We wish you a Merry Christmas

We wish you a Merry Christmas

We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

When I signed up for the cookie swap, I was so excited to not only get to bake a new recipe for 3 complete strangers, but to receive 3 dozen cookies from 3 random strangers from all around the country! As I got to work flipping through my recipe books, I decided I would make a classic peanut butter cookie. Because who doesn’t enjoy an old fashioned peanut butter cookie every once in a while? I know I do!

The recipe comes from The Best New Recipe Cookbook, which is a lovely cookbook. It tells you the best ways to make the recipe after it has been tested numerous times. It also provides a story with each recipe as to what type of testing process it went through before it was published in the book. It’s a really fun cookbook and would be a great gift for your favorite chef.

Lets get baking! Here’s what you need:

Old Fashioned Peanut Butter Cookies

Makes about 3 1/2 dozen cookies.

2 1/2 cups all purpose flour

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

2 sticks unsalted butter

1 cup packed light brown sugar

1 cup granulated sugar

1 cup extra crunchy peanut butter (jiff recommended)

2 large eggs

2 tsp vanilla

1 cup salted, dry roasted peanuts

First, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Next, whisk the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt together in a medium bowl and set aside.

Place 2 sticks of butter in your electric stand mixer or in a large bowl.

Beat the butter until creamy.

Add the sugars, and whip until fluffy.

Nice and fluffy.

Beat in the peanut butter until fully incorporated. I used Jiff extra crunchy here.

Then add the eggs one at a time, add the vanilla.

 

 

 

 

Gently mix the dry ingredients into the wet and stir until just incorporated.

 

 

 

 

All incorporated!

 

Once the flour is mixed in, take your 1 cup of dry roasted salted peanuts and chop them in a food processor.

Pulse about 10 times, or until they resemble crumbs.

Once everything has been folded together, use a cookie scoop, or a 2 tbsp and roll the dough into 2 inch balls. Place on baking sheets about 2 1/2 inches apart.

With a fork, press into the cookie two times making the lines.

Bake until the cookies are puffed and slightly browned, about 10 minutes.

I packaged them up and sent them on their way to my 3 matches. Check out their blogs and see what kind of cookies they made! Lillian Huang, Sarah Pyle and Melanee O’Hagan.

These are so tasty! They are soft but crispy on the edges, light and fluffy, and full of peanut butter flavor!

Good tidings we bring, to you and your kin

Good tidings for Christmas, and a Happy New Year!

Stephanie