Intro To Cooking: Peanut Butter Cup Cookies

You know those people who screw up the brownies where all you have to do is add water? Yes, that’s me. I have screwed up popcorn, switched ingredient amounts, and frequently embarrassed my mother with my basic lack of culinary skill. However, one summer’s night when my sister and I had nothing to do I typed in “Cookie Recipes” to Google. After sifting through ladybug cookies, frosting cookies, and every variation of chocolate chip that you can imagine, I finally came across the god of all cookies:

The Peanut Butter Cup Cookie.

Taken from allrecipes.com, this cookie is not only easy to make, it is nearly impossible to screw up. The first time I made them I was ecstatic; the second time I made them, I had everyone at my aunt’s Father’s Day party telling me what a gem I was and how lucky it was that I had inherited my aunt’s natural cooking abilities. I don’t think I’ve ever been so proud of myself. To all of the peanut butter lovers out there who want to make something sweet, try these. I promise, you won’t be disappointed. Besides being easy to make, they’re totally fun, and taste…well, like heaven melting in your mouth.

Ingredients:

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 egg, beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons milk
40 miniature chocolate covered peanut butter cups, unwrapped

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
2. Sift together the flour, salt and baking soda; set aside.
3. Using a mixer, cream together the butter, sugar, peanut butter and brown sugar until fluffy. Beat in the egg, vanilla and milk. Add the flour mixture; mix well.
4. Shape into 40 balls and place each into an ungreased mini muffin pan.
5. Bake at 375 degrees for about 8 minutes. Remove from oven and immediately press a mini peanut butter cup into each ball (throwing a few of those goodies into your mouth as you go).
6. Cool and carefully remove from pan.

*Other Tips to Making These Cookies Fabulous

1. When you buy the mini Reeses Cups, stick them in the freezer. When they are hard, they are easier to stick into the middle of the cookies.
2. Most places do not sell unwrapped baby peanut butter cups, so unwrap them while your cookies are in the oven. Seriously, don’t forget to unwrap ‘em.
3. Don’t worry if the cookie balls look small – they will grow big time in the oven.
4. Microwave for 6-8 seconds when you’re ready to eat. It will make the first bite that much more orgasmic.

Merry cooking!