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We could spot a peanut butter cookie from a mile away, couldn't we?
We just look for that just slightly off-round shape, perfectly flattened top, deeply golden brown color, and of course, the quintessential peanut butter cookie marking, the criss-crosses made by the tines of a fork. We know to look for those criss-crosses because they're always there, but why? Why are peanut butter cookies always criss-crossed with the tines of a fork? Who looked at a ball of peanut butter cookie dough, saw the fork in the background that they accidentally forgot to put away from the dishwasher and decided, "I am going to use that fork and criss cross my cookie dough balls?" Who decided to do that? Why?
These, our Slashfood friends, are the kinds of questions that never plague our minds, which is why we don't really have an answer, and why we decided to leave the criss-crosses off our peanut butter cookies.
Of course, we soon realized that without such stereotypical markings, no one would be able to figure out that they are peanut butter cookies, so in the end, we compromised and drizzled chocolate criss crosses on the cookies. It may still be unclear to the potential eater, but that's a mysterious surprise that might only sometimes result in an allergic reaction.
Chocolate Drizzled Peanut Butter Cookies
In a large mixing bowl, cream together ½ c. each of softened butter (1 stick) and peanut butter. Whether you choose to adulterate your cookies with peanuts by using "crunchy" peanut butter is up to you.
Mix in ½ c. each of dark brown sugar and granulated sugar. Mix in 1 egg and 1 tsp vanilla until well combined.
In a separate bowl, sift together 1½ c. all-purpose flour and ½ tsp each of baking powder and baking soda.
In about three additions, mix the flour mixture into the butter/sugar mixture, then refrigerate the dough for about an hour for easier handling. Preheat oven to 350 about 15 minutes before the dough is done chilling.
Shape dough into 1" balls, place on ungreased cookie sheet. This where unimaginative people would use the tines of a fork to make criss crosses in the dough.
Bake for 9-11 minutes, remove from cookie sheet, and let cool completely.
Melt 1 c. chocolate chips in the top of a double boiler. Drizzle chocolate with teaspoon over cooled cookies. If you prefer a sharper line, let the melted chocolate cool slightly, spoon into a plastic bag, snip the corner, and drizzle from the bag.
More Peanut Butter Cookies around the web:
Classic Peanut Butter Cookies at AllRecipes.com
Peanut Butter Cookies from The Chocolate Gourmand
Simply Recipes' Peanut Butter Cookies
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12-11-2007 @1:31PM Ian said... I just made a delicious cookie with a criss-cross on top. But instead of peanut butter cookies, they were macadamia nut butter cookies. And they had cranberries and a little nutmeg. The recipe was from the most recent issue of Cooking Light magazine. You actually put macadamia nuts in the food processor and blend them until they are smooth. Not quit the consistency of PB, but it totally worked. I ate more than I should have.
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12-11-2007 @2:27PM Susan said... How much peanut butter? It doesn't specify.
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12-11-2007 @2:31PM Susan said... Whoops, I just saw it!
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12-11-2007 @3:21PM Pat said... ½ c. EACH of softened butter (1 stick) and peanut butter.
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12-11-2007 @6:48PM Janis said... Love the chocolate criss-cross idea---thanks!
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12-13-2007 @10:51AM Lungkisser said... Gunna try and make these when I get home, I'll try to remember to let you all know how they are (though I'm sure they'll be great!)
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12-16-2007 @9:36PM Stacey said... Made these today but half-dipped in chocolate instead - they're really yummy! Just a tip that one reason PB cookies have that fork criss-cross is to flatten the dough ball- they don't spread at all in the oven! I suggest flattening the balls with the bottom of a glass sprayed with a little Pam- I did this halfway through the baking time when I rotated the baking sheets and it worked well. Tried to do it before baking the next batch but they were too soft and sticky, so I'd suggest keeping with the halfway point. Thanks for the great and easy recipe!
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