I was reading Redbook on the plane flying home from Texas and it was a Christmas issue filled with recipes of Holiday treats. And I saw these peanut butter cracker sandwich cookies. While I normally am not one to make cookies at all, whether for the Holidays or not, I was sort of intrigued by these. The recipe didn’t seem difficult and yet the cookies were complicated-ish. That’s my kind of a sweet.
I thought I would try my hand at making my own peanut butter sandwich cookies- both dark chocolate and white chocolate. The original recipe topped the cookies with salt but I wanted to be a little festive so I picked up some gold and silver sugar.
The peanut butter cookies were dipped in dark chocolate then topped with gold sugar. Oh- those were good. A little salty, a little sweet- a delicious combination.
Now the chocolate hazelnut cookies were much sweeter. The white chocolate was delicious but next time I would probably top them with salt instead of the silver sugar. The sugar made them extra rich.
I think what I like abut these cookies the most is that no oven is required. I don’t have to keep peeking into my oven during baking, as I normally do. I am the Queen of burnt cookies. Here was a cookie I really couldn’t burn. (Although if there was a way I would probably find it)
Of course, the downside is that the smell of baking cookies doesn’t fill your house.
These cookies proved to be a big hit. After Chad and I ate them by the handful for breakfast (a few days in a row), I made a batch and brought them over to a friend’s house one night. In their defense, I only brought a dozen over but I think they were all gone before the three of us sat down for dinner an hour later.
I call these Carriage Wheel cookies. Wagon Wheel cookies are fairly popular in England and Australia and they are pretty similar- except that the crackers are filled with marshmallow instead of peanut butter or chocolate hazelnut. And being that I sprinkled mine with gold and silver sugar dust, Carriage Wheels just sound more fairy-tale-like.
I only made a few minor changes to the recipe I first saw in Redbook. And I have a few more ideas of some changes I would maybe make for the next batch. But for now, enjoy these magical Carriage Wheels.
Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Carriage Wheel Cookies:

Chocolate Peanut Butter Carriage Wheel Cookies White Chocolate Hazelnut Carriage Wheel Cookies
adapted from Redbook
Ingredients
For the gold and chocolate cookies:
- 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
- 1 tbsp. unsalted butter,, at room temperature
- 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
- pinch salt
- 1 sleeve of Ritz Crackers,, about 32 crackers
- 12 oz. 60% bittersweet chocolate,, finely chopped or semi-sweet chocolate chips
- gold sugar
For the silver white chocolate cookies:
- 1/2 cup chocolate hazelnut spread
- 1 tsp. unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
- 1 sleeve of Ritz Crackers,, about 32
- 12 oz. white chocolate bar,, finely chopped or white chocolate chips
- silver sugar
Instructions
For the gold and chocolate cookies:
- Combine the peanut butter, unsalted butter, vanilla extract and salt in a medium mixing bowl. Combine until well blended and creamy.
- Spread a spoonful onto half of the crackers. Very gently top each peanut butter cracker with the remaining crackers to create a sandwich, careful not to break the top cracker.
- In a deep microwave-safe bowl, add the chocolate and microwave on 50% power in 30 second intervals. Stir the chocolate in between microwave intervals until chocolate is melted.
- Dip each cracker sandwich into the chocolate using your fingers or small tongs very carefully. Place the dipped cookies onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Sprinkle tops with gold sugar and refrigerate until chocolate sets, about 45 minutes.
For the silver white chocolate cookies:
- Combine the chocolate hazelnut spread, cocoa powder and vanilla extract in a medium mixing bowl. Combine until well blended and creamy.
- Spread a spoonful onto half of the crackers. Very gently top each chocolate hazelnut cracker with the remaining crackers to create a sandwich, careful not to break the top cracker.
- In a deep microwave-safe bowl, add the white chocolate and microwave on 50% power in 30 second intervals. Stir the chocolate in between microwave intervals until chocolate is melted.
- Dip each cracker sandwich into the chocolate using your fingers or small tongs very carefully. Place the dipped cookies onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Sprinkle tops with silver sugar and refrigerate until chocolate sets, about 45 minutes.
Helen Corbin
Tuesday 29th of December 2015
I think both of them sound delicious. I love the idea of using salty Ritz crackers.