World's Greatest Peanut Butter Cookies

Went to make peanut butter cookies the other day with the family and found that I have had this recipe prior to having my recipe blog. So I copied and posted it here from my other blog - have I really been journaling this long??

Saturday, August 12, 2006

Great Recipe!

My husband is a fanatic of peanut butter cookies so my good neighbor gave this recipe to us about a year ago and it is awesome! Since then she's moved out of the neighborhood., therefore I am publishing it here to share with you all and also to make sure I have a permanent record of it before it gets lost as I don't anticipate making cookies anytime soon (They are not part of my diet.) Needless to say I am afraid I might lose this recipe if I don't do something about it now! Enjoy!

Dry Ingredients:

1 1/4 c flour

3/4 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

Wet Ingredients:

1/2 c butter

1/2 c peanut butter

1 c sugar

1/2 c packed brown sugar

1 egg

1/2 tsp vanilla

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Beat butter for 30 seconds to soften then add peanut butter and sugars. When well blended (light in color) add egg and vanilla.

Pre-mix dry ingredients together and then slowly add dry ingredients to wet. Blend well. Spoon onto ungreased cookie sheets. Do Not Flatten the cookie dough with a fork dipped in sugar like most PB cookie recipes. This will make them hard and crunchy (unless you like them that way).

Bake for 9 minutes on light colored pan or 8 minutes on dark pan. When done baking, take baking sheet out of oven and drop from height of about 3 inches on the top of the oven or a flat surface. This gives the cookies just the right amount of chewiness.

Peanut Butter Blossoms

A favorite treat at Christmas time and so easy to make! From Crisco found on Foodnetwork.com:

1/2 cup Crisco Butter flavored shortening

1/2 peanut butter (I prefer to use my favorite -Jif)
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
1 large egg
2 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
small amount of sugar in a small bowl (to roll the cookie dough in)
48 Hershey's kisses (Charlie likes me to use the almond ones) unwrapped

Heat oven ton 375 degrees, cream together shortening, peanut butter, brown sugar and 1/2 cup white sugar. Add egg, milk, and vanilla. Beat well. Stir together flour, baking soda, and salt. Add to creamed mixture. Beat on low speed until stiff dough forms. Shape into 1 inch balls, roll in sugar. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 10 - 12 minutes or until slightly golden brown. Top each cookie immediately with a chocolate piece, pressing down firmly so cookie cracks around edge. Remove from cookies and let cool.

Peanut Butter Snack Mix

3 Tbs honey
2 Tbs butter
3 Tbs peanut butter
4 cups Chex cereal (assorted wheat and corn)
2 cups mini pretzels
1/2 dry roasted peanuts

Pre-heat oven to 175 degrees. Combine honey, butter and peanut butter in a microwave safe bowl. Heat until smooth. Combine cereal, pretzels and peanuts in a large bowl. Pour peanut butter mixture over cereal mixture and toss to coat. Spread on baking sheet and bake 1 1/2 hours. Makes 6 cups.

I like to add M&M's or raisins, or Reeses Pieces, or whatever I'm in the mood for.

Peanut Butter Fingers

INGREDIENTS

1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
1 cup butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 eggs
2 1/2 cups peanut butter (divided)
2 cups oatmeal (not quick)
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt

Frosting:
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/4 cup milk
1-2 teaspoons vanilla (depending on your taste)
3 tablespoons cocoa
2-3 cups of powdered sugar

INSTRUCTIONS

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a large bowl, cream the sugar, brown sugar, and butter together. Add the vanilla, eggs, and 1 cup peanut butter and stir to combine.

Add the remaining ingredients and mix together.

Spread dough on a greased jelly roll pan (18x13x1"). Bake for 15 minutes (until golden brown).
While hot spread the other 1 1/2 cups peanut butter on top - it helps to drop spoonfuls all over the top of the bars, then spread after the peanut butter has started to melt.

Let cool until the peanut butter has become solid again.
.
While cooling, mix together frosting ingredients with a hand mixer and then spread on top of bars.