Giant Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Buckeyes Food

BUCKEYES

Steps:

• Line a baking sheet with parchment. Beat the confectioners' sugar, peanut butter, butter, vanilla and salt with an electric mixer in a medium bowl until well combined. Scoop 2-teaspoonful mounds, and roll into balls; arrange them on the prepared baking sheet. Refrigerate until firm, about 20 minutes.
• Microwave the chocolate and shortening in a microwave-safe medium bowl in 30-second increments, stirring in between, until the mixture is completely melted and smooth, about 2 minutes.
• Stick a toothpick or skewer into the top center of a peanut butter ball. Dip the ball into the melted chocolate, leaving a circle of peanut butter visible on top. Let the excess chocolate drip off, then return the buckeye to the baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining peanut butter balls and chocolate.
• Chill the buckeyes until firm, about 30 minutes. Smooth out the hole left by the toothpick with an offset spatula. Serve at room temperature or well chilled. Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

CHOCOLATE SEA SALT RUGELACH

Steps:

• Combine the flour, granulated sugar and salt in a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Add the cubed butter, distributing it all over the top of the dry ingredients, then dollop in the cream cheese (1-inch dollops should do it, but it doesn't need to be perfect). Turn the mixer on low speed and mix until the mixture is mostly mealy and there are still some larger clumps of butter and cream cheese intact. With the mixer still running, add the egg yolks, vanilla and almond extract, if using, then continue mixing until the dough comes together. Divide the dough in half and shape into 2 discs. Wrap each tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or up to 2 days.
• Melt the chocolate in a double boiler, stirring constantly, or in a microwaveable bowl in 30-second increments, stirring after each. Set aside to cool briefly while you roll out the dough.
• Beat the remaining whole egg with a splash of water for an egg wash. Roll out a dough disc on a lightly floured surface, dusting with flour as needed to prevent it from sticking, until it is a wide rectangle, 18-by-9-inches. Use an offset spatula to spread half of the chocolate over the dough in a thin even layer, leaving a 1-inch border along the long edge that's farthest from you. (Try to work kind of quickly so the chocolate doesn't harden.) Brush the border with a thin layer of egg wash. Starting on the long end closest to you, roll the dough into a long, tight log, then place it seam-side down on a cutting board or baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining dough and chocolate. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour or up to 2 days (depending on fridge space, you might want to cut the log in half so you're dealing with four shorter logs instead of two really long ones; wrap in plastic if refrigerating for longer than 1 hour).
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Brush the logs with a thin layer of egg wash, then sprinkle with a few pinches of flaky salt and a ton of sprinkles or sanding sugar. Cut into 1 1/2-inch slices and transfer to the baking sheets, spacing them 1 inch apart. Bake until golden brown on top, about 24 minutes. (You might notice that the cookies seem to sweat and leak out some fat while in the oven; this is completely normal.) Let cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely, or enjoy them warm! Fully cooled cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for several days.

BLOODSHOT BUCKEYES

Steps:

• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper; set aside.
• In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or in a large bowl, cream the peanut butter, butter and salt to combine. Gradually add the confectioners' sugar and combine until smooth.
• Use a small ice cream scoop or spoon to make thirty-five 1 1/2-inch portions, then use your hands to roll into balls and place on the prepared baking sheet. Refrigerate until firm, 10 to 15 minutes.
• In a heat-proof bowl set over but not touching simmering water, melt the white melting wafers over medium heat. Once the peanut butter balls are firm, dunk them in the melted wafers to coat completely. Use a fork to lift from the bottom, let the excess coating drip off and set back on the prepared baking sheet. Place an eyeball in the center of the ball and repeat the process with the remaining balls.
• Let sit until the white coating is set, about 15 minutes.

GIANT PEANUT BUTTER COOKIES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375°.
• In large bowl, combine sugars, margarine, peanut butter, vanilla and egg; beat well.
• Lightly spoon flour into measuring cup and level off.
• Add flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt; mix well.
• If you are making the large cookies, it helps to chill the dough for an hour or so at this point, before shaping. It seems to make a firmer cookie--less likely to break. If you aren't concerned about that, you can skip this step.
• Shape about 1/4 cup dough (for 3-inch cookie) into a ball and place 4 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet (6 per sheet).
• Bake at 375° for 13-16 minutes.
• Remove from cookie sheet and cool completely on wire rack.