From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...While I carry no lantern, my quest for the world's best peanut butter cookie has kept me searching with a determination that rivals that of the old cynic who went looking for an honest man. I have a taste memory, and while I've been looking for years, I've yet to duplicate it. Mine is not a loving or romantic tale. The cookie I remember was served in the cafeteria of a school I attended as a child. It had an intense peanut flavor and was so dense and crisp that it held its shape when dunked into a glass of milk. This year, I thought I'd use a different approach and decided to try a soft and chewy cookie that received rave reviews at allrecipes.com. I made a few minor changes to the recipe I found there. I added a cup of coarsely chopped salted peanuts to the ingredient list and replaced the mix of light and dark sugars with my current favorite, golden brown. Before I go any further, I must tell you that these cookies are delicious. I must also tell you I'm still looking for the cookie that will put my memories to rest. I encountered one issue as I made these that I want to share with you. I had to chill the cookie dough before it could be rolled into balls. This may have to do with the way in which flour is measured. I fluff and scoop and may have used less flour than someone using a different technique. At any rate, the dough was workable after being chilled and made exactly 3 dozen cookies. If you like your peanut butter cookies on the soft and chewy side, give this recipe a try. You won't regret it. Here's the recipe.
Soft and Chewy Peanut Butter Cookies...from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite adapted from allrecipes.com
Ingredients:
1 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup golden brown sugar
1 egg
3 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup coarsely chopped salted peanuts
Directions:
1) Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
2) In a large bowl, cream together peanut butter, butter, and golden brown sugar until well blended. Beat in egg, milk, and vanilla one at a time. Combine flour, baking powder, and salt; stir into creamed mixture. Fold chopped nuts into dough. Chill dough if necessary to roll. Roll tablespoonfuls of dough into balls. Place cookies 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheets. Press each ball once with fork tines.
3) Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven, or until edges are lightly browned. Let sit for 2 minutes on cookie sheet. Remove and cool on wire racks. Yield: 36 cookies.
Your might also enjoy these recipes:
Top Chef Worthy Peanut Butter Cookies - Cookie Madness
Tuesday's with Dorie: Peanut Butter Crisscrosses - A Whisk and A Spoon
Honey Peanut Butter Cookies - Baking Bites
Big, Super Nutty Peanut Butter Cookies - The Culinary Chronicles
Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies - Within the Kitchen
Gluten Free Peanut Butter Cookies - The Baking Beauties
Over the Top Reese's Peanut Butter Cookies - Real Mom Kitchen
Peanut Butter Cookies with Ketchup - Cookie Madness
Oatmeal Peanut Butter Cookies - Gonna Want Seconds
Peanut Butter Chocolate Kiss Cookies - The Comfort of Cooking
Yum. These look delicious. Good luck on your continuing quest. :)
ReplyDeleteMary, these cookies look much like the peanut butter cookies I had baked recently. But mine is crunchy type and only need 3 ingredients. Yours look great as well!
ReplyDeleteOh, these look very yummy! And I love your school story. Isn't it true that some of our best food memories are from our days as children, then when we grow up, we can never experience it again. I can even SMELL my favorite foods from when I was 9, and I've never tasted tham since.
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ReplyDeleteLove a good peanut butter cookie - I like the idea of some salted peanuts mixed in.
ReplyDeleteI hope you find the one that gives you such great memories.
I love those peanut butter cookies! Actually I adore anything peanut butter.
ReplyDeleteAngie
Mary, everyone sure will like this cookies, look so yummy. Have a nice weekend ahead.
ReplyDeleteThank you Mary, my husband would love these!
ReplyDeleteThese look delicious~ And like they would be aweomse with a little ice cream! Nom!!
ReplyDeleteHi! These look very essence.
ReplyDeleteYeap, I'm bookmarking all the cookie recipes for the coming season! haha... Oh yes, alot of them to try out. Yours look great.
ReplyDeleteKristy
There are no foods that I cannot eat, but peanut butter is not one I particularly enjoy. It would be interesting to see if I like it in a biscuit. Diane
ReplyDeleteThese sound good. I like my peanut butter cookies crisp too though.
ReplyDeleteI love these cookies because they are soft and chewy... These looks really good! Have a nice day!
ReplyDeleteMary, your quest is admirable. But, if I may add, I do believe the tastes of childhood are diminished in adulthood. The atmosphere that a cookie is eaten as a child, baked by mom, or a school cafeteria cook, the unleashed happiness of a child, the under-developed taste buds...you get the picture. I have gone back to recipes I loved as a child, especially baked goods, and they are just not the same.
ReplyDeleteWarm lovin from the oven! YUMMY!
ReplyDeleteMmmmmmm....I love cookies!! Peanut butter being in my top 3 for sure!! And I'm all for soft and chewy...those are usually my favorites!!
ReplyDeleteI haven't made PB cookies in a very long time! I so should!! My kids would be so happy! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI love peanut butter cookies!
ReplyDeletePeanut butter cookies are my absolute favorite kind of cookie. I usually use the recipe from my Betty Crocker cookbook, and they are good. But I'm definitely going to try your recipe. I am a huge fan of chewy cookies.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing,
Patti
We must be thinking/cooking alike! I just made PB cookies last night :) Only, I didn't use vanilla, milk, or extra peanuts (I think all of those are great additions)!
ReplyDeleteIf you promise to have tea, I will be there in a flash...oh no, they're all gone????
ReplyDeleteThese cookies look gorgeous! There's nothing like homemade peanut butter cookies. I know what it's like to be forever trying to reproduce a certain childhood food. Good luck with your quest!
ReplyDeletePeanut Butter Cookies - Yum! These look really good!
ReplyDeletei was crazy about archway peanut butter cookies when I was a kid. I love them but rarely make them... this looks like a great reason to try them again!
ReplyDeleteI DO like mine on the soft and chewy side, Mary!! :-) Good luck with your search! :-)
ReplyDeleteIn my humble opinion cookies are at their best when they are made as a soft and chewy variety. Must make these for Hubby!
ReplyDeleteI'm pretty fussy about my pb cookies too, Mary! I've never added peanuts to my recipe though. Going to try that!
ReplyDeleteWith a glass of milk (the only time I drink it) and a pb cookie, I am in heaven.
I'm so excited to see this recipe, Mary! I've been dying to make peanut butter cookies and now I know what recipe I'll be using...thank you!
ReplyDeleteAh the infinite search for the perfect PB cookie. I know that well. I love the sound of a chewy version though. I'll have to try this!
ReplyDeleteAh yes - a classic cookie and your version looks perfect Mary :)
ReplyDeleteHave a great time.
ReplyDeleteI would devour these lovely cookies ♥
These do look very good! I love peanut butter cookies! I made the ones posted on the Tuesdays with Dorie blogs and they were fantastic!
ReplyDeleteI haven't had a peanut butter cookie in ages. I recently rediscovered peanut butter cups thanks to Trader Joe's. I will definitely give these a try!
ReplyDeleteOh yum, yum, yum Mary! I love Peanut Butter Cookies :)
ReplyDeleteDefinitely a soft and chewy gal here (regarding cookies, that is....LOL)
ReplyDeleteGreat recipe. Can't wait to give it a try. My peanut butter addicted hubby will love you for posting this.
Never had a peanut butter cookie I didnt care for. One of my all time favorites.
ReplyDeleteThese are one of my favorite things ever!
ReplyDeleteMickey
I love cookies and these looks easy enough to make and I have a tub of peanut butter waiting to be used. Thanks for sharing Mary:D
ReplyDeleteI adore peanut butter cookies. Right now, I could use a plate full of cookies and a tall glass of milk. I too am always looking for that perfect recipe so I will be giving this a try!
ReplyDeleteI love looking for the best cookie recipes--it's always an adventure!!
ReplyDeleteI was about to make these but the recipe only states golden brown sugar and the directions say to cream together golden brown and brown sugar. What's the measurment of regular brown sugar?
ReplyDeleteAnonymous, the recipe has been corrected. You use only golden brown sugar in this recipe. Sorry for the inconvenience. Have a good evening. Blessings...Mary
ReplyDeleteI have the peanut butter cookie recipe you want. It is the same as the schools have.
ReplyDeleteJust made these so easy and sooooo good. I just did not make enough ! making another batch the first batch is all gone !
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