Peanut PB Chocolate Chip Cookies
Some of the hidden treasures are peeking out of this delicious cookie!
We are all intimately acquainted with the chocolate chip cookie (invented 1930) and everyone is entitled to their favorite version for as my mother always said, "in taste there is no dispute": thick and chewy, thin and crispy, thick and cakey, thin and crunchy, lots of chips, semi-sweet, milk or white, with walnuts, with oatmeal, perhaps raisins.... Our favorite is "hidden treasures" thus named because the chips are coated with batter and hiding in the interior of the cookies, which you discover when biting into the slightly chewy yet crispy texture. This recipe is precisely a treasure and if you are somewhat skeptical and convinced they won't measure up to your high standards, may I plead with you to keep an open mind and mouth and try them - (I know, you've heard that one before, as when someone is trying to convince you that rabbit tastes just like chicken - just try it!)
The creation of the “hidden treasures” recipe involved late night empty tummies - perhaps not so much empty as craving - while watching the Barcelona Summer Olympics on T.V. and one too few eggs for the standard chocolate chip cookie recipe and ultimately, a gain of 15 pounds over the course of two weeks of olympic watching. I don't remember if that was on one body or three and am afraid to consider the answer.
Since peanut butter has come on the scene (invented 1895) most of us have been persuaded to consider the combo with chocolate a staple (thank you Reeses). I added the peanuts and peanut butter to this recipe on an inspired whim. See how you think these cookies measure up and if you can't be swayed to call this recipe a "treasure" or find that the results are not to your preferred texture, don't try to convince me. My mind's already made up and as Mom said, "to each his own." I wonder if she would consider this recipe a treasure?
Peanut pB Chocolate Chip Cookies
1/2 cup soft butter
1/2 cup smooth peanut butter
1/4 cup shortening
1/2 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp. soda
1/2 tsp. salt
3/4 cup whole roasted peanuts
1 1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 cup raw or turbinado sugar for dusting, mixed with 1/2 tsp. sel de mer or coarse kosher salt.
-Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
-In a large mixing bowl thoroughly cream butter, shortening, peanut butter, sugar, egg and vanilla until smooth.
-Mix in salt, soda, and flour, until well blended. Stir in peanuts and chocolate chips.
-Roll dough lightly into 1 1/2 inch balls. Place on parchment-lined cookie sheet and gently push down on each cookie to flatten it just a bit. Sprinkle small amount of raw sugar on the top of each cookie. Bake for 12 - 15 minutes until golden around the edges and slightly puffy on top, and beginning to crack. Remove from oven and place cookies to cool on a wire rack.
-Makes 2 dozen cookies.
Drop dough on prepared cookie sheet and flatten slightly.
Well frame this one - it’s a winner!
