Peanut Butter Cookies

Peanut Butter cookies. Not your classic sugar, butter, or chocolate cookie variety these cookies really stand in a category of their own. Its one of those cookies that I can bring to an event and everyone ooohs & ahhhs. Maybe it's because there is no substitute for them...literally! Where as you can buy a pre-made packaged version of just about every other kind of cookie, peanut butter cookies aren't exactly a hot on the shelf item. (I am not counting Nutter Butter cookies! Although they are delicious they're not really the same thing!)

So here it is, my Peanut Butter Cookie Recipe. I had a lot of help with this one. I could not have done it without the self-sacrifice and tireless efforts of my cookie taste testers, my little man and my boyfriend. Your efforts were not in vein!
     

Peanut Butter Cookies
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour 1/2tsp baking powder 1 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup butter @ room temp 1/2 cup shortening  Equipment: Stand mixer or hand mixer and large mixing bowl Mixing bowls cookie sheets parchment paper a fork	1 cup granulated sugar (+ a little extra for decorating) 1/2 cup brown sugar, lightly packed 2 eggs, lightly beaten 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract 1 cup peanut butter (chunky or smooth)
Directions Turn the oven on to 350 degrees, and cut the parchment paper to fit the cookie sheets *note-why parchment paper? It just makes for easier clean-up on these and no worries about sticking!   In a small mixing bowl combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder, & salt. Set aside.  Cream the butter and shortening at low speed until fluffy. Slowly pour in the sugars until combined. (You may need to scrape down the sides of the bowl once or twice). Next add the eggs and vanilla. Finish up by adding the peanut butter. (Again you may need to scrape the sides down once or twice)  Lastly add the flour mixture in 3 parts making sure each additional is thoroughly combined before adding another one.  Now you are all set for the fun part! Go ahead and roll about a tablespoon of the dough into a ball. Set the cookies about an inch and a half apart on the cookie sheet. *Note: I usually roll all the dough into balls at once and set them on a plate. That way I can work with 2-3 cookie sheets at a time and fill the pan right back up as soon as the last batch has cooled and made its way  onto the rack. Once on the cookie sheet make a criss-cross pattern on top of the dough by pressing down lightly with a fork. (Press down horizontally and then vertically). Last, but not least give them a little sprinkle of sugar on top! This adds a little decoration and a little extra sweet on top. Place in the center rack of the oven for 8-10 minutes depending on your oven. For these I always do a test cookie first to get the time down. Since the dough is pretty much a golden brown color to begin with it can be hard to tell when they are really done until they've cooled and you've broken it open to check. No one wants a burnt or a raw peanut butter cookie ;) Let them cool on the pan for 1-2 minuts before placing on a cooling rack. Enjoy!
Yield: 4-5 dozen	Calories per serving: 95 per cookie

This recipe makes a ton of cookies so feel free to share with those you deem worthy ;)