Old-Fashioned Peanut Butter Cookies
Source: Maida Heatter's Book of Great Desserts (Andrews & McMeel Publishing, 1999 ed.), pg. 196.
These cookies are a breeze to make and they taste just like the ones you remember your mother or grandmother making. The dough is very stiff and it is very easy to form the balls. The best trick I learned for making cookies is to use a trigger-release scoop. I don't, however, have a teaspoon sized one. The one I own makes huge cookies. The dough for these is not sticky though and I just used a regular melon baller and it worked fine. This recipe makes about 48 cookies.
1 1/2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
3/4 tsp. baking soda
1/4 lb. (1 stick) butter
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 egg
1/2 cup smooth peanut butter
3 oz. (3/4 cup) salted peanuts, chopped fine (not ground)
Preheat oven to 375. Use the upper rack for baking and bake one sheet at a time.
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| Sift together the flour and baking soda. Set aside. |
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| Beat the butter to soften it. |
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| Add the vanilla extract. |
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| Add both the white and... |
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| brown sugar and beat for 1 to 2 minutes. |
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| Add the egg. |
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| Adjust the mixer speed to low and add half of the flour mixture. |
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| Add the peanut butter. |
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| Add the remaining flour mixture. |
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| Add the peanuts and beat until mixed. |
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| Remove from the mixture and form into a ball. Knead only until everything is blended. The mixture will be stiff. |
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| Use a rounded teaspoon to form the dough into balls 1" in diameter. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets. |
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| Press the tops slightly with a fork to form an impression. Turn the fork and press again to form a criss-cross pattern. |
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| Bake for 9-12 minutes until the cookies are lightly browned. Watch carefully - they burn easily. |
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| Cool on racks. The cookies will harden and crisp as they cool. |
5 comments:
Wanted to say a quick thank you, im new to baking and discovered Maida through a chef friend of mine. Everything ive made has been stellar, and ive been lurking your page for at least five different recipes, its a JOY to see them actually being made and i cannot thank you enough, these cookies are in the oven now! my favorite has got to be the lemon pound cake, soooooo unbelievable, cheers and thank you!
Thank you for visiting - I hope your cookies turn out great! I know they will. :)
Very happy to find you Phillip. Maida’s baking recipes have been my favorite baking buddies for over 30 years.
Your detailed photos are priceless - THANK YOU for making the baking of MH’s recipes come alive with the visuals.
Thanks Trudy!
Thanks much! Lost my Maida Heatter cookbooks in last move and have seriously missed her recipes so finding this was a treat. My grandson will be thrilled!
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