like miniature chocolate chip scones than actual cookies. And I love it.

I didn't actually eat any [still not eating sugar!], but the look of pure bliss on Chelsea's face, after weeks of sheer anticipation to take a bite, was worth it alone. Matt and Roods also loved em, so I was happy to have provided my KitchenAid to make it happen.

And now I can tuck away yet another baking fad under my belt.

And likely won't be picking up the spatula for another one any time soon.

...but I guess it wasn't too awful.