Cameron's Classic Peanut Butter Cookies An After School Favorite

 Makes 2 dozen cookies

I think every kid growing up had at least one cookie that was their all time favorite and these are my son Cameron's.   What I've never been able to get through to him was they were mine and my Dad's favorites first.  About the only thing my Mom ever baked were cookies and she was good at it and yet, she hardly ever ate them.  That was mostly my Dad's job, very much like Mr. V.  It is still up for debate and I go back and forth as to who really is the biggest cookie monster, my Dad or Mr. V.  I think I'll call it a tie.

I swear what makes these special besides that they taste so good is getting that old fashioned criss-cross pattern on the top and we liked ours a bit on the crunchy side.  Once a week I baked a batch of these peanut butter cookies for my son and we'd sit at the table together with our cookies and milk.  I am not a big cookie eater but I tell you what, I can do some damage with these hahahaha.  My son is now 21 and he doesn't come home a lot so when I really am missing him to the point of no return, I just bake these, call him and he's here lol....

What You Need

1 1/4 cup sifted all purpose flour
1/4 cup creamy peanut butter (we're partial to Jiff)
1/4 cup crisco shortening
1/4 cup unsalted butter softened at room temperature
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup packed golden brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 large egg
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 cup of roasted peanuts

Lets Make Them!

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper
• In bowl combine your butter, shortening, peanut butter, sugar, brown sugar and the egg
• In another bowl, sift your flour, then mix in baking powder, baking soda and salt, combine well
• Mix your dry ingredients into your peanut butter mixture then add peanuts and fold
• Put dough in fridge to chill for about 30 minutes
• Shape dough into 1 inch balls and place on baking sheet 3 to a row (1 dozen per sheet)
• Flatten cookie with a fork making a criss-cross pattern.  If dough starts to stick just dip the prongs of your fork in a small amount of flour or use a baking spray like Bakers Joy.
• Bake for 10-12 minutes until cookies are a golden brown

A very simple and classic recipe that keeps on going in my family.  I've made other peanut butter cookies in different styles but these are our all time favorite and I'm sure when my son has kids he will have to pass the crown down but for now,  they are still Cameron's :-)

Until next time, see you in the kitchen,