Here, Kitty, Kitty…Just in time for a Study Bake? You’re getting the Sweet Melissa Baking Book! Please send me your mailing address and we’ll get this sent to you just in time to bake during the Holidays. Thank you to everyone for participating in the giveaway. I’m holding off on the rest of the gifts under the Delicious Tree for something huge…
We’ve given away a copy of the The Sweet Melissa Baking Book, but don’t let that stop you from getting a copy yourself, or making Melissa Murphy’s Peanut Butter cookies from the book. They’re not bad. You know. For peanut butter.
Some Foods Are NeverBad™
There is a category of foods in The Delicious Life that I call NeverBad™. No matter how “bad” they are, they are never bad. French Fries. Potato Chips. Pizza. Vodka on the rocks.
These are foods that you love so much, of which you’ve tried every different variety, that you know how to make, have learned the history, could do a half hour episode of Good Eats with Alton Brown right after you do a half hour episode of The Secret Life of with Jim O’Connor that you could almost call yourself a connoisseur.
However, you can’t really be a connoissuer expressly because you love it so much that even when you are faced with French fries from McDonald’s, they taste pretty fucking good to you because they’re French fries and French fries are never bad even when they’re McDonald’s.
That was a bad example. Every French fry connoisseur would agree that McDonald’s French fries are, in fact, the standard against which all other French fries should be measured.
You get my point, though, right?
Cookies Are NeverBad™
The point is that cookies are in the category of NeverBad™. Let’s ease into this with store-bought cookies. Store-bought cookies are perfect every time because a team 41 scientists have perfected the formula recipe and the cookies are made by robots so they are perfect, every batch, every time, every box. The only time store-bought cookies might be bad is when they get to your house and you let them either go stale or grow mold. But store-bought cookie will never go stale nor grow mold because there are enough chemicals in each cookie to keep it as fresh as a summer’s eve that you’re probably preserving your own GI tract until 2050 just by eating it.
What about homemade cookies? There are many more uncontrolled variables in homemade cookies that could result in a bad cookie, but really, unless there was some gross error in the manufacture of a homemade cookie like unknowingly using rancid butter or accidentally adding 2 cups of salt instead of sugar or God forbid, raisins instead of chocolate chips, homemade cookies will never be bad. They might be a little too salty, a little too sweet, slightly underbaked or slightly over burnt, but if they are in front of you, if you’ve ventured to take a bite, you’re going to eat it. In fact, homemade cookies even have an advantage over storebought cookies in that they are…homemade.
Peanut Butter is Bad, But It’s Still a Cookie
Cookies – all of them – are never bad. Even peanut butter. I never grew up with peanut butter, don’t have even a childhood nostalgia for peanut butter, can’t stand the texture of peanut butter, am not particularly fond of the fragrance of peanut butter, cringe at the thought of how fatty fattening peanut butter is.
But a peanut butter cookie is still a cookie.
And I will eat it.
Chewy Peanut Butter Cookies from the The Sweet Melissa Baking Book
Makes 2 dozen cookies
Peanut Butter Cookie Ingredients
½ cup smooth peanut butter
8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
½ cup granulated sugar
½ cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1 large egg
1¾ cups all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon baking powder
¾ teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon salt
Peanut Butter Cookie Directions
Position the rack in the top and bottom third of your oven. Preheat the oven to 325F. Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper or aluminum foil.
In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the peanut butter with the butter and sugars until light and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes. Beat in the egg.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add the flour mixture to the peanut butter mixture and mix until combined. Be sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl so that everything is combined evenly.
Scoop dough by the rounded tablespoonful and roll into balls. Place the balls about 2 inches apart on the prepared cookie sheets, and press down slightly. Using a fork dipped in flour, press down on the cookies first one way and then the other to form an “X” pattern, creating the cross hatch effect. (The cookies should now measure approximately 2 inches in diameter.) Bake for 10 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden. Overbaking will cause these chewy cookies to become crunchy, so try to avoid it.
The cookies will keep in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. For longer storage, they can be frozen wrapped in plastic wrap and aluminum foil for up to 1 month. Do not unwrap before defrosting.
{ 101 comments… read them below or add one }
I hate all the washing up you have to do after baking.
As for my favorite cookie, it’d be white chocolate macadamia
Id love a baking book!! And I love these cookies:
http://iammommy.typepad.com/i_am_baker/2009/12/november-cookie-challenge.html
Be blessed!
Amanda
Really, there’s nothing better than a perfect chocolate chip cookie, w/ the bittersweet choc. oozing out.
I love freshly baked, warm, gooey, chewy chocolate chip cookies. Mm! Just thinking about it…makes me drool.
Chocolate chip gets me every time. I could eat them three meals a day.
my favorite cookie is definitely coconut oatmeal cookies with walnuts that my aunt makes. :)
I love double chocolate chip cookies!
Chocolate Espresso Chews – they’re unreal!
My favorite cookie has to be the rugelach I made every year with dried cranberries and pecans.
I love cookies like children… they all have a special place in my heart! But I made these a few nights ago and they were delish!
http://www.saveur.com/article/Recipes/Hungarian-Shortbread
I love all cookies, but I especially love white chocolate raspberry cookies.
I love all cookies, but my favorite is delicious chewy sugar cookies.
I could eat any cookie at any time of the day, but my favorite is definitely oatmeal raisin :]
My favourite cookie is Crescents. They’re a shortbread cookie with pecans and chocolate chips in them, and we only eat them around the holidays (which is probably a good thing, because otherwise I’d be pretty unhealthy).
out of all the cookies, my favorite cookie is alfajores!
I love, LOVE peanut butter chocolate chip cookies, extra thick. I think Levain’s in NY makes the best cookies.
mmmm those look sooo good.
peanut butter oatmeal cookies chock full nuts and sunflower seeds and coconut and everything amazing that belongs in a cookie.
My favorite cookie would have to be my very own Chunky Chocolate cookies. I use lindt chocolate if I have the money, if not then Hersheys it is!
http://www.foodiemanila.com/2009/05/cookie-day/
My favorite cookie is my mom’s cream cheese chocolate chip cookie! It’s to die for. . . can’t post recipe. On really old and yellowed recipe card. YUM YUM!
Great book and my fave must be the classic chewy chocolate chip cookie too. With dried cranberries thrown in! Off to tweet!
These cookies are fantastic (not my recipe, though):
http://ladolcivita.blogspot.com/2009/08/maple-snickerdoodles.html
My favorite cookie is probably either chocolate chip or oatmeal chocolate chip.
fav cookie? oatmeal chocolate chip…don’t give me one with raisins! lol. But I’ll never say no to a second helping of white chocolate macadamia or peanut butter cookies.
my favorite type of cookies are chewy, buttery toffee cookies. yummy!
These peanut butter cookies look tasty!
I think my favorite however, are chewy molasses cookies with a big glass of cold milk!
My favorite is oatmeal with raisins, while my husband prefers chocolate chip. At times I will make him chocolate cookies with peanut butter chips.
My favorite cookie is a chocolate chile cookie a former friend made.
my favorite cookie is the “vanishing oatmeal raisin cookie” recipe on the quaker oats box
i like peanut butter a ton and i keep meaning to add chocolate chips in the process but always forget. nothing is better than pb and chocolate. that’s why there are so many variations!!! yums
love love love snickerdoodles! of course i love any cookie, but if i had a choice, it would be snickerdoodles!
mm i wanna bake some right now (also gotta find a good recipe) tried a couple but not exactly what I wanted…here’s one to try:
http://marzipanmom.blogspot.com/2009/12/12-days-till-christmas-snickerdoodles.html
I love Linzer cookies! The more jam, the better =)
My favorite cookie is Carol’s Cookies Oatmeal Chocolate Cherry–sounds like it would be overwhelming, but so delicious
http://www.carolscookies.com/the_cookies.html
my favorite cookie is a toss up btw girl scout samoas and chewy chocolate chip cookies.
nithya: I was wondering — waiting to see, in fact — who would be the first person to name not just a non homemade cookie, but any store branded cookie. You have one upped by picking a Girl Scout cookie. Good show!
Here’s my fave (at the moment): Raspberry Oatmeal Bars, oh yeah: http://crispywaffle.com/?p=146
Ah, I love cookies, freebies, and Tastespotting! Taking a break right now from studying for my final tomorrow morning, I came across this site because it was the first picture on Tastespotting! :)
My favorite cookie is Starbucks’ chewy yet crispy oatmeal raisin, a heavy weight champion of 400+ calories with a tendency to drain my wallet.
I’m obsessed with these pomegranate and white chocolate chip cookies. They are seasonal and super easy to make. I found the recipe on Tastespotting http://kaceyskitchen.blogspot.com/2009/12/pomegranate-white-chocolate-chip.html
Damn, these cookies sound great! :)
My favourite cookies are crunchy double chocolate chip cookies. Mmmm.
My favorite cookie (if I had to choose only one…) has got to be dump it all drop cookies, also known as Monster cookies. Basically it’s a combination of the top 3 cookies: chocolate chip, oatmeal raisin, and peanut butter. YUM!
This time of year, I prefer a snickerdoodle.
I have macaron madness!!! http://tiny.cc/lKVWI
Stroopwafels! Here’s the recipe I use: http://www.kingarthurflour.com/recipes/stroopwafels-recipe
Fair amount of trouble, and you have to have a pizzelle iron, but oh are they worth it!
My favorite cookie is a molasses sugar cookie made from my grandmother’s recipe. The taste of them scream “Holidays” to me, and I only make them in December.
The molasses crinkles from Molly Katzen’s “Still Life With Menu.” Yum.
Sweet potato cookies
Good old fashioned oatmeal raisin!
delicious snickerdoodles drive me wild
triple chocolate threat cookies, from the Pastry Queen cookbook!
Thanks for posting a giveaway… I would have to say my favorite is a chocolate shortbread – rolled thinned and made with a semi chocolate filling. YUM! Have a great Monday…
Peanut Butter, Butterscotch, and Fig cookies are amazing.
http://www.natalieskillercuisine.com/2009/08/peanut-butter-butterscotch-fig-cookies.html
Also, anything with pistachios and dried fruit or toffee is a winner to me!
my Nanny’s shortbread, I have tried to replicate them, even using her recipe- but I haven’t even come close. A classic butter, flour mix with a touch of rice flour and shortening to make them unique- and I can eat a box in one sitting, the perfect balance of sweet, buttery and salty (use salted butter!)
My favorite Christmas cookie is peanut butter balls :) so good….sorry they also have peanut butter in them.
http://whatmegansmaking.blogspot.com/2009/12/peanut-butter-balls.html
Salty oat cookies with dark chocolate chunks. To DIE for.
Toll House Chocolate Chip, hands down!
My mother’s walnut crescent cookies that she only makes for Christmas once a year. I crave them. I love them. They are my favorite cookie ever.
I’ve got the recipe for it but it’s an old, old one ;) Never seen it on any site before. She made some adaptions to it to personalize it and her method of mixing things together is really out there BUT IT WORKS SO GOOD. I might post the recipe sometime. :P
So glad it’s almost Christmas. Mmm. Crescent cookies.
I love to bake and I love cookies! White chocolate macadamia are my favorite.
Snickerdoodles! Fun to say, and fun to eat!
My favorite cookie is gingerbread man one!
chocolate chip. mmmmmmmm.
Eggnog cookies. Most def.
My favorite cookies are Snickerdoodles!!
My favorite cookie is Alton Brown’s “The Chewy”
My favorite cookie is chocolate chip with toffee!
My favorite cookie is these crescent almond ones coated with powdered sugar that my mom makes. They are the best cookies ever!
I’ve been torn between chewy chocolate chip cookies (w/dark chocolate chips) and chewy oatmeal raisin. Oatmeal raisin normally wins out :-)
I love shortbread cookies!
My fav. cookies are ginger cookies. The big, soft chewy kind!
My favorite cookies are Dorie’s chocolate chunkers!
My favorite cookies are my Dad’s chocolate chip toffee cookies. They’re moist and gooey and larger than life. They’re amazing!
Oh, geez, I have to choose a favorite? There are so many awesome ones…never ask bakers to choose their favorite cookie ;)
I guess right now I’d have to go with Dorie Greenspan’s World Peace/Korova cookies as my favorite. But it’ll probably change next week!
springerle!
My hands down favorites are oatmeal cookies!
My mom made Ranger Cookies when I was a child. She put corn flakes and oatmeal in them. I still haven’t got the recipe yet. They are happy-crunchy chewy and smiling good. Yummy!
Hi! Found you on Tastespotting. My favorite recipe is my mom’s iced pumpkin cookies. They might be from a Mrs. Field’s cookbook. They are delicious.
Classic chocolate chip cookies. But they MUST be chewy. Cakey cookies are unacceptable :)
Looooove chocolate chip cookies with heath bar chopped up in it.
This might be late, but I thought I’d give it a shot. Maybe it’s just the holidays, but right now I’d have to saw ginger spice cookies, yummm.
Favorite cookie . . . . ALL COOKIES!!!
If I have to narrow it down, it’s a tie between crispy/chewy ginger snaps and chocolate chip pecan and BACON cookies.
My favorite cookie is a basic chocolate chip cookie substituting whole wheat flour, organic sugar and dark chocolate.
Mine is no doubt to be snickerdoodles
My favorite cookies are lime meltaways. Just made some this weekend.
soft ginger molasses cookies with candied ginger… yum!
pumpkin chocolate chip!
I like a nice soft, chewy chocolate chip cookie :D
Although I don’t have the recipe on my blog (yet!), my favorite cookie is dark mint chocolate chip!
My mom’s chocolate peanut butter chip cookies straight out of the oven – NUM!
Chocolate Chip Cookies.
Soft and chewy. Sometimes with nuts, sometimes without…
sandwich cookies of any sort…from oreos to linzer cookies. One of my all time favorites is brown sugar cookies sandwiched with dark chocolate.
My favorite cookie is no-bake chocolate oatmeal – it’s a simple classic, but I remember my Great-grandma cooking these up for “the guys” when they were out on the fields bailing hay or pulling in summer crops.
Here is a recipe: http://www.grouprecipes.com/4663/no-bake-chocolate-oatmeal-cookie.html
(I like to use chunky peanut butter though)
My favorite would probably have to be chocolate chip macadamia with a hint of chili to give it a little kick for the sweet tooth
Oatmeal raisin.
I loooove oatmeal chocolate chip cookies warm and gooey from the oven! Shortbread cookies are also nice during the holiday season. :)
Chocolate chip with apricots and almonds!
didn’t claim it?! what the what?? i’d be MORE THAN HAPPY to take the book off your hands… didn’t claim it… oy! so my favorite cookie is the traditional German lebkuchen. kind of gingerbread-y, not too sweet, a light glaze on top. even better when eaten warm from a stall in Germany!
cheers,
*heather*
oatmeal chocolate chip!
There are plenty of tasty cookies and everyone’s comments make me want to bake them all day and night – then eat them like a glutenous piggy. My favorites are from my Mom – Oatmeal Crackles. A delicious cookie with oatmeal and coconut. Wow!
I think my current favourite is actually also peanut butter cookies, but a flourless version that I made here:
http://onecaketwocake.com/2009/12/03/a-foray-into-gluten-free/
but when I’m willing to put in a tiny bit more effort, I also absolutely love Dorie Greenspan’s Korova cookies.
there are too many instructions…all I want to do is say HI. lol
dawn: Hi! lol.
And everyone else…the giveaway is now closed, but thank you all so much for participating! As always, it is an HONOR to have you come by The Delicious Life…
but please feel free to continue commenting with your favorite cookies, or if you happen to bake these Peanut Butter cookies, notes or tips about how they turned out…
Boy… I love me some cookies! While I am hard-pressed to turn down any cookie headed towards my open mouth, right now my favorite has to be a soft molasses cookie. Or snickerdoodle (with milk). Or pfeffernusse. Or, no, pumpkin whoopie pies!!!!!
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