Peanut Butter Bombs of Delightment

posted by poetserene <serenefornow@aol.com>

I usually credit recipes, but I have no idea where I got this one. One time, I tried candied ginger instead of chocolate. The texture was a bit odd, but the cookies were yummy.

Comments [in brackets] are mine.

(about a dozen cookies or so)

• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature [I use vegetable shortening.]
• 1/2 cup sugar, granulated [I use turbinado or maple sugar]
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar, light or dark
• 3/4 cup peanut butter, any kind
• 1 large egg [I use a mashed banana or NRG Egg Replacer]
• 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract [Tried the fake stuff once; it matters.]
• 3/4 teaspoon baking soda fork-sifted into:
• 1 cup minus 1 tablespoon unbleached all-purpose flour
• 5-6 ounces good semisweet chocolate, coarsely chopped, optional [ha!]

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. With electric mixer, cream the first four ingredients until light and fluffy. Add egg and vanilla and mix on medium speed until combined. Add flour mixture to the rest, beating just until everything is combined.

Fold in chocolate chunks with a wooden spoon or spatula, being careful not to overmix.

Form dough into 12 or 14 balls and flatten slightly onto a nonstick baking sheet [I use a regular sheet sprayed with non-stick spray]. Bake until golden brown, 18 to 20 minutes [I take them out after 15-17; maybe it's my oven.]

Cool on a wire rack.

[Eat cookies while they're cooling because you have no self-control.] Store in an airtight container.