Peanut Butter cookies

Peanut butter cookies with m&m's and chocolate...Image via Wikipedia

One cookie that stands out from many is the ever delicious peanut butter cookie. Simple to make and no real special ingredients are required, yet so versatile. To make this recipe have holiday appeal, add a cup of red and green holiday M&M's to garnish and/or to the batch itself. Peanut butter and chocolate go well together, as we all know. Do you or some you know love peanuts off all kinds? South Carolina is well known for their peanuts as well. If you'd like to learn how to make boiled peanuts like we do in the south, be sure to see the *Official South Carolina Dining link at the bottom of this recipe for recipes using peanuts.

Makes 1 to almost 2 dozen depending on how big you make each cookie.

Ingredients:

1 3/4 cups flour
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup Butter flavored Crisco shortening
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter (chunky works too)
1 egg large
2 tablespoons condensed milk, whole milk or half and half
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 + cup of red and green M&M candies 

Instructions:

In a large bowl, mix all of your dry ingredients: flour, baking soda, and salt.

In a second bowl cream together sugar, brown sugar, shortening, and peanut butter with an electric mixer until blended, you can do this by hand but be ready for a workout. Add in egg, milk, and vanilla and mix thoroughly. Gradually add in dry ingredients, stir in with a spoon at first and then use mixer. Chill for a few hours. Once cookie dough is chilled preheat your oven to 350 degrees and begin to roll cookie dough into small balls with your hands and place about 2 inches apart on an un-greased cookie sheet. Press cookie dough balls with fork to flatten and again to make the traditional cross pattern, or add M&M candy to the tops of the cookies for a holiday look.

Bake 12 to 15 minutes until light brown and cookies no longer have a puffy look to them.

Tip: Cool cookies on non stick tin foil, they'll cool off quickly and release from the tin with ease.



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