My parents joke that they should have bought stock in a peanut butter company years ago. My Dad eats peanut butter on everything: bread, cheese, rice cakes, straight off the spoon, you name it, and as a little girl most of my Dad-made lunches consisted of peanut butter. You have not lived until you have tasted a peanut butter, banana, and honey sandwich with a tall glass of milk made by my Dad.
Yes, the peanut butter gene was naturally passed down to me. I only occasionally allow myself to indulge in a spoonful of creamy peanut butter straight from the jar but when a serious craving hits, there is only one thing to do...make an extra large batch of peanut butter cookies!
Thankfully I have a delicious, crisp, and extra peanut-buttery recipe that was passed down to me from my husband's Great Grandmother. If you are a peanut butter lover, you are going to want to make these cookies, pronto. (And lick the peanut butter spoon!)
photos by Freutcake
Nana's Peanut Butter Cookies- family recipe
Makes approximately 5 dozen cookies
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup shortening
2 eggs
2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup creamy peanut butter
2 cups all-purpose flour- spooned
1 teaspoon baking soda
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Cream together both sugars, shortening, eggs, vanilla, and peanut butter until light and fluffy.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk together flour and baking soda.
4. With mixer on low slowly add flour mixture to creamed mixture and blend until combined.
5. Roll cookies into 1" balls and place on lined cookie sheets. Press down lightly with tines of a fork twice making a cross-hatch pattern.
6. Bake 15 minutes or until just lightly golden.
7. Remove from cookie sheets and cool on a wire rack.
Brynn {chartreuse & a twist} says
oh, you are making me hungry!!! i am juicing - once more - and on my last day! this is torture...but i love it at the same time! i WILL make it through today and then enjoy these yummies tomorrow 🙂 XO Brynn
freutcake says
Good luck and stay strong on your cleanse! Cookies can wait. 😉
Alyssa says
Peanut butter cookies are a must in my family–we're all obsessed! And I'm glad to see someone else does the fork marks like us–they're a must!
freutcake says
The fork marks are definitely a must! It just wouldn't be a peanut butter cookie without them. 🙂
Commodore says
Yum!
freutcake says
I have a whole bunch in the kitchen for you. 😉
kristina says
These are one of my favorites, they look so great! Xx
freutcake says
Thanks Kristina! One of my favorites as well.
this is lemonade says
AWww I'm low on butter otherwise I'd have made these already! Boohoo! Pinning this NOW and putting butter on my list 🙂
Incidentally, I always see shortening on US recipes - what is the actual fat that you used in the recipe please? I mean dairy, vegetable...? Thanks!
freutcake says
Yes! We use vegetable shortening in the US for lots of recipes. It comes in sticks or tubs here and it is used either with or in place of butter. In this case it takes the place of butter and makes these cookies nice and crisp. It's also magical in piecrusts to achieve a really flakey crust! The brand I use is Crisco.
this is lemonade says
Thank you! I guess I can just make softer cookies, which I don't not love 😉
freutcake says
Let me know how they turn out with butter! I would be interested to know. 🙂
Michelle says
My dad is also a big fan of peanut butter and I grew up eating peanut butter toast. It's the best because it gets all melt-y! Another fave of mine is heating a flour tortilla (on the stove, not the microwave) and spreading creamy peanut butter on it and rolling it up like a burrito. It's sooooo good! Try it.
freutcake says
I love peanut butter on toast as well...or on a whole wheat English muffin. Mmm. Will have to try your tortilla trick next!
Milli's Kitchen says
These were my childhood favourite and I rememer being so proud of pressing the fork into that dough! These look delish!
freutcake says
What a cute memory! Pressing with the fork does give these cookies that traditional childhood look. 🙂
Amanda @ Once Upon a Recipe says
Peanut butter on cheese?! Wow, your dad tops even my mom, who I thought was the biggest peanut butter fan in the world! These cookies look fabulous! I happen to be a huge PB fan too!
freutcake says
Oh yes! Peanut butter on a slice of cheddar cheese is heaven. You must try!
christmaskitty says
Yes! Peanut butter cookies are my favorite! Can't wait to make a batch....or two 🙂
freutcake says
I'll bring you some tonight! 🙂 xo
arickdesign says
these look amazing! What kind of peanut butter do you use? I always buy Teddy brand (unsalted) but I've never used it for baking.
freutcake says
Any creamy peanut butter will do! I think I currently have 365 Organic Peanut Butter in my cabinet but it varies. 😉