Peanut Butter Cookies

Sometimes you need something simple, nothing fancy and just plain old good. Presenting the Peanut Butter Cookie: basic in the best way, crunchy on the outside with a chewy middle. Have you forgotten how good these could be?? It’s been years since I made peanut butter cookies. Years. I think it was nearly ten years ago when my brother-in-law visited us; I was told ahead of time that he liked peanut butter cookies so that’s what I made. I probably ate the cookies faster than he did!

This time around I plan to send the cookies to my grandmother, if we don’t eat this batch first. (Don’t worry, I will make another batch!) I think this cookie will travel well by mail, especially in this ideal container: the jar of peanut butter. The cookies fit inside perfectly and make an adorable way to present peanut butter cookies. Tie a ribbon around the jar and you have a gift ready to give to a neighbor, a teacher, a friend and especially a grandmother!

Ingredients: This recipe comes from Crazy About Cookies by Krystina Castella, page 79.
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/4 cups creamy peanut butter
1 cup vegetable shortening
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup light brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs

1. Mix the flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda. Set aside.
2. Blend the peanut butter, shortening, and sugars in a mixer until fluffy. Beat in the vanilla and eggs.
3. Slowly add the flour mixture until well blended.  Refrigerate for at least 15 minutes.
4. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
5. Roll the dough into one-inch balls. I used a small melon baller to make sure my cookies were uniform, particularly so that they would all fit snuggly into my empty peanut butter jar. Put the rolled balls back into the refrigerator for about 10 minutes.
6. Place the balls onto a parchment lined baking sheet. Bake for 10-12 minutes until barely golden brown. Cool on a rack.

Are you craving a bite of chocolate with these peanut butter cookies? Add some chocolate chips to the dough for a special treat. I did and loved it!