Buttery & Delicious Peanut Butter Cookies

When I was growing up, my mom would often make cookies (She still does, in fact) and I have vivid memories of walking in the front door and smelling peanut butter cookies baking (odd, since she made chocolate chip considerably more often). More often than not, my mom would surprise me with a little dough ball she’d wrapped and put in the fridge. Because, you know, peanut butter cookie dough is one of the best things EVER.

So, these cookies started off on the right foot when I was mid-way through rolling one of the balls and I hear Brian behind me saying class=”mceItemHidden”> “Mmmm. Mmmm this dough is amazing. Best peanut butter cookie dough ever.” After he proceeded to eat, oh, a million cookies-worth of dough I baked the rest, then burned my mouth eating one of the cookies almost-directly from the oven. Totally worth it, too. 🙂

Ingredients:
1¾ all-purpose flour
¾ teaspoon salt
¾ teaspoon baking soda
¾ cup creamy peanut butter
½ cup vegetable shortening
1¼ cups packed light brown sugar
3 tablespoons milk
1 tablespoon vanilla
1 egg
Granulated sugar, for rolling cookies

Pre-heat the oven to 375° then prepare the baking sheets with parchment paper.

In a small bowl mix together the flour, salt, and baking soda, then set aside.

In the bowl of an electric mixer, blend together the peanut butter, shortening, brown sugar, milk and vanilla until smooth, then beat in the egg.

With the mixer speed on low, slowly add in the flour mixture until just combined.

Roll each scoop of dough into a ball, then roll around in the granulated sugar in a bowl. Place on the prepared baking sheet. Continue until the cookie sheet is full, then using a fork, make the criss-cross pattern on each cookie.

Bake for 7-8 minutes until the cookies are just starting to brown. Cool for 2 minutes on the baking sheet before removing to a wire cooling rack. Avoid burning mouth by waiting until cookies are more cool before taking a huge bite. Not that I know this from experience or anything… 🙂

Source: Brown Eyed Baker