Test Kitchen Tuesday {Peanut Butter Cookies}

I love to bake. It stems from a combination of a sweet tooth the size of a horse's molar, the need to experiment and the fact that I operate by calculations better than guess-timations. I also like to have something to give away to people, it makes me happy to share baked goods or crafts and I hope it gives other people that same tingly, fuzzy feeling inside that I get. It's just so much fun to share homemade items!

So I will be sharing my experiments on Test Kitchen Tuesdays. And they will be just that - I'm sure I will have some flops, some really big messes but hopefully some recipes that I would like to share. I might even throw in some crafts.

Peanut Butter Cookies

I had been having a hankering for some PB cookies and realized that I didn't have a favorite recipe in my book yet. I decided that that is one thing that is a MUST to have so I've been on the hunt. I came across an oatmeal -PB cookie recipe and decided to give it a try. Sadly, the only peanut butter that I had was the kind you have to mix everytime you use it (the kind with way less sugar) and because of the runnier consistency I was hesitant to try to bake with it. I learned my lesson - keep some good ol' Jif around for baking purposes. Then I discovered some chunky almond butter and thought, hmmm, this could be interesting! The cookies turned out alright, my dad loved them because they were a tad crispy* (even when I tried baking them a minute or two less they were just plain dry). This would not do for me because I favor chewy cookies. Unless they are to dunk in milk/tea/coffee, otherwise I love me a chewy cookie. So that recipe is out.

Next I decided to go the traditional route thinking that I could make adjustments from there. I turned to Martha Stewart for a tried and true recipe and what I found turned out stellar! Well, it gets a 9 out of 10 vote. But beware - Martha lied on her baking time. She says leave them in the oven for 18 - 22 minutes. If I did that they would have turned out crispier than a dog biscuit. I adjusted to 12-13 minutes. Just had to pay attention.

They were already looking good before going into the oven! I admit, I ate my fair share of dough as I was rolling and pressing the cookies. Also - Mom gave me some awesome new baking liners for Christmas and this was the first time I got to put them to use. Love them!

They looked so tasty after crossed with a fork.

I made two batches of these cookies. To the second I added

and they turned out delicious! I didn't add a measured quantity, just enough so that each cookie would have a good amount. Plus, they added a nice little chewiness.

Ta da! Ok, here is evidence of my dad's peculiar cookie tastes - *he loves a crispy cookie. He also loves it when there are things in/on the cookies that aren't supposed to be there - peanuts, raisins, almonds, chocolate chips. When I say "aren't supposed to be there" I mean the recipe does not call for them or it doesn't even go. Oh well, as long as I make a few special cookies just for him (and cook one sheet a few minutes longer) he's happy and my cookies don't end up with a suprise or two.

The only reason this recipe didn't get a 10 out of 10 is because I still think they could be a little chewier. Has anyone had the PB cookies at Subway? Oh my gosh - they are my secret little weakness. Not sure how many chemicals or how much corn syrup is in those things but they are sooo yummy.

Anyway, I hope to have another recipe tested by next week. Viva Peanut Butter!