Traditional Peanut Butter Cookies

Peanut Butter Cookies

Cookies are without a doubt my favorite dessert, sweet, snack, you name it. I also like them simple. Very rarely do I add more than one thing to cookie dough, this recipe being one exception, although I'm sure there would be other exceptions if the right recipe came my way. I've made these peanut-butter cookies a few times, and they're one cookie that Brad requests. In fact, he'd asked for these several times recently before I gave in and made them. I'm not sure why I hesitated; perhaps it's because I like them very much, too, and the last thing I need is a dozen cookies in my belly! They go down easily. Too easily. It's very hard to eat just one.

They come together very quickly, too, although the dough does have to rest awhile. I use that resting time to wash the dishes (the ones that won't fit in the dishwasher, anyway!) There are a lot of peanut-butter cookie recipes out there, and I'm sure they're great, but this is my favorite so far.

These Didn't Last Long

Traditional Peanut Butter Cookies
Adapted from Allrecipes
Makes about 3 dozen
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Ingredients
1/2 cup shortening
1/2 cup crunchy peanut butter
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 large egg
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt

Directions
1. In a large bowl, whisk the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
2. In a separate bowl and on medium speed, beat the shortening, peanut butter and sugars until well-blended, about 30 seconds. Add egg and mix well. Gradually stir flour mixture into wet ingredients. Cover bowl with saran wrap and refrigerate dough at least one hour and up to overnight.
3. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper.
4. Make small balls of dough and place on cookie sheets. Using a fork dipped in flour, make a crisscross pattern on each ball, reflouring the fork as you work. (For a crunchier cookie, dip fork in water then granulated sugar before making crisscross marks.)
5. Bake 10 to 12 minutes. Let cool a couple of minutes on sheet before removing to wire racks to cool completely.