Peanut Butter Cookies

Christmas is on the horizon, so I thought I would try out a new recipe for Peanut Butter Cookies, one of the Christmas cookie tray staples.  I usually have a Christmas cookie making party (I have to get on that and start planning), I invite family and friends, we all bake our favorite cookies, then share them, and everyone goes home with a huge tray of assorted cookies.  In between all the baking, I serve a very nice lunch, with a festive table setting, and then it's right back to the baking.  Sometimes we are in the kitchen for 12 or more hours baking non-stop.  It's always fun and we get to spend time together.  Recipe for cookies is below.

A few of the ingredients.  I like JIF Peanut Butter I think it's smoother.  Mixed up and ready to be rolled.

Don't forget the parchment paper, it keeps cookies from sticking to the sheet.  All rolled and evenly spaced.

 Use flour to make your grid marks on top of the cookies. 

 Baked and ready to eat with a cold glass of milk.  They won't last long! 

 Peanut Butter Cookies

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups of sifted flour

2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 cup butter, softened

1/2 cup of JIF Peanut Butter

1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar

1/2 cup white sugar

1 egg

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Directions

Heat oven to 350 degrees.  Line your baking sheet(s) with parchment paper.  Put 1 tablespoon of flour in a small bowl, set aside to use later.  Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt.  In a large bowl of a mixer, cream the butter and peanut butter together.  Add the brown sugar and white sugar and beat until fluffy.  Add the egg and the vanilla and beat.  Add the dry ingredients and mix until all is combined.  Using 1 rounded tablespoon of dough for each cookie, roll into a ball by rolling it in the palms of your hands.  Place 2 inches apart on the baking sheet. With tines of a fork, dipped in the tablespoon of flour, press crosswise one way on the cookie, and then over lay the other way, making a grid impression on the cookie.  Bake 10 - 12 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool on a baking rack.  Makes about 3 dozen cookies.

Tip: If you like peanuts, use 1 cup of chopped peanuts in the recipe, or roll the balls in the chopped peanuts and then flatten if you like, with the bottom of a glass.