Peanut Butter Cookies

Don't ever underestimate how a simple batch of homemade cookies can show someone you love and support them - along with making them the hero of the day.

It can be as simple as the recipe on the back of the Nestle Toll house Chocolate Chip package, but homemade cookies make people smile.

As my husband headed off on a week of teaching students in the Southern Utah desert recently, I wanted to send him off with something sweet both for him and the whole group.  I decided on Peanut Butter Cookies.  I knew at least one member of the group was gluten free, so I made two different batch of cookies.

If you google Best Peanut Butter Cookies, the following recipe will come up on Cooks.com.  And, I heard many times, those were just the best Peanut Butter cookies!  So I guess they aren't lying.  The recipe made enough for me to send cookies for the whole class and take some to share with my fellow ski patrollers that Saturday, about 3-4 dozen.
World's Best Peanut Butter Cookie

2 sticks butter
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups peanut butter (I used chunky unsweetened)
2 1/2 cups flour (I used 1/2 whole wheat flour)
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon vanilla

Mix butter, sugar, vanilla and peanut butter.  Add eggs and beat.  Add flour and baking soda.  Cook at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes. 

I rolled these in chopped peanuts before putting them on the baking sheet and scoring them with my fork.

 If you know someone that is gluten free, the following recipe is the best ever to give them a treat, you don't have to buy any special flours!

I found the below recipe at Whole Foods Market. 

Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Cookies
1 large egg
3/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup creamy unsweetened peanut butter (I used unsweetened chunky pb)
1/2 teaspoon gluten-free vanilla
1/3 cup chocolate chips (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Beat together egg, sugar, baking soda and vanilla in a standing mixer with the paddle attachment or with a hand held mixer.  Beat in the peanut butter.  Stir in chocolate chips if using.

Drop dough by teaspoonfuls onto prepared baking sheet, pressing lightly with the back of a fork. (I rolled my cookies in chopped peanuts before putting them on the baking sheet.) Bake for 10 minutes, until lightly set.  Transfer to a wire rack to finish cooling.

My cookies are a bit darker because I used unrefined sugar, but they were still yummy!

What are your favorite cookies to make for your loved ones?