Sunday, January 1, 2012

My All Time Favorite - Peanut Butter Blossoms!



If there's one cookie I have no self control over, it's the Peanut Butter Blossom.  I think this cookie is absolute perfection.  Chocolate and peanut butter goodness.  And they're cute, too!

Since I've started this blog, the most popular post by far has been my pink peanut butter zebra stripe cookie.  It's just a variation on a theme; using pink dye for the dough and a Hershey Hug rather than a Kiss, and it has taken off like wildfire!  I'd like to give some love to the inspiration, the irreplaceable, the original Peanut Butter Blossom.

For me, this cookie represents the Thanksgiving through New Year's holiday season.  It's not a celebration if these are not present on the dessert table, so I made some.  More than some, actually.  I made a LOT.  Here's how I did it:


Peanut Butter Cookies (adapted from Betty Crocker's Cookbook)

1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup peanut butter (I prefer Reese's Peanut Butter)
1/4 cup shortening (I prefer Crisco baking sticks, butter flavor)
1/4 cup butter, softened
2 tablespoons milk
1 egg
1 1/4 cups all purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder

Cream together the butter, shortening, and peanut butter. Mix in sugars, egg and milk. Add the remaining ingredients. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Roll the dough into 1 1/2 - 2 inch balls.  Dredge the balls through sugar and place on an ungreased cookie sheet at least three inches apart. 




Bake between 9-10 minutes.  While they are baking, unwrap enough Hershey Kiss's to place on top of each cookie.




After removing cookies from the oven, push a Hershey Kiss into the center of each one.  Let cookies cool several minutes before removing them from cookie sheet.




 Be careful not to touch the kiss for at least an hour after placing them on the cookie.  It will keep it's shape, but it will also be quite soft and easy to squish.  After a few hours they will be perfectly set and you can stack them in an airtight container for storage.  If they last that long!



2 comments:

  1. Ohhh, one of my favorites all time!
    So your recipe stops them from cracking?
    The recipe I have - they crack sometimes when I push the kiss in??

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  2. Totally my favorite, Marie!!
    I don't have cracking issues. I put the Kiss on immediately after removing the cookies from the oven. They may crack if you wait for them to cool before adding the Kiss?
    My recipe is Betty Crocker and I LOVE it!!

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