The Startup Cook – Peanut Butter Cookies

Isn’t it c..c..c..COLD? My chilly-weather-intolerant body thinks so. All day and especially at night I think of only hot beverages to keep myself warm. Thus at odd hours one could hear the sinister whistle of a boiling kettle… Personally, I believe that drinking a cup of coffee, tea or chocolate alone without any accompaniment is just unfair. As a result with the warning sounds of a steaming kettle, there is also a sharp ringing noise from the oven.

Obviously, this particular recipe is a result of my latest heat quest. It’s another fabulous contribution by Laura Vitale and is perfect for every cookie and peanut butter lover. Buttery, crunchy and delectable… it was indeed love at first sight for my cup of coffee. Besides the amazing taste factor, wafting through the kitchen was the scent of peanut butter - baking these biscuits was an absolute joy.

Ingredients

1 cup of flour
¼ cup of brown sugar
1/3 cup of white sugar
6 tbs of butter
8 tbs of peanut butter
1 tsp of vanilla essence
½ tsp of baking powder
1 egg (large)

Directions

Preheat the oven to 170 Celsius. Prepare a baking sheet and set aside.

Put the sugar and the butter in to a mixing bowl and (using a hand mixer) whisk until light and fluffy.

Add the egg to the mixture and whisk until it’s creamy.

Then add the peanut butter, vanilla and whisk until it’s well combined.

Whisk in the dry ingredients (flour and baking powder) and keep whisking until everything is well incorporated.

Take a small scoop or tablespoon and scoop out some cookie dough and (one by one) place it on your prepared tray.

Flatten the cookies slightly with your hand. Then take a fork and make crisscross patterns on top of each cookie.

Place the tray in the oven and bake for 15 - 20 minutes (rotate them once in between).

Disasters, Warnings and Tips

This recipe makes about a dozen cookies.

I had few cookies with a steaming cup of coffee. DIVINE!

Peanut butter is quite expensive. Seek for a peanut butter jar that is on offer.

Laura Vitale recommends using a smooth peanut butter. I used a crunchy one, if you prefer a smoother cookie stick to her advice.

This particular recipe displays a significant reduction of sugar from the original recipe. Feel free to adjust (increase or decrease) it to personal taste.

Once the dough is combined well cease the whisking.

Space each cookie dough scoop few inches apart from each other.

I really love peanut butter cookie dough.

Don’t flatten your cookie too much. It will over-bake.

I was shaking my hips to Latch by Disclosure featuring Sam Smith while making this.

By Shazzana Hamid