Showing posts with label peanut butter. Show all posts
Showing posts with label peanut butter. Show all posts

March 30, 2011

Peanut Butter Sandwich Cookies


I used to love Nutter Butters as a kid. When I was allowed to choose a cookie in the supermarket, I almost always chose the peanut-shaped, peanut butter filled, crunchy cookies. I sometimes dipped them into a glass of milk. If I was feeling destructive, I would split them and carefully lick the filling. Other times I would just inhale them and then try to remember what they tasted like. I was pretty normal as a child.

I was wondering if I could recreate these in my own kitchen so I found a recipe for Peanut Butter Sandwich Cookies and got right to work.

This recipe makes a nice, softer version of the original Nutter Butter. I didn't bother to try to shape them like a peanut or to make a faux peanut shell on the outside of the cookie. No, I'll leave that to the folks at Nabisco.

Truth be told, these aren't much like Nutter Butters at all. I guess some childhood memories aren't meant to be copied in the kitchen. The next time I'm in the cookie aisle I'll pick up a package, sit myself down at the kitchen table, pour a tall glass of milk and try to relive some childhood memories.

Baker's Tip: Allow at least an hour of freeze time before you try to slice the cookie dough. Reshape the sliced cookies as needed so they retain their rectangular shape. And try not to eat too much dough as you go!

Ready for the Oven














The recipe is from a past issue of Everyday Food, a Martha Stewart production.

Peanut Butter Sandwich Cookies

1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 cups plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 stick unsalted butter, softened
1 cup lightly packed light brown sugar
1 1/2 cups smooth peanut butter
1 large egg
1/2 cup whole milk
1/2 cup sugar

In a small bowl, whisk together baking soda, salt, and 2 cups flour. Set aside.
I a large bowl of an electric mixer, beat butter, brown sugar, and 1 cup of peanut butter until light and fluffy. Bean in egg. With mixer on low speed, gradually add flour mixture and beat until just combined.

Form dough into two 8-inch long rectangular logs. Wrap each log in plastic wrap and freeze until firm, about 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 350. With a sharp knife, slice dough 1/4 inch thick and place on baking sheets approximately 1 inch apart. Turn dough and reshape as needed while slicing the cookies so that they retain their shape. Bake until cookies are puffed, about 12 to 15 minutes, rotating sheets halfway if baking two at a time.
Transfer to wire racks to cool.

Filling: In a saucepan, whisk milk, and 2 tablespoons flour over medium heat until thickened, about 2 minutes. Let cool. In a mixing bowl, beat together 1/2 cup peanut butter and granulated sugar. Beat in cooled milk mixture.

Assemble Cookies: Spread smooth sides (bottoms) of half the cookies with 1 tablespoon filling. Sandwich with remaining cookies.

These cookies are best eaten within a day or two but will store in an airtight container at room temperature for 5 days.

Cookie press rating: 3 cookies (out of 5)

December 10, 2010

Peanut Butter-Chocolate Kisses

This week has been hectic for sure. I had planned to post several of my favorite holiday cookie recipes, but the week just seemed to get away from me. So now that I have a few minutes, I'd like to share one of my tried and true cookie recipes. No cookie plate is complete without Peanut Butter-Chocolate Kisses. These are super easy to make, especially with kids. And best of all, you can eat any leftover chocolate kisses. And there are always some leftover!

Baker's tip: unwrap the Hershey kisses as cookies bake so that they're ready to go or better yet, have your helper do it.

The recipe says to immediately press the kiss into the top of each cookie as soon as they're out of the oven but I prefer to wait a minute or so. The cookie will still be soft, but will not be so hot as to start to melt the chocolate. Don't wait too long though, or the kiss will not stick to the cookie!

Peanut Butter-Chocolate Kisses

1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup lightly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
1/4 cup butter, softened
1/4 cup shortening
1 egg
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
granulated sugar for rolling dough
36 Hershey's chocolate candy kisses

Heat oven to 375 degrees
Mix 1/2 cup granulated sugar, brown sugar, peanut butter, butter, shortening, and egg thoroughly. Stir in flour, baking soda, and baking powder. Mold dough into 1-inch balls then roll them in sugar. Place about 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes. Remove sheet from oven, wait 1 minute and press candy kiss firmly in the middle of each cookie. Let cool completely.

July 28, 2010

Peanut Butter Cookies


WARNING: May contain peanuts.
This is a phrase that I see all the time now in the most obvious places. Yes, I understand that peanut butter cookies contain peanuts. I also understand that my peanut granola bar contains peanuts. That's why I bought it. I also know that my hot cup of coffee is hot. I don't need a disclaimer on the cup to tell me so. Before everyone gets crazy on me, I do understand that peanut allergies are serious and I do feel bad for anyone who can't have peanuts or who have serious food allergies.

Now to the cookies ...

I made these for my friend Karen, who is going through a rough time after recently losing her husband. Today I received a thank you note from Karen which said "You can bake! The cookies are fantastic." Funny. That's what I thought went I tasted them too. I sure hope they lift Karen's spirits.

This recipe comes from the America's Test Kitchen's Family Cookbook.

The key here is to supplement the peanut butter with real, salted dry roasted peanuts to create tons of peanut flavor. The other key is to make the cookies BIG! This helps them retain their chewiness. One cookie at a time is really all you need. These babies are filling. And with an ice cold glass of milk on a hot day, these are simply the best.

Peanut Butter Cookies

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
1 cup light brown sugar, gently packed
1 cup sugar
1 cup extra crunchy peanut butter
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 large eggs
1 cup salted peanuts, chopped fine

Heat oven to 350 degrees and line two cookie sheets with parchment paper. Whisk flour, salt, baking soda, baking powder together in a large bowl and set aside.

Beat butter and sugars together in a large bowl using an electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 4-5 minutes. Beat in peanut butter, about 30 seconds, scraping down sides of bowl.

Reduce mixer speed to low and slowly add flour mixture until just combined, about 30 seconds. Mix in the chopped peanuts.

Roll dough to form balls using about 3 tablespoons of dough for each. Place on baking sheets about 2 inches apart. Using a fork dipped in cold water, gently press down on each ball twice to create the crosshatch pattern.

Bake until the edges are golden, 10 - 12 minutes. If baking more than one pan at a time, rotate pans halfway through baking.

Cool cookies on baking sheets for 10 minutes, then transfer to wire rack to cool completely.

Cookie press rating: 5 cookies (out of five)