oreo cookies just got better
Thanks for all the encouraging comments yesterday! While I definitely don’t think I look bad, I just don’t like seeing a stall in my progress. I’m also really bad at comparing myself to other new moms and seeing how great they’re doing while I just lost a month of progress. But, I just need to remember that it takes 9 months to put it on, so I can’t expect it to be totally off in 3 months. I have a goal date set that I want to be back to my pre-pregnancy weight/size by to help me stay motivated, and given that it’s about 6 months from now, I think I have plenty of time to reach that goal.
I’ve never actually NEEDED to lose weight before, so I’m still trying to figure this all out. It’s definitely a nutrition thing and I’m having to re-learn how to eat since I didn’t focus too much on “good” nutrition when I was pregnant since I absolutely couldn’t stand salads and was craving carbs like crazy. Reteaching my body what is good for it has been difficult, but I’m just taking it one step at a time.
I have done one thing that has helped tremendously: I bought new jeans! At 2 months postpartum, I realized that this weight loss thing might take a little longer than I expected and trying to squeeze into too small jeans just wasn’t helping. So, I went to Kohls and bought my favorite Lauren Conrad jeans in a size bigger (plus, they were 50% off and I had a 30% off coupon – SCORE!). I can’t even begin to explain what it has done for my confidence level. I feel great in them! And I know when they start to feel loose, I can try to put on my old jeans, but for now, those are retired.
While I’m still focusing on eating healthier and as natural as possible, I still want to have my dessert. I have such a sweet tooth and I know from past experience that if I deprive myself of treats, I end up binging on them. Not good. So, I always have dessert every night, but now I’m focusing more on portion control than anything.
My new favorite dessert are these cookies. They are to die for, I promise! I bookmarked this recipe awhile ago, but when Lee made them on her blog right before Christmas, I knew that I had to make them! However, these cookies are huge, so I wanted to try and make them a little smaller using bite sized Oreos. But, I couldn’t find any when I went to the grocery store. Instead, the peanut butter Oreos caught my eye, and a recipe was born.
While the original recipe calls for a traditional Oreo stuffed inside a chocolate chip cookie, I didn’t think that would work as well with a peanut butter Oreo. No, a chocolate cookie would work much better! The peanut butter chips were a last minute decision, but I’m so glad I put them in there! They are the perfect compliment to these cookies!
Chocolate Peanut Butter Oreo Stuffed Cookies
Inspired by Becky Bakes, adapted from this Chocolate Caramel Rolo Cookie recipe (which is also a great cookie, but these are better!). Makes ~20 cookies.
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup butter, softened
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 eggs
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup peanut butter chips (or a whole bag!)
1 package peanut butter Oreos (you’ll have some leftover)
In a large stand mixer or food processor, cream together sugar, brown sugar, butter, vanilla, and eggs until smooth. In a separate bowl, combine flour, cocoa powder, and baking soda. Add dry ingredients in 3 batches to the wet ingredients, fully incorporating between each batch, until completely mixed. Fold in peanut butter chips. Chill for 30 minutes.
Preheat over to 375 degrees.
Scoop out about 2 tablespoons of dough and mold into a flat disc. Press an Oreo into the middle of the disc. Scoop out another 2 tablespoons of dough and press onto the top of the Oreo, sealing the edges of the dough. (It’s OK if you don’t get it completely sealed since they won’t ooze out or anything.) Place on ungreased cookie sheet about 1 inch apart.
Bake for 12 to 14 minutes. Be careful not to over bake since it’s hard to tell when chocolate cookies begin to burn. Remove from oven and let them sit on the cookie sheet for one minute before moving them to a cooling rack.
These are best right out of the oven, but I can’t help but have one every night for dessert. They are great for dipping into a glass of vanilla soymilk also. Yum!
And while these are huge, I have trouble stopping at one! These are far from healthy but perfect for satisfying my sweet tooth! Enjoy!
Cookies with milk, yes or no? What is the best thing you’ve baked recently?