My Mom's Peanut Butter Cookies

Peanut Butter Cookies

So I took a break from the book and made an old favorite.  I made my Mom's Peanut Butter Cookies.  They are so good and they remind me of my Mom.  She was a great lady and I miss her still.  She is with the Lord probably dancing, bowling and maybe even playing Bingo.  Who knows?  I do know that she is with Jesus.

Anyway, back to cookies.  This recipe calls for shortening and cream of tartar.  I'm sure you could substitute butter or margerine for the shortening.  I think shortening makes them more crunchy and I like them that way.  Butter would make them more of a softer cookie. Play around with it if you like.  I love the cream of tartar flavor in this cookie. I don't see it on all peanut butter cookie recipes.  Try adding it to your recipe and see if it adds a little more "hmm" to yours.

The dough came out a little dry this last time. I'm wondering if it's because I used crunchy instead of creamy peanut butter.  I have made a note to use less flour if using crunchy and see if that makes a difference next time.  They baked fine and they tasted wonderful so I'm not sure that it matters.  It was just kind of frustrating trying to roll them into balls.  You had to press them together a little more.  I guess it was my work out for the day.

Here is the recipe:

Peanut Butter Cookies
1/2 cup shortening
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup peanut butter
1 3/4 cup flour
1 tsp soda
1 tsp cream of tartar
dash of salt

The extent of my Mom's instructions are roll in small balls and bake for 10-12 minutes at 350 degrees.  Good Luck.  Just kidding.  Here is how I mix them up.

1. Cream together shortening, brown sugar and white sugar.  Add egg, vanilla and peanut butter.  Mix well.  Add flour, soda, cream of tartar and salt.  Mix together.
2. Roll into small balls and place on cookie sheet.  Dip fork into small bowl of sugar and press down on cookie.  Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes.