Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich Cookies

These bite-size PB&J sandwiches will have your friends doing a double take - they're cookies, not bread, I swear!  By forming a loaf  with the peanut butter cookie dough, these cookies are made by simply cutting slices, with no fancy cookie cutter required.  A mixture of brown food coloring and vodka is painted onto the edges of the cookies after they're baked to create the illusion of a crust.  Filled with jelly, they're the perfect lunchtime treat!  Here's the recipe:

1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
1/4 cup + 2 tbsp granulated sugar
1/4 cup + 2 tbsp light brown sugar
1 egg
2-1/2 tbsp milk
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1-1/4 cups all purpose flour
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
For the "crust":
2 tbsp vodka
Few drops brown food coloring
Jelly flavor of your choice

- In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat together the peanut butter and sugars until light and fluffy, for 2-3 minutes.
- Beat in the egg, milk, and vanilla until well combined.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and baking soda. With the mixer on low, gradually add the flour mixture to the peanut butter mixture and beat until just combined.
- Divide dough in half and roll each half into a rectangular block. Using your fingers, pinch along the middle of the top and along the two sides to form indentations along the length of the block so the dough looks like a bread loaf. (See photo). Wrap each half in seran wrap and refrigerate at least one hour or overnight.
- When dough is chilled, unwrap the dough and use a sharp knife to cut slices of "bread" in 1/4" thickness. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Place 1" apart on a parchment paper or silpat-lined cookie sheet and bake for 7-9 minutes, or until edges just begin to brown. Cool for 5 minutes on the pan, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
- To paint crusts onto the baked cookies, combine vodka and brown food coloring. Use a clean paint brush to brush mixture on the sides of all the cookies. Using vodka instead of water will prevent the cookies from getting soggy since the alcohol will evaporate!
- To make the sandwiches, take one cookie slice and spread with jelly. Match cookie with another slice of similar size and make your PB&J sandwich!

To see the full post associated with this recipe, and many more, please visit: http://www.ericasweettooth.com/2012/08/peanut-butter-and-jelly-cookie.html