Recipe: Chocolate Peanut Butter Pizza

CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER PIZZA

1/2 cup butter, room temperature
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
3/4 cup peanut butter, room temperature, divided use
1 egg
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 (12 ounce) package semi-sweet chocolate chips, divided use
Toppings (see suggestions below)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a 12 to 14-inch pizza pan.

In a large bowl, cream butter, sugar, brown sugar, and 1/2 cup peanut butter until light and fluffy. Beat in egg, flour, and baking soda. Stir in 1/2 of the chocolate chips. Using your fingers, spread or press the dough onto the pizza pan, leaving a one-inch edge as the cookie will spread as it bakes.

Bake 18 to 24 minutes until light brown. Remove from oven and immediately sprinkle remaining chocolate chips over the top and drop spoonfuls of the remaining 1/4 cup peanut butter over the top; let rest for approximately 5 minutes or until chocolate is shiny and soft. With a knife, smooth out the chocolate.

Add Toppings of your choice. Let pizza cool before cutting and serving. Serve at room temperature.

NOTE:
The pizza may be made ahead and refrigerated, covered, until ready to use. To use, bring to room temperature before cutting and serving (if you don't bring to room temperature, it will crack when sliced).

TOPPING SUGGESTIONS:
Have all your desired toppings ready before placing chocolate pizza in the oven, as they must be put on when the pizza is hot.

Heath candy bars, coarsely chopped
Butterfinger candy bars, coarsely chopped
Miniature marshmallows
Maraschino cherries
Chopped nuts (hazelnuts, peanuts, almonds, pecans)
Shredded, sweetened coconut
Banana, peeled and sliced
Melted white chocolate
Dried apricots, chopped
Dried cherries