This is one of the first cookies I learned to bake.
The good ol', all American peanut butter cookie!
I remember the anticipation while waiting, as Mom rolled the little balls of cookie dough between her hands and placed it on the cookie sheet.
I couldn't wait to take a fork and press the crisscross pattern in the cookie. This design makes peanut butter cookies distinctive and the cookie can be identified by sight from across the kitchen!
I have tried several recipes, but I have found that time and again this simple set of ingredients make a great cookie and that after 50 or 60 years of untold batches baked, this recipe has withstood the test of taste and time.
Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup white sugar
1 cup shortening (I use butter flavored Crisco)
2 eggs
1 cup peanut butter (I use Jif)
2 1/2 cups all purpose four
1 teaspoon soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 cup granulated sugar
Cream together brown sugar, white sugar, shortening. Add eggs separately beating well after each addition. Add vanilla. Add peanut butter and blend well.
Measure flour into a separate bowl. Add soda and salt and sift once to blend.
Add by spoonfuls to the wet batter, mixing well after each addition.
With about a tablespoon of dough, roll into a ball and place on cookie sheet. With a fork dampened with water, dip into 1/4 cup of sugar and press into cookie, making a crisscross pattern. Bake 9-11 minutes. Don't over bake! You want this cookie crisp on the outside and chewy on the inside!
Cool on a cookie sheet or get yourself a tall glass of milk and dunk away while still warm!
