Jelly Peanut Butter Cookies

The peanut butter cookie is a favorite all year round. This cookie adds a little touch of holiday color and you can make it what ever color you prefer. It also can easily be doubled you don't need to adjust anything just double all the ingredients.

You will need:

INGREDIENTS:

1/2 cup of shortening (you may substitute half of shortening with butter or margarine

1/2 cup of peanut butter

1/2 cup of granulated sugar

1/2 cup of brown sugar (packed)

1 egg

1 1/4 cups of all-purpose flour

1/2 tsp baking powder

3/4 tsp soda

1/4 tsp salt

1 cup or more of chopped peanuts

Jelly (what ever kind you like, I use cherry for the flavor and the holiday color but you can choose something else) Mint green might be nice or strawberry.

Mix the shortening, peanut butter, sugars, and egg together until well mixed. Combine all the dry ingredients well and mix with the peanut butter mixture.
Put in the refrigerator until it is well chilled.
Heat the oven to 375 and roll the dough into balls. Make the balls 1 to 2 inches diameter (bigger balls will take slightly longer to bake). Roll the balls in the chopped peanuts and place on the cookie sheet SLIGHTLY press down cookie and then using your thumb make an indentation in the middle of the cookie. Fill this with the jelly. Space the cookies far enough apart on the sheet as not to run together when baking. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes depending on the size of the cookie. Experiment with the first few cookies to find what works best for you.
If you prefer you can wait until AFTER baking to add the jelly. Try it both ways and see which you like best.
This is a fun and easy recipe for older children. Younger children can roll the dough in the peanuts and add the jelly.