Simple Peanut Butter Cookies Recipe

I love to bake around the holidays but I try to do it without spending too much extra money.  This simple from scratch peanut butter cookie recipe is a very frugal cookie recipe.  I use it to make regular peanut butter cookies and also peanut butter blossoms (the peanut butter cookies with the Hershey Kisses smooshed in the middle).  They make a great homemade Christmas gift or treat to bring to a party.

I like to use this recipe to make my peanut butter blossom cookies because it cuts the costs down a bit since I don't have to use a cookie mix.  I counted 75 kisses in the bag and each batch of this makes about 2 doz. cookies (depending on how big you make them) so you can easily make up to 6 doz. cookies with each bag of 12 oz. kisses, you just have to triple the recipe to make 6 doz.  2 doz. is a great amount to give as a gift, so if you package them in a tin (from the thrift store of course ;) !) you have 3 gifts costing less then $2.00 each!

The following recipe instructions are for making the peanut butter blossoms, but if you want to make plain old, from scratch, peanut butter cookies just roll the each ball of dough in a plate covered in white sugar, place on the pan and press down with a fork once in each direction.

Simple and frugal from scratch peanut butter cookies:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Ingredients:

1 cup smooth peanut butter

1 cup white sugar

1 large egg

1/4 cup white flour

*optional 12 oz. bag of Hershey kisses, 24 unwrapped if you are making peanut butter blossoms.

*optional 1/4 cup white sugar on a plate if you are making just plain peanut butter cookies.

Combine all ingredients in a mixer and mix until combined.  How many cookies you get depends on how big of a ball of dough you use.  I made mine about an inch wide.  You could probably use a little less than a tablespoon of dough for each cookie.  If you want to make regular peanut butter cookies follow the instructions above the recipe. 

If you are making peanut butter blossoms place cookies one inch apart on a baking sheet.  Now it must be said that times for cookies vary for everyone.  It depends on the pan you use, the actual temperature of your oven, etc.  These can take anywhere from 10-14 minutes.  Just carefully lift one up with a spatula.  It should be golden brown on the bottom.

Take the cookies out of the oven and quickly place them on a cooling rack.  They will be pretty soft so it is best to use a small spatula and a fork or spoon to help slide them on.  Press a kiss into the middle of each cookie.  Let them cool completely and store in an airtight container.  Enjoy!