It's here. The perfect peanut butter cookie recipe you have been searching for!

by Leslie

Yes.  That's right.  You may not believe it, but it's true.  Sometimes the best things come in the simplest packages.  Such is the case with the peanut butter cookies I made last weekend.  I was home in Albion, NE, enjoying the leisure and comfort that comes with home (there's nothing like it).  My mom was away playing bells at church, the husband was in the living room reading, and my dad was downstairs on his bike.  What was a girl to do?

I perused the fridge and found something inspiring--mini peanut butter cups that my mom had picked up from Trader Joe's a few weeks earlier (that was an excellent trip, by the way.  Watching my mother lose her breath over a wall of cheese made me swell with pride.  Now we all know where I get my love for all things food-related).

 Anyway--she had told me she used those peanut butter cups in a peanut butter cookie.  Yum.  I had my inspiration, now I just had to find the right recipe.  As I went through the huge stack of my mom's cookie recipes, I found a basic recipe for 4-H peanut butter cookies.  You know the ones.  I'm sure you've made them--you make some criss-crosses on top with a fork.  They are a classic.

And I was going to "turn the volume up" on this classic.  Thanks Ina, you have so many catch-phrases.

So, here's the step-by-step.  And might I add, these cookies were even better than I remembered.

You begin by sifting your dry ingredients: flour, soda, salt.

And that's where the step-by-step ends.  Apparently I couldn't stop and take pictures.  Too much excitement over the dough.

And let me tell you, that dough is delicious.  Here is what we did:  Cream your sugar, brown sugar, eggs , and butter.
Add your dry ingredients until incorporated.  Add pb cups.  Try not to eat yourself into a stupor.

They are perfectly lovely in dough form.  It is so soft and easy to work with.

Detailed shot.  Delicious.

Finished product.  Lovely, eh?

Half-consumed.

A little soft, a little crunchy, a lot yummy!

So, there you have it.  Another delicious baking staple to add to your repertoire.  You will not be disappointed.  I might add that doubling this recipe is highly recommended.  Check out the recipe below:

Peanut Butter Cookies

1 1/4 c. sifted flour

1/4 t. baking soda

1/4 t. salt

1/2 cup butter

1/2 t. vanilla

1/2 c. granulated sugar

1/2 c. brown sugar

1/2 c. peanut butter

1 egg

Sift flour, soda, and salt.  Set aside.  In a mixer, cream butter, sugars, vanilla, and egg until smooth and combined.  Add peanut butter and mix to combine.  Slowly add dry ingredients until incorporated.  Add chocolate chips or mini peanut butter cups if desired.  Bake at 375 degrees for 12-15 minutes.

Enjoy!