PEANUT BUTTER SMARTIE COOKIES

We have been using this same beloved recipe for almost 25 years. I adapted it from a recipe shared with us by our daughter’s childhood friends (Pam & Cara) the first year we first moved to Medicine Hat. Devastatingly, one of them passed in a car accident shortly after so anytime we make these, memories of sweet Cara comes to mind. Do you have a recipe that brings warm memories of someone when you make it?

And aren’t these the cutest little bakers you ever did see?

*You can skip the smarties and make them plain, add M&M’s or chocolate chips if that’s the way you roll.

INGREDIENTS:

1 cup white sugar

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup peanut butter

1 cup butter, room temperature

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

1 tsp Baking Soda

1/4 tsp salt

2 1/2 cups flour

2 boxes smarties (double that if you are anything like me)

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F

2. In a mixing bowl, blend first 7 ingredients until smooth.

3. Stir in flour and mix well.

4. Gently fold in smarties

5. Roll into 1 1/2” balls and place on parchment lined cookie sheet.

6. Make crisscross hatch pattern by pressing down with a fork in 2 directions.

7. Chill for 20 minutes before baking if you like chewy thicker cookies. If you like crunchy (but still tender) flatter ones, bake immediately.

8. Bake for 9 - 12 minutes.