Celebrate National Peanut Butter Day with Peanut Butter Cookies

Here are some recipes to make using peanut butter.

 

Crunchy Peanut Butter Cookies

•  1/2 cup soft butter
• 1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
• 1/2 cup crunchy peanut butter
• 1 egg
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
2. Cream the butter and brown sugar together. Add in egg; mix until smooth. 
3. Add in baking soda and salt, then flour, mixing until a stiff dough forms.
4. Shape into balls. Press with a fork on baking sheets, creating a criss cross pattern.
5. Bake for about 10 minutes, until lightly browned.

 Peanut Butter Spritz Cookies

• 1 1/4 cups soft butter
• 1 cup peanut butter
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
• 1 egg
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 3 cups flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup milk

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. 
2. Cream the butter and peanut butter together with the sugar and light brown sugar. Add in the egg and vanilla, mixing until smooth.
3. Add in half the flour and the salt, and mix until combined. Add in the milk and mix until smooth. Then, add in the rest of the flour.
4. Scoop the dough into a pastry bag fitted with a large star tip (in the 820 series is great) and pipe out desired sized cookies in an s-shape. Pip them about an inch apart.
5. Bake for about 10 minutes, or until light brown, depending on the size of the cookie.
6. Rest for 5 minutes on the sheet pan before transferring to a cooling rack.

No-Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies

• 2 1/2 cups sugar
• 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 3 cups quick cooking oats

1. Mix the sugar, cocoa, butter, and milk in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil and boil softly for a minute (do not overcook; using a timer is best).
2. Add in the vanilla, peanut butter, and oats. Mix until well combined. Drop by spoonfuls onto waxed or parchment paper. 
3. Cool completely before serving.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars

• 1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 1/4 cups sugar
• 3/4 cups crunchy peanut butter
• 1/2 cup soft butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 egg
• 2 cups chocolate chips, separated

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Mix the flour and baking soda in a bowl. Reserve.
3. Cream the butter, peanut butter, sugar, and vanilla together. Add in egg. Stir in the dry ingredients, then 1 1/4 cups of the chocolate chips.
4. Press into a 13 inch by 9 inch baking pan. Press in remaining chocolate chips on the top of the cookie dough. 
5. Bake until set, about 20 to 25 minutes, or until the center is done.
6. Cool completely in pan before cutting into bars.