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Ever since our post 25 days of Christmas Cookies I’ve been dreaming of two things: getting a Kitchen Aid mixer and Chocolate Star (or Peanut Butter Blossom) cookies. It was in the comment sections that wht member, Katie, suggested this yummy cookie. I mean all cookies are yummy, but this one is a peanut butter cookie, sprinkled with sugar and topped off by a Hershey Kiss! It’s the perfect Valentine’s Day cookie.
Way back in high school, my first real boyfriend’s Mom made a just such a cookie for her family and I loved them. Her version was based on a basic sugar cookie dough and she popped the kisses onto the cookie towards the end of baking, just for a minute of so, which somehow makes the chocolate taste even better. This was years before I began to think about things like asking for or jotting down a good recipe. When I tried to recreate them, since I didn’t have the exact sugar cookie recipe, they never tasted quite the same. Ever since, I always remembered the cookies almost as mistily as my high school love.
Katie says this recipe from the Hershey site (and best smelling city in America! with candy kiss shaped lights!) is her favorite cookie ever. How will it fare in the first ever we heart this kitchen test?
Peanut Butter Blossoms
Ingredients:
* 48 HERSHEY’S KISSES Brand Milk Chocolates
* 1/2 cup shortening
* 3/4 cup REESE’S Creamy Peanut Butter
* 1/3 cup granulated sugar
* 1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
* 1 egg
* 2 tablespoons milk
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
* 1 teaspoon baking soda
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* Granulated sugar
Directions:
1. Heat oven to 375°F. Remove wrappers from chocolates.
2. Beat shortening and peanut butter in large bowl until well blended. Add 1/3 cup granulated sugar and brown sugar; beat until fluffy. Add egg, milk and vanilla; beat well. Stir together flour, baking soda and salt; gradually beat into peanut butter mixture.
3. Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Roll in granulated sugar; place on ungreased cookie sheet.
4. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until lightly browned. Immediately press a chocolate into center of each cookie; cookie will crack around edges.
** I removed the cookies at about the 7-minute mark, pressed a kiss into the each one and than put the sheet back into the oven for the final two minutes. You have to watch the cookies a bit more carefully, but it’s worth the effort!
5. Remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. Cool completely. About 4 dozen cookies.
The Verdict:
Oh my word! This is one delicious cookie, especially just out of the oven when the kiss was still gooey! The recipe is simple enough for even the most basic of bakers, (that would be me.)
These would make a great Valentine’s Day treat (you’re giving out kisses, aww) Additionally, this is fun and a fabulous cookie to make with the kids! Little ones can help remove the wrappers from all the kisses you will need and with some guidance, will love planting the kisses into the cookies. Enjoy!
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Oh gosh, I really might have to make these cookies for myself now. Except these really are the one and only kind of cookie where I would eat the whole pan. YUM!
Thanks for the love, Tyna!
Oh yeah, and how many did this recipe yield? Maybe I should just make the 1/2 batch…
Katie – thank you for the idea! Our first wht kitchen test was a resounding success. We’ve had cookies for breakfast today – very healthy you know.The recipe was right on target – when I was done mixing it all together, I thought it looked like a small amount, but it made about 45 cookies. So, if you cut it all in half you’ll get about 22 cookies.
Oh boy, they l0ok great! Peanut butter and chocolate has been a favorite pairing ever since that commercial for Reese’s peanut butter cups- Remember, the bit where two people collide and find just how amazing they are together! “You’ve got your chocolate in my peanut butter- You’ve got your peanut butter on my chocolate! Anyway, it works and these will be enjoyed thoroughly! Thanks Katie!
OMGoodness, The contaminated peanut butter scare is NO deterrent!
Don’t worry Pamela –that’s only the nasty fake peanut butter they put in peanut butter crackers. And those things are nasty anyways… I just made a batch and I make them a little bigger than 1 inch so it made about 30 cookies. My oven sucks thought because stuff doesn’t get done on the inside.
I’m not big on baking, cooking is more my thing. If one of you lovely ladies wants to make a big batch and mail me 22 cookies I’d be a happy girl. I also live about 45 mins from Hershey and they bake all these yummy cookies on-site and you can buy them fresh outta the oven. Maybe I’ll drive up there and get some, put on an apron and dust some flower on my hands and make the hubby think I slaved away baking them.
I so cheat on peanut butter blossoms. I just get the roll peanut butter cookie dough—cut a slice, roll it into a ball, dip it in sugar and then pop the kiss in at the last minute or so of baking. I’ve made them from scratch and they taste almost identical. The only extraordinary peanut butter blossom I’ve ever had was from this Shady Maple Smorgasbord in Lancaster Co.—the cookie part was huge and so effing addicting. I think the Amish cook with crack.
SHADY MAPLE!!! Oh Lancaster.
Yum…I want to bake them right now! I bet these would be really good with the dark chocolate hershey’s kisses!!
Aw, Shady Maple makes me think of my grandparents…they used to visit the place regulary.
Oh and Christy, I love the idea of using the dark chocolate kisses! I may try that next time.
These sound delish! I’m going to make some and bring them in to work for a Valentine’s treat.
Such yum!!! I actually broke down and purchased a KitchenAid mixer this Christmas and *HEART* it!!!
Those peanut butter cookies look phenomenal, must make sooooooon! ;)
I can attest, I ate at least a dozen of these that T made this past weekend and they are scrumptious. Just one more thing we need to Katie big love for! (In case you all didn’t know, Katie is a cosmetics guru. Like a shaman of lipgloss.)