Peanut Butter and Jelly Cookies

An Alphabet of Sweets, p. 26

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 cup tightly packed light brown sugar

1 cup crunchy peanut butter

8 tablespoons (1/4 pound) unsalted butter

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1 cup of your favorite jelly (or jam)

Chopped peanuts (optional)

Get in your kitchen and preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. While the oven heats, sift together the flour and baking soda onto wax paper.

Place the light brown sugar, peanut butter, and unsalted butter in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle, and beat on medium speed for 2 minutes. Add the eggs and vanilla, and beat on medium for 1 more minute. Use a rubber spatula to scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add the sifted dry ingredients to the sugar and butter mixture and mix on low speed (that’s low speed or you will certainly make a mess) until the mixture becomes a firm dough, about 30 seconds.

Remove the dough from the bowl. Portion 24 heaping tablespoons of dough onto a clean dry surface. Use your hands to form each portion into a rough textured ball (most feet are simply too big for this task). Place the balls about 1 inch apart on 2 non-stick baking sheets, then use the back of a teaspoon to form a deep indentation in the center of each ball. 

This is how my indentations started.

Bake the cookies in the center of the oven for 10 minutes, until they are very lightly browned. Remove the cookies from the oven, and while they are still hot, place a heaping teaspoon of jelly in the center of each. 

This is how they looked after baking.

Serve immediately while still warm, or at room temperature (they can be kept at room temperature in a tightly sealed plastic container for a couple of days). For a mischievous touch, sprinkle chopped peanuts over the jelly. These cookies are so yummy, you’ll do cartwheels.

Gotta love little bloops of jelly.

My Rating: 4/5 "What a fun concept! The cookies themselves came out a little dry, I thought, but the jelly kept the overall effect satisfying. I used grape jelly - can't mess with a classic. More creative jellies would be fun as well."