Cookies
Cookies are the almost-perfect dessert: you can bake a lot or a few, have enough to share, travel with them, and they taste yummy. Here are six cookie recipes to help you through the day, including Cheesecake-Stuffed Red Velvet Cookies and 3-Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies. Enjoy!
GUMDROP COOKIE MIX IN A JAR
Long since forgotten email list.
Ingredients
1-3/4 cups flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 cup lightly packed brown sugar
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1-1/2 cups (10 oz.) spiced gumdrops, cut into pieces
Directions
Combine flour, baking powder and baking soda, and add to the jar. Add the brown sugar, and press down gently to form a layer. Combine the granulated sugar and the gum drops to coat the cut pieces of the candy with sugar, to prevent the candy from clumping together. Add them to the jar.
Put lid on the jar and attach the following instructions to a gift tag:
GUMDROP COOKIES
Ingredients
1 jar Gumdrop Cookie Mix
1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 egg, slightly beaten
1 tsp vanilla
Directions
Remove the gumdrops from the jar and set aside. Empty the remaining cookie mix into a large mixing bowl, and stir to combine. Add butter or margarine, egg and vanilla. Mix until completely blended. Add the gum drops, and mix gently. shape into walnut-size balls, and place 2 inches apart on sprayed or parchment lined cookie sheets. Bake at 375 for 12 to 14 minutes, until the edges are lightly browned. Cool 5 minutes on baking sheets, then remove to wire racks to cool completely.
Makes 2-1/2 dozen cookies.
NO-BAKE CHOCOLATE OATMEAL COOKIES
This is from the infamous long-since-forgotten emailing list.
Ingredients
2 cups sugar
1/2 cup 2% milk
1 stick butter
2 heaping tablespoons cocoa
2 heaping tablespoons smooth peanut butter
1-teaspoon vanilla
2-1/2 cups quick-cook oats
Directions
Mix the first 5 ingredients in a medium sauce pan and bring to a boil for 3 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from the heat and stir in vanilla and oats. You can add 1/3 cup finely chopped & toasted walnuts or pecans. Mix well and drop a spoonful of oat mixture on to wax paper. Let cool.
SPICED MEXICAN CHOCOLATE COOKIES
This is from Betty Crocker, and begins, "We know what you're thinking; cinnamon, chocolate and... cayenne in a cookie!? Yup! Our Spiced Mexican Chocolate Cookies are a decadent, dark chocolate cookie elevated with a perfect hum of heat. These ingredients are traditionally found in Mexican cuisine, and when combined in the form of a dessert, the result is out-of-this-world good! The flavor profile of our Mexican chocolate cookies is rich, warming and simply irresistible. Try adding our cayenne chocolate cookies to your seasonal cookie tray, or have fun experimenting with a truly exciting new recipe. Remember, no whisk, no reward!"
Prep Time: 25 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour 50 minutes; Servings: 36
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1-1/4 cups Gold Medal™ All-Purpose Flour
1/4 cup unsweetened baking cocoa
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper (cayenne)
1/2 cup butter, cut into pieces
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
3 tablespoons Demerara (raw) sugar
Directions
Heat oven to 350°F. In small bowl, mix flour, cocoa, cinnamon, baking powder, salt and red pepper; set aside.
In 2-quart saucepan, heat butter and chocolate chips over low heat, stirring occasionally, until melted. Remove from heat; stir in granulated sugar. Pour into large bowl. Beat in eggs with spoon one at a time until blended. Beat in vanilla. Stir in flour mixture until well blended. Cover and refrigerate 30 minutes.Shape dough into 36 (1-1/4 -inch) balls. Lightly butter hands if dough is sticky when shaping into balls. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets; flatten slightly. Sprinkle about 1/4 teaspoon of Demerara sugar over top of each cookie.
Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until edges are set. Cool 2 minutes; remove from cookie sheets to cooling rack. Cool completely, at least 20 minutes. Store covered in airtight container.
Tips from the Betty Crocker Kitchens
tip 1
Demerara sugar is an amber-colored cane sugar whose crystals are slightly larger than regular granulated sugar. Sprinkled over the top of these Spiced Mexican Chocolate Cookies, it adds a nice crunch and a lovely appearance.
Tip 2
When it comes to spices, freshness counts. To get the most flavor, spices should be stored in sealed containers and kept in a cool, dark place. Ground spices over a year old have likely faded in potency and won’t give your baked goods all the flavor they deserve.
tip 3
Cayenne may seem like a strange ingredient for a cookie, but, in this case, it adds just enough heat to be interesting, without being overwhelming.
tip 4
For best results, bake your Spiced Mexican Chocolate Cookies on the middle oven rack. For even baking, it’s best to bake one sheet at a time.
DOUBLE-CHOCOLATE THUMBPRINT COOKIES
This is from Dorie Greenspan in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. For this yummy cookie recipe, Dorie wrote, "Deeply chocolaty like devil’s food cake, speckled with sugar on the outsides and filled with soft chocolate or jam in the centers, these cookies are a double pleasure: delightful to eat and fun to make. While “thumbprints” is an adorable name, it’s a misnomer: You use every part of your hands to form these. The cookies need to be pinched, patted, rolled around and poked before they’re sent into the oven. It’s a great project to do with kids — small thumbs are perfect for forming little dimples in the dough. What you fill the centers with is up to you. Chocolate with chocolate is great — naturally pink ruby chocolate is particularly pretty — and jam is delicious, too."
Yield: About 40 cookies; Time: 45 minutes, pus chilling
This was featured in "Mistakes Happen. In the Kitchen, That Can Be the Best Thing." (which was Dorie's final column for the Times), and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1023005-double-chocolate-thumbprint-cookies.
By the way, I have to add this note: Dorie, you'll be missed! Thanks for all the yummy recipes over the past few years!
Ingredients
For the Cookies:
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
5 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into pieces
8 ounces semisweet or bittersweet chocolate, coarsely chopped (about 1-1/3 cups)
2/3 cup granulated sugar
2 cold large eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Sanding or granulated sugar, for coating (about 1/3 cup)
For the Filling:
4 ounces chocolate (white, milk, dark or ruby), chopped (about 1/2 cup)
1/2 teaspoon canola oil (optional)
Directions
Make the cookies: Whisk together the flour, salt and cinnamon in a small bowl.
Place a heatproof medium bowl over a saucepan of gently simmering water; don’t let the water touch the bottom of the bowl. Drop in the chunks of butter and scatter over the chocolate. Heat, stirring now and then, until the butter and chocolate are melted, but not so hot that they separate, 5 to 7 minutes.
Remove the bowl from the saucepan and whisk in the sugar. (Don’t be alarmed when the mixture turns grainy.) One by one, add the cold eggs, whisking vigorously until the mixture is thick and smooth, and the whisk leaves tracks. Beat in the vanilla, then switch to a spatula and add the flour in 3 additions, stirring gently between each addition, until the flour disappears into the dough. Press a piece of plastic wrap against the surface of the dough and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or up to 4 days.
When you’re ready to bake, center a rack in the oven and heat it to 350 degrees. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. Put the sanding or granulated sugar in a small bowl and, if you’ve got one, have a cork from a wine bottle at hand.
Using a small cookie scoop or measuring spoon, scoop mounds of dough, each a scant tablespoon. Roll the dough into balls and then roll the balls in the sugar to coat. Place the balls on the baking sheets, giving them 1-1/2 inches or so of space to spread. Press the cork into the center of each cookie or use your thumb to make an indentation.
Bake 1 sheet for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the cookies feel firmish. Transfer the baking sheet to a rack. The indentations will have puffed in the oven, so you’ll want to press them down again. Repeat with the second sheet. Let cookies cool completely.
Fill the prints: Melt milk, dark or ruby chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water. If using white chocolate, add oil before melting and stir until smooth. While the chocolate is still warm and fluid, use a small spoon to fill each indentation to the brim, letting the chocolate fall from the end of the spoon. Slide the cookies into the refrigerator for about 10 minutes to set the chocolate. The cookies will keep for about 5 days in a covered container at room temperature.
3 INGREDIENT PEANUT BUTTER COOKIES
This comes from Kristina Vanni at The Spruce Eats. For this recipe, she wrote, " Get ready for the easiest cookie recipe ever. These delicious peanut butter cookies require only three ingredients: peanut butter, sugar, and one egg. They take mere minutes to mix up and bake, perfect for last-minute cravings. It sounds too good to be true until you give it a try for yourself.
"You can use your favorite brand of peanut butter, creamy or chunky, but we recommend using a mainstream brand and not a drippy, natural nut butter. Since there are variations in texture from brand to brand, sometimes the cookie dough can be a bit soft and hard to roll. If so, simply refrigerate until it's firm enough to roll.
"Make these soft, nutty cookies with kids. The recipe doesn't require a mixer and is lightning fast for instant gratification. Plus, it's naturally gluten free."
Prep Time: 5 minutes; Cook Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 15 minutes; Makes 24 cookies (24 servings)
To view this online, go to https://www.thespruceeats.com/3-ingredient-peanut-butter-cookies-recipe-5119147.
Ingredients
1 cup peanut butter
1 cup granulated sugar, plus more for decoration
1 large egg
Directions
Gather the ingredients. Preheat the oven to 350 F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
In a large bowl combine the peanut butter, sugar, and egg. Stir until smooth and creamy.
Roll into 1-inch balls and place on the prepared baking sheet.
Place a small amount of sugar on a small plate. Dip a fork in the sugar and press into each ball of dough, flattening it slightly and making a crosshatch pattern. Dip the fork back in the sugar between each cookie.
Bake in the preheated oven until just golden brown, about 10 minutes.
Cool the cookies on the baking sheet for 2 minutes before moving to a wire rack.
Continue cooling completely on a wire rack. Enjoy.
Tips
Commercial salted, creamy peanut butter works best for this recipe, such as Skippy, Peter Pan, or Jif. If using unsalted, add a pinch or two of salt to the recipe.
Be sure to use gluten-free peanut butter if you're on a gluten-free diet.
Recipe Variations
For a little extra sweet flavor, add 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract.
Add up to 1/2 cup of mini chocolate chips or drizzle the finished cookies in melted chocolate.
How to Store and Freeze
Store leftover cookies in an airtight container for up to three days.
To Freeze, form the dough on the baking sheets and stick in the freezer for an hour. Once frozen, transfer the unbaked cookies to a zip-top freezer bag and store for up to three months. The cookies can be baked from frozen; add a minute or two to the bake time.
How do you make peanut butter cookies taste better?
Peanut butter cookies should taste like peanuts. The ratio of peanut butter to the other ingredients in the recipe will ensure that the peanut flavor shines in every bite. You can add ingredients like vanilla or chocolate chips for extra flavor.
Should you refrigerate peanut butter cookie dough before baking?
Some peanut butter cookie recipes call for chilling the dough before baking to ensure the cookies don't spread too much. These simple three-ingredient peanut butter cookies don't require chilling since they aren't prone to spreading. It's best to follow the instructions for the recipe you're using.
Why are my peanut butter cookies falling apart?
If your cookies are falling apart, first double-check the measurements and directions and make sure you followed everything exactly. Did you thoroughly incorporate the ingredients? If you find the cookies are difficult to roll, try refrigerating the dough for one hour. This will firm up the dough and make it easier to handle.
CHEESECAKE-STUFFED RED VELVET COOKIES
This comes from the Food Network Kitchen, and begins, “The classic flavors of red velvet cake are transformed into cookies with the cream cheese baked right inside.”
Total Time: 2 hours 45 minutes; Active Time: 30 minutes; Yield: 12 cookies; Level: Easy
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
Filling:
One 8-ounce package cream cheese, at room temperature
1/3 cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons sour cream
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Cookies:
1-2/3 cups all-purpose flour, scooped and leveled (see Cook's Note)
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, scooped and leveled
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1-1/4 cups granulated sugar
1/2 stick (4 tablespoons) unsalted butter, melted
1 tablespoon buttermilk
1 teaspoon red food coloring
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 large eggs
Confectioners' sugar, for coating
Directions
Watch how to make this recipe.
Make the filling: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Beat the cream cheese, granulated sugar, sour cream and vanilla in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Spoon 1 tablespoon of the filling at a time onto the parchment so that you have 12 dollops. Freeze until solid, about 2 hours.
Make the cookies: Sift together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, salt and baking soda in a medium bowl. Whisk together the granulated sugar, butter, buttermilk, food coloring, vanilla and eggs in another bowl. Fold the flour mixture into the sugar mixture with a rubber spatula until smooth. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate until chilled, about 30 minutes (it will still be soft).
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment.
Coat your hands generously with confectioners' sugar and scoop a heaping tablespoon of the cookie dough into your hand. Put one of the frozen cream cheese dollops in the middle of the dough and place another tablespoon of the dough on top of the cream cheese. Shape the dough around it to completely enclose the cream cheese, and then roll to coat in the confectioners' sugar. Repeat with the remaining dough and cream cheese, coating your hands in confectioners' sugar as needed.
Place the cookies on the prepared baking sheets about 2 inches apart. Bake until the cookies are firm around the edges and can be easily lifted with a spatula, 10 to 12 minutes. Let the cookies cool on the trays for 10 minutes, and then transfer to a cooling rack and cool completely.
Cook's Note
When measuring flour, we spoon it into a dry measuring cup and level off excess. (Scooping directly from the bag compacts the flour, resulting in dry baked goods.)
GUMDROP COOKIE MIX IN A JAR
Long since forgotten email list.
Ingredients
1-3/4 cups flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 cup lightly packed brown sugar
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1-1/2 cups (10 oz.) spiced gumdrops, cut into pieces
Directions
Combine flour, baking powder and baking soda, and add to the jar. Add the brown sugar, and press down gently to form a layer. Combine the granulated sugar and the gum drops to coat the cut pieces of the candy with sugar, to prevent the candy from clumping together. Add them to the jar.
Put lid on the jar and attach the following instructions to a gift tag:
GUMDROP COOKIES
Ingredients
1 jar Gumdrop Cookie Mix
1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 egg, slightly beaten
1 tsp vanilla
Directions
Remove the gumdrops from the jar and set aside. Empty the remaining cookie mix into a large mixing bowl, and stir to combine. Add butter or margarine, egg and vanilla. Mix until completely blended. Add the gum drops, and mix gently. shape into walnut-size balls, and place 2 inches apart on sprayed or parchment lined cookie sheets. Bake at 375 for 12 to 14 minutes, until the edges are lightly browned. Cool 5 minutes on baking sheets, then remove to wire racks to cool completely.
Makes 2-1/2 dozen cookies.
NO-BAKE CHOCOLATE OATMEAL COOKIES
This is from the infamous long-since-forgotten emailing list.
Ingredients
2 cups sugar
1/2 cup 2% milk
1 stick butter
2 heaping tablespoons cocoa
2 heaping tablespoons smooth peanut butter
1-teaspoon vanilla
2-1/2 cups quick-cook oats
Directions
Mix the first 5 ingredients in a medium sauce pan and bring to a boil for 3 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from the heat and stir in vanilla and oats. You can add 1/3 cup finely chopped & toasted walnuts or pecans. Mix well and drop a spoonful of oat mixture on to wax paper. Let cool.
SPICED MEXICAN CHOCOLATE COOKIES
This is from Betty Crocker, and begins, "We know what you're thinking; cinnamon, chocolate and... cayenne in a cookie!? Yup! Our Spiced Mexican Chocolate Cookies are a decadent, dark chocolate cookie elevated with a perfect hum of heat. These ingredients are traditionally found in Mexican cuisine, and when combined in the form of a dessert, the result is out-of-this-world good! The flavor profile of our Mexican chocolate cookies is rich, warming and simply irresistible. Try adding our cayenne chocolate cookies to your seasonal cookie tray, or have fun experimenting with a truly exciting new recipe. Remember, no whisk, no reward!"
Prep Time: 25 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour 50 minutes; Servings: 36
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1-1/4 cups Gold Medal™ All-Purpose Flour
1/4 cup unsweetened baking cocoa
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper (cayenne)
1/2 cup butter, cut into pieces
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
3 tablespoons Demerara (raw) sugar
Directions
Heat oven to 350°F. In small bowl, mix flour, cocoa, cinnamon, baking powder, salt and red pepper; set aside.
In 2-quart saucepan, heat butter and chocolate chips over low heat, stirring occasionally, until melted. Remove from heat; stir in granulated sugar. Pour into large bowl. Beat in eggs with spoon one at a time until blended. Beat in vanilla. Stir in flour mixture until well blended. Cover and refrigerate 30 minutes.Shape dough into 36 (1-1/4 -inch) balls. Lightly butter hands if dough is sticky when shaping into balls. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets; flatten slightly. Sprinkle about 1/4 teaspoon of Demerara sugar over top of each cookie.
Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until edges are set. Cool 2 minutes; remove from cookie sheets to cooling rack. Cool completely, at least 20 minutes. Store covered in airtight container.
Tips from the Betty Crocker Kitchens
tip 1
Demerara sugar is an amber-colored cane sugar whose crystals are slightly larger than regular granulated sugar. Sprinkled over the top of these Spiced Mexican Chocolate Cookies, it adds a nice crunch and a lovely appearance.
Tip 2
When it comes to spices, freshness counts. To get the most flavor, spices should be stored in sealed containers and kept in a cool, dark place. Ground spices over a year old have likely faded in potency and won’t give your baked goods all the flavor they deserve.
tip 3
Cayenne may seem like a strange ingredient for a cookie, but, in this case, it adds just enough heat to be interesting, without being overwhelming.
tip 4
For best results, bake your Spiced Mexican Chocolate Cookies on the middle oven rack. For even baking, it’s best to bake one sheet at a time.
DOUBLE-CHOCOLATE THUMBPRINT COOKIES
This is from Dorie Greenspan in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. For this yummy cookie recipe, Dorie wrote, "Deeply chocolaty like devil’s food cake, speckled with sugar on the outsides and filled with soft chocolate or jam in the centers, these cookies are a double pleasure: delightful to eat and fun to make. While “thumbprints” is an adorable name, it’s a misnomer: You use every part of your hands to form these. The cookies need to be pinched, patted, rolled around and poked before they’re sent into the oven. It’s a great project to do with kids — small thumbs are perfect for forming little dimples in the dough. What you fill the centers with is up to you. Chocolate with chocolate is great — naturally pink ruby chocolate is particularly pretty — and jam is delicious, too."
Yield: About 40 cookies; Time: 45 minutes, pus chilling
This was featured in "Mistakes Happen. In the Kitchen, That Can Be the Best Thing." (which was Dorie's final column for the Times), and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1023005-double-chocolate-thumbprint-cookies.
By the way, I have to add this note: Dorie, you'll be missed! Thanks for all the yummy recipes over the past few years!
Ingredients
For the Cookies:
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
5 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into pieces
8 ounces semisweet or bittersweet chocolate, coarsely chopped (about 1-1/3 cups)
2/3 cup granulated sugar
2 cold large eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Sanding or granulated sugar, for coating (about 1/3 cup)
For the Filling:
4 ounces chocolate (white, milk, dark or ruby), chopped (about 1/2 cup)
1/2 teaspoon canola oil (optional)
Directions
Make the cookies: Whisk together the flour, salt and cinnamon in a small bowl.
Place a heatproof medium bowl over a saucepan of gently simmering water; don’t let the water touch the bottom of the bowl. Drop in the chunks of butter and scatter over the chocolate. Heat, stirring now and then, until the butter and chocolate are melted, but not so hot that they separate, 5 to 7 minutes.
Remove the bowl from the saucepan and whisk in the sugar. (Don’t be alarmed when the mixture turns grainy.) One by one, add the cold eggs, whisking vigorously until the mixture is thick and smooth, and the whisk leaves tracks. Beat in the vanilla, then switch to a spatula and add the flour in 3 additions, stirring gently between each addition, until the flour disappears into the dough. Press a piece of plastic wrap against the surface of the dough and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or up to 4 days.
When you’re ready to bake, center a rack in the oven and heat it to 350 degrees. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. Put the sanding or granulated sugar in a small bowl and, if you’ve got one, have a cork from a wine bottle at hand.
Using a small cookie scoop or measuring spoon, scoop mounds of dough, each a scant tablespoon. Roll the dough into balls and then roll the balls in the sugar to coat. Place the balls on the baking sheets, giving them 1-1/2 inches or so of space to spread. Press the cork into the center of each cookie or use your thumb to make an indentation.
Bake 1 sheet for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the cookies feel firmish. Transfer the baking sheet to a rack. The indentations will have puffed in the oven, so you’ll want to press them down again. Repeat with the second sheet. Let cookies cool completely.
Fill the prints: Melt milk, dark or ruby chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water. If using white chocolate, add oil before melting and stir until smooth. While the chocolate is still warm and fluid, use a small spoon to fill each indentation to the brim, letting the chocolate fall from the end of the spoon. Slide the cookies into the refrigerator for about 10 minutes to set the chocolate. The cookies will keep for about 5 days in a covered container at room temperature.
3 INGREDIENT PEANUT BUTTER COOKIES
This comes from Kristina Vanni at The Spruce Eats. For this recipe, she wrote, " Get ready for the easiest cookie recipe ever. These delicious peanut butter cookies require only three ingredients: peanut butter, sugar, and one egg. They take mere minutes to mix up and bake, perfect for last-minute cravings. It sounds too good to be true until you give it a try for yourself.
"You can use your favorite brand of peanut butter, creamy or chunky, but we recommend using a mainstream brand and not a drippy, natural nut butter. Since there are variations in texture from brand to brand, sometimes the cookie dough can be a bit soft and hard to roll. If so, simply refrigerate until it's firm enough to roll.
"Make these soft, nutty cookies with kids. The recipe doesn't require a mixer and is lightning fast for instant gratification. Plus, it's naturally gluten free."
Prep Time: 5 minutes; Cook Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 15 minutes; Makes 24 cookies (24 servings)
To view this online, go to https://www.thespruceeats.com/3-ingredient-peanut-butter-cookies-recipe-5119147.
Ingredients
1 cup peanut butter
1 cup granulated sugar, plus more for decoration
1 large egg
Directions
Gather the ingredients. Preheat the oven to 350 F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
In a large bowl combine the peanut butter, sugar, and egg. Stir until smooth and creamy.
Roll into 1-inch balls and place on the prepared baking sheet.
Place a small amount of sugar on a small plate. Dip a fork in the sugar and press into each ball of dough, flattening it slightly and making a crosshatch pattern. Dip the fork back in the sugar between each cookie.
Bake in the preheated oven until just golden brown, about 10 minutes.
Cool the cookies on the baking sheet for 2 minutes before moving to a wire rack.
Continue cooling completely on a wire rack. Enjoy.
Tips
Commercial salted, creamy peanut butter works best for this recipe, such as Skippy, Peter Pan, or Jif. If using unsalted, add a pinch or two of salt to the recipe.
Be sure to use gluten-free peanut butter if you're on a gluten-free diet.
Recipe Variations
For a little extra sweet flavor, add 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract.
Add up to 1/2 cup of mini chocolate chips or drizzle the finished cookies in melted chocolate.
How to Store and Freeze
Store leftover cookies in an airtight container for up to three days.
To Freeze, form the dough on the baking sheets and stick in the freezer for an hour. Once frozen, transfer the unbaked cookies to a zip-top freezer bag and store for up to three months. The cookies can be baked from frozen; add a minute or two to the bake time.
How do you make peanut butter cookies taste better?
Peanut butter cookies should taste like peanuts. The ratio of peanut butter to the other ingredients in the recipe will ensure that the peanut flavor shines in every bite. You can add ingredients like vanilla or chocolate chips for extra flavor.
Should you refrigerate peanut butter cookie dough before baking?
Some peanut butter cookie recipes call for chilling the dough before baking to ensure the cookies don't spread too much. These simple three-ingredient peanut butter cookies don't require chilling since they aren't prone to spreading. It's best to follow the instructions for the recipe you're using.
Why are my peanut butter cookies falling apart?
If your cookies are falling apart, first double-check the measurements and directions and make sure you followed everything exactly. Did you thoroughly incorporate the ingredients? If you find the cookies are difficult to roll, try refrigerating the dough for one hour. This will firm up the dough and make it easier to handle.
CHEESECAKE-STUFFED RED VELVET COOKIES
This comes from the Food Network Kitchen, and begins, “The classic flavors of red velvet cake are transformed into cookies with the cream cheese baked right inside.”
Total Time: 2 hours 45 minutes; Active Time: 30 minutes; Yield: 12 cookies; Level: Easy
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
Filling:
One 8-ounce package cream cheese, at room temperature
1/3 cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons sour cream
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Cookies:
1-2/3 cups all-purpose flour, scooped and leveled (see Cook's Note)
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, scooped and leveled
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1-1/4 cups granulated sugar
1/2 stick (4 tablespoons) unsalted butter, melted
1 tablespoon buttermilk
1 teaspoon red food coloring
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 large eggs
Confectioners' sugar, for coating
Directions
Watch how to make this recipe.
Make the filling: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Beat the cream cheese, granulated sugar, sour cream and vanilla in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Spoon 1 tablespoon of the filling at a time onto the parchment so that you have 12 dollops. Freeze until solid, about 2 hours.
Make the cookies: Sift together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, salt and baking soda in a medium bowl. Whisk together the granulated sugar, butter, buttermilk, food coloring, vanilla and eggs in another bowl. Fold the flour mixture into the sugar mixture with a rubber spatula until smooth. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate until chilled, about 30 minutes (it will still be soft).
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment.
Coat your hands generously with confectioners' sugar and scoop a heaping tablespoon of the cookie dough into your hand. Put one of the frozen cream cheese dollops in the middle of the dough and place another tablespoon of the dough on top of the cream cheese. Shape the dough around it to completely enclose the cream cheese, and then roll to coat in the confectioners' sugar. Repeat with the remaining dough and cream cheese, coating your hands in confectioners' sugar as needed.
Place the cookies on the prepared baking sheets about 2 inches apart. Bake until the cookies are firm around the edges and can be easily lifted with a spatula, 10 to 12 minutes. Let the cookies cool on the trays for 10 minutes, and then transfer to a cooling rack and cool completely.
Cook's Note
When measuring flour, we spoon it into a dry measuring cup and level off excess. (Scooping directly from the bag compacts the flour, resulting in dry baked goods.)
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