PB&J Linzer Stars

I love these super and so easy cookies. At least the recipe here is easy I have made them the old fashioned way where the dough is made and the process goes from there. But Parents found an easy way to make these delicious cookies.

PB&J Linzer Stars

1/2 cup peanuts
1 tube (16-1/2 ounces) refrigerated sugar cookie dough
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup smooth peanut butter
1/2 cup apricot preserves
3 Tbs. confectioners' sugar
Directions

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Place peanuts in a food processor. Pulse until finely chopped. Add cookie dough, flour and peanut butter. Pulse until dough is well combined, and cleans the inside of the bowl. Divide dough into 2 equal parts. Wrap one part in plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to use. Roll the other half between two sheets of waxed paper to a thickness of 1/4 inch. Place on ungreased baking sheet; freeze for 5 minutes. Remove from freezer and peel off waxed paper. Cut out star shapes with a 3 inch star cutter and place back on the baking sheet. Re-roll scraps and cut out more stars for a total of 18. If dough becomes too soft, place back in freezer for a few minutes. Bake for 11 minutes at 350 degrees F. Allow to cool on baking sheet for 2 minutes. Remove to a wire rack to cool completely. Roll out the remaining dough and cut out 18 stars as in steps 3 and 4. After placing on baking sheet, cut out center with a 1-inch star cutter. Bake and cool. Microwave the apricot preserves for 30 seconds. Stir until smooth. Spread 1 teaspoon of the preserves onto one side of each of the uncut cookies. Dust the cut-out cookies with the confectioners' sugar and place on preserve-topped cookies to form a sandwich. Press gently.