Sunday, August 2, 2009

SMS: Chewy Peanut Butter Cookies


Happy Sunday, everyone! Thanks again to those who preserved with me last week, and also for the kind wishes in support of my half-marathon. It was not my best race, though by no means terrible. As my ever-supportive boyfriend, who has many more years of running experience than I do, reminded me, races don’t always turn out the way you want them to and San Francisco is not the best place to set a personal record. Anyway, onto this week’s Sweet Melissa Sunday treat: Chewy Peanut Butter Cookies! I don’t make peanut butter cookies all that often, but every once in a while I do get an intense craving for them, so I was pleased to try a new recipe. In the instructions, Melissa gives caution to not overbake these cookies in order to make them chewy, which I always try to do (I don’t always succeed with my temperamental oven) because Mr. Penpen likes his cookies incredibly chewy. His mother, also a fabulous baker, has informed me that he used to diligently monitor her baking time when he was a tiny towhead – too adorable. I did not know that peanut butter cookies are her favorite, so I’m glad I brought her some today (I came with cookies and bundt cake, and left with corn and lemons – a great exchange, calorie-wise).



I thought these cookies were the perfect peanut butter cookie and super-easy to make. I reduced the butter by two tablespoons, not so much to cut the calories but because I happened to notice a ¾ stick butter when I opened the refrigerator, which didn’t seem to make a difference in taste, though the cookies may not have spread as much as they were supposed to. Last Sunday, Joy of Hot Oven, Warm Heart made some scrumptious-looking jam thumbprint cookies, which inspired me to make some with these cookies – yum! Many thanks to Stephanie of Ice Cream before Dinner for this fantastic selection. You can find the recipe HERE on Stephanie’s site and see what the rest of the group thought via the SMS blogroll. Also, stop by Stephanie’s Etsy shop to see her brilliant creation: the Smart Measurements Apron – a great gift for bakers who like to scale their recipes, I plan to order one soon (oops, sold-out right now, hopefully it will be back).



I haven’t posted pictures of Eloise in a while and she goes nuts for peanut butter, so this is a good excuse to. Sometimes she can wait patiently for it.



Other times she just really loses control and will do anything she can to get it. I just bought a dog bone cookie cutter, so I guess I’ll have to make her some cookies of her own.

19 comments:

HanaĆ¢ said...

What a great idea to make thumbprint cookies. Your cookies turned out great. Nice and thick.

Nina said...

those thumbprint cookies are too cute!

Unknown said...

Well this is probably not what you want to hear, but I have to say that I'm so impressed that you finished a half-marathon! That to me is a huge accomplishment :) Here's hoping for a better time next race.

Your cookies look terrific! I love how prominent and perfect the crosshatches are - I had a hard time making mine with the sticky dough. The thumbprints look yummy and I bet they were terrific with these cookies!

Katiecakes said...

Those thumbprints are so so adorable :)

Katie xox

Lauren said...

your cookies are so pretty!

Stephanie said...

Ooh THUMPRINTS, thats a good idea. I wanted to incorporate jelly or jam, and the only way I could think to do it was to FILL them, and that didn't work out so good. Did you just blop some on AFTER or BEFORE baking?? I love this idea, I want to try it!!
Thanks for baking along with me this week, and thanks for mentioning my apron! I updated it and there should be more in stock now. :)

And your cute lil doggy definitely needs a dog bone cutter!! No matter how much time I spend making cookies for my dog, she always seems to like those cheap ol' store bought ones better. Oh wells, I'll keep trying!!

spike. said...

your cookies look great! Sorry you didn't have a great race- but it does happen to me too and the opposite happens too every once in awhile I actually do better than I thought!

k.a.r.e.n said...

Your cookies look fantastic! I love easy & delicious recipes.

Karin said...

So cute- the cookies and the dog! Your cookies turned out a lot thicker than mine which I actually prefer. I'll have to try scaling down the butter a bit next time.

Melissa said...

I love peanut butter cookies! Your dog is adorable!

Anonymous said...

YOur cookies look awesome and I love the pictures of Eloise.

Jennifer said...

I love the addition of the thumbprint! I baked these yesterday too and LOVE them!!

Fit Chick said...

Your cookies look perfect! Seriously! Congrats on your half marathon, keep it up.

Megan said...

I'm glad you posted your results with using less butter. Not for calories, but I prefer my cookies thicker anyways.

And I love the dollop of jelly - delicious!

Kaitlin said...

I can't even imagine running a half-marathon. Even if it wasn't the result you were hoping for, I think it's so fantastic that you ran it!

On a different note, your cookies look fantastic. I think it's so cute that your boyfriend used to be the timekeeper when his mom was baking.

Cristine said...

Great idea to make them thumbprints!

Tia said...

now i want one of those aprons! what a great idea. do post pix of yourself in your new apron when u get it! :)

Anonymous said...

Hi Margot!

How are you? Your cookies look absolutely delish- Great job! Thanks so much for the shout out- I'm glad you got some inspiration from my thumbprints... what a fabulous idea to make a PB&J version- yum! I'll definitely have to try that next time.

Eloise is SO beautiful, and her love of peanut butter reminds me of my puppy Bella. I have to send you a recipe for PB doggie cupcakes (all the ingredients are dog friendly). I made them this past March for Bella's 2nd birthday and she LOVED them. Let me know if you're interested, as I'm sure Eloise would enjoy them :)

Hope to hear from you again soon!

-Joy

Ras Yeti said...

We made some of these and they are all in my belly now. Delicious! Nice and chewy. I pretended I was Baby Penpen and timed the whole operation. I give it a ETR of 2600. That's good!