...because we all have our motley moments!


Monday, September 14, 2009

Easy Peanut Butter Cookies

I LOVE to bake, and since Alex was little, I would let him help me in the kitchen. He is getting better at pouring and stirring, and I am getting better at living with the mess. Alex can even crack an egg all by himself now! Sure, we have dropped an egg or two along the way, wiped egg all over his shirt and mine, and baked some cupcakes with egg shells, but that is all behind us.

Here is one of my favorite cookie recipes. It is simple with only 4 ingredients, and very kid friendly. I would love to take credit for it, but it is actually Paula Deen's Magical Peanut Butter Cookies. I also like this recipe because for a cookie, it is healthy. Well, it is at least justifiable.

For each batch, you will need:
1 cup of peanut butter
1 cup of sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon of vanilla


Since I am high maintenance and like to personalize my recipes, I have started adding a pinch of salt. After you mix all ingredients in no particular order, you roll the cookies into small balls and then roll cookie balls in sugar. Then place on an ungreased cookie sheet and squash them with a fork. OR, my personal favorite, roll them into balls, place them on a cookie sheet and squash them with a Hershey's Kiss. You are supposed to preheat the oven to 350, which I always forget. The cookies need to bake for about 12 minutes. I let them cool on the cookie sheet for a few minutes to firm up before I remove them.

The biggest obstacle in this recipe is not allowing your small child to eat the dough, on account of the raw egg. I finally gave up after Alex had eaten about four or five small raw cookie balls. It didn't hurt me growing up, so I hope he will be OK too. You have to pick your battles, right?

Did I mention that the cookies (both baked and unbaked) taste great too?

10 comments:

Liz said...

I remember you giving me this recipe last year for the MOPS cookie swap. It's easy and delicious!
How cool that Alex can crack an egg by himself.

Fawnda@Fireflies and Jellybeans said...

I LOVE LOVE LOVE peanut butter cookies! I will have to try this one out! Only 4 ingredients! Cool!

Rachel said...

I have heard of flourless PB cookies before, but I've never had a recipe--thank you! We can't wait to try them!

Also, you should write a cookbook of your personalized recipes--I love reading them!

Donna said...

I second that, Rachel! Pam, your recipe sounds great! I love the "preheat oven to 350, but I always forget." That is SO me! But then I bake my cookies, burn them, berate them, the cookie sheet, and the timer using very choice words. Paul has requested that I NOT bake cookies anymore. When I need cookies, he will bake them for me!

Pam said...

That is so funny Donna. In one of my favorite Paula Deen episodes, she actually burns a batch of cookies and has to throw them out!

Thanks Rachel. If you think my writing is funny, you should see me in action!

And Liz, that is so funny especially considering Donna's post Saturday. I forgot my MOPs cookies flooped and had to make these.

They are wonderful. I hope you like them Fawnda!

Donna said...

Okay, so I totally took the challenge and MADE these cookies with the kids this afternoon. YUM!!! And I didn't burn them! ;)

Thanks for the recipe Pam! They were totally easy to do with the kids.

Pam said...

Yeah! Aren't they great! I wish I still lived close enough to steal a few.

Donna said...

I do, too!!! I would totally have you over for tea and cookies!

Pam said...

Thanks - what were those delicious cookies you all made that one time? I think they had ginger or they were spicey? If you know what ones I am talking about, I would love the recipe. I think you made them in the fall.

Donna said...

Yes, it was some sort of spice cookie. I'll post it when I find it again. Wait, I think it was a molasses cookie. I'll look for it in my freezer book. Pretty sure that's where I got it from. Either there or allrecipes.com...you already know about my memory issues if you read my post Saturday!