Like most people I have my own favorite recipes that I rely on and like to use often, but sometimes I also like to shake things up a bit and try something different. Usually when I bake Peanut Butter Cookies, I use my tried and true "Soft and Chewy Peanut Butter Cookies" recipe.
That is the one I have been baking for over 40 years and the one that we love the most. Sometimes I am tempted however to try something different.
I am also trying to use my cookbooks so that I know which ones to keep and which ones to give away. This book, The Weekend Baker by Abigail Johnson Dodge is one I have had for a long time and I confess, I have never baked anything from. I don't know why. Today I cracked it open to have a gander through and this Big-Time Peanut Butter Cookie recipe caught my eye.
Peanut Butter is one of my favorite things upon the earth. I am never without an open jar and a reserve jar in the house. It is just something I can't bring myself to live without. Skippy is my preferred brand. I buy it by the HUGE jar at Costco. I must confess, I am not fond of any type of British peanut butter, and I have pretty much tried them all.
This recipe is a bit unusual in that the only fat in it is the peanut butter . . . no butter or shortening in sight . . .
It also only uses five other ingredients if you count the candy covered chocolate buttons. The author used mini M&M's, but we can't find them here so I used mini candy covered cake decorating chocolate balls.
You cream the peanut butter together with soft light brown sugar, only 3/4 of a cup . . . creaming them until they are well combined.
You can use an electric whisk for this, or you can be lazy like me and use a wooden spoon rather than drag out the mixer. After that you beat in an egg . . . and some vanilla.
You can't have a peanut butter cookie without some vanilla in it can you!
After that you only need to stir in the flour. The dough is a really stiff dough . . .
I was quite surprised actually . . . I had not expected this stiff a dough . . . it was a bit difficult stirring in the chocolate bits but I persevered . . .
After that you shape them into ping pong sized balls, about 2 TBS and place them well spaced on the baking sheet, pressing them down slightly with a fork . . .
They smelled really rich and peanut buttery when they were baking . . . very taste-bud tingling!
I had thought they might spread out a bit, but they really didn't spread out much. Hmmm . . . I wasn't too sure about this . . . I broke one open and tasted it. Very dense . . . fudgy almost like a brownie.
I wasn't too sure if I was going to be that fond of them . . . but they were still warm. An hour later, I tried one again once they were completely cold and I fell in love. These turned out fabulous! I was really pleased!
Big-Time Peanut Butter Cookies
Author: Marie RaynerThe only fat in these cookies is the peanut butter. Make sure you use a good one! Dense and fudgy, and using only five other ingredients. Simple.
ingredients:
- 285g smooth or crunchy peanut butter (1 1/3 cups) (I like Skippy), at room temperature
- 170g soft light brown sugar (3/4 cup, packed)
- 1 large free range egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 35g plain flour (1/4 cup)
- 170g mini candy coated chocolate bits (optional) (1 cup)
instructions:
How to cook Big-Time Peanut Butter Cookies
- Preheat the oven to 18-*C/350*F/ gas mark 4. Line two baking sheets with baking paper. Set aside.
- Cream the peanut butter and sugar together until well blended. Beat in the egg and vanilla. Stir in the flour until well combined. The mixture will be very stiff. Stir in the chocolate bits if using.
- Shape 2 TBS of the dough into a ball and place 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets. Press down lightly with a fork.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 12 minutes, until puffed and looking dry on top. Let rest on the baking sheets for about 10 minutes before scooping off onto wire racks to cool completely.
- Store in an airtight container.
While I am not sure that these will totally replace my regular peanut butter cookie recipe, I am sure that they are cookies I will bake again. They were quick to make and really do taste fabulous! Dense, fudgy and really chock full of rich peanut butter flavor. I am not sure I would do the chocolate candy addition again however. They might be better with mini M&M's instead of what I had to use. The author also suggests drizzling them with melted chocolate. I think that would be really tasty also! In any case I declare these winner/winners!