Dove Heart Peanut Butter Blossoms

Alas, it's that day again.  The day people love, or love to hate.  Valentines Day is one of those holidays I could take or leave.  Sure, it's sweet to get flowers and chocolates or a nice dinner out, but there's so much hype!  The roses are marked up 5 dollars, (at least!) and you are bombarded with the red and pink paraphernalia as soon as you step in the grocery store.  Yesterday, as I passed the array of goodies, I saw men frantically searching for the perfect roses.  Talk about pressure.  Although, I must admit, it was a little sweet.  

What I do love about this holiday or any holiday for that matter, is the excuse to bake.  I enjoy walking over to my neighbors and handing them a sweet treat, and these Valentines will be sure to please!  This is Peanut Butter Blossom meets Dove chocolate.  So long Hershey Kisses!  You'll never be the same after these.

Dove Heart Peanut Butter Blossoms

ingredients:

1/2 cup butter, softened

1 3/4 cup brown Sugar, packed

3/4 cup creamy peanut butter
3 tablespoons milk
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 egg

1 3/4cup all purpose flour

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

3/4 teaspoon salt
2 8.87oz. packages Dove Dark Chocolate Silky Smooth Heart Promises, unwrapped  (you can substitute with milk chocolate if you prefer)

Granulated sugar, for rolling cookies

directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line cookie sheet with parchment paper or silicon baking mat. 

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together the brown sugar and butter.  Add the egg and beat until well combined.  Beat in the peanut butter, milk and vanilla. 

In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda and salt.  Stir the dry ingredients into the peanut butter mixture and beat until thoroughly incorporated.

Form dough into 1 1/2  tablespoon balls and roll in granulated sugar and place on baking sheet spacing  2 inches apart and bake for 10 minutes.  Remove from oven and gently press one Dove Heart into the middle of each cookie and place back into the oven and cook for an additional 1-2 minutes.  Remove from oven and allow to cool on cookie sheet for 2 minutes before placing on a cooling rack to cool completely.