An all-time family favorite, with their rich butter and peanut taste and distinctive criss-cross top.

Peanut Butter Cookies

Ingredients:

Parchment paper or small amount of vegetable shortening for preparing baking sheets

Dough:

½ cup unsalted butter, room temperature

½ cup creamy or chunky peanut butter

½ cup granulated sugar

½ cup firmly packed light brown sugar

1 large egg

1¼ cups all-purpose flour

¾ teaspoon baking soda

½ teaspoon baking powder

½ teaspoon salt

Tip: Use standard measuring cups and spoons or scales for accurate measuring.

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.  Prepare 2 large baking sheets; lightly grease with shortening, or line with parchment paper, or line with a non-stick baking mat.
   
   Dough:
2. In a large bowl of an electric mixer, combine butter, peanut butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar; beat together until mixture is smooth. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl with a rubber spatula so the mixture blends evenly. Add egg; beat until thoroughly mixed. Add flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt; stir until mixed.
   
   
3. Shape dough into small balls, about 1” in diameter. Tip: An ice cream scoop is ideal for making uniform-sized cookies.
   
   Bake:  
4. Place balls, 3 inches apart onto baking sheets. Flatten balls in a crisscross pattern with a fork that has been dipped in water (so the dough does not stick to the fork.) Bake 11 to 12 minutes or until cookies are set and very lightly browned. Remove cookies from baking sheets with a metal spatula and place on a wire cooling rack to cool.
   
   Makes about 4 dozen cookies.
   
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