Peanut Butter Cup Cookies

Oh my.

Reese's.
Inside of.
A (mini, mind you) peanut butter cookie.
Does it really get much better than that?


These adorable snacks are fun to make and will be a huge hit if you're looking for a crowd pleasing dish to bring to any event. Chocolate and peanut butter make such a perfect combination for most any dessert, and these goodies are no exception.

Peanut Butter Cup Cookies (makes 40)
original recipe here 

1 3/4 cup flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
2 Tbsp. milk
40 mini Reese's peanut butter cups (1 bag)

     1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Unwrap every

     Single

 peanut butter cup.

I'm being slightly dramatic here, it doesn't take that long :)

     Place the cups on a plate and put them in the freezer while you make and cook the dough to prevent too much melting when you add them to the cookies.

     2.Sift together flour, salt, and baking soda in a medium bowl and set aside.
     3. Cream together butter, both sugars, and peanut butter in another large bowl. Add in the egg, followed by vanilla and milk.
     4.Add in the flour mixture and mix well.
     5. Shape into 40 balls (about a tablespoon each) and place each into an ungreased mini muffin pan.

     6. Bake for 8 minutes. Remove from the oven and immediately press a peanut butter cup into each cookie.

      7. Wait about 10 minutes until the cookies are cool enough to handle, and use a knife to carefully remove each cookie from the pan and transfer to a cooling rack

 Lastly, let me just say that these are my new favorite.  I  polished off about a quarter of the batch...in one day...

Spiced Molasses Cookies

These seasonal cookies are super easy to make and have that perfect holiday mix of warm spicy flavors.

Christmas this year was...quite hectic. Between the rush of last minute shoppers at work (which is a terrifying amount at a candy store...), finals at school, and my own shameful last minute shopping, I didn't quite have the energy or the time to make the more elaborate desserts that I prefer to for special occasions. So I stuck with cookies.You can whip these up in no time at all, and they make quite a few. Double yay!

Molasses Cookies (makes about 35)
 original recipe from Martha Stewart

2 cups flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 tsp. salt
1 1/2 cups sugar
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) butter, softened
1 egg
1/4 cup molasses

     1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a medium bowl, sift together flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. In a shallow bowl or small plate, place 1/2 cup sugar with 1 tsp. cinnamon (combined) and set aside.
     2. Beat together butter and remaining cup of sugar.
     3. Beat in egg and molasses until well mixed.
     4. Mix in dry ingredients until dough forms.
     5. Using a tablespoon or cookie scoop, roll dough into balls. Roll balls into sugar to coat them.

     6. Arrange about 3 inches apart (they spread quite a bit). Bake one sheet at a time so that they crackle nicely for 13-15 minutes.

     7. Transfer to cooling racks and store in airtight container.

 These cookies go wonderfully with a glass of milk for a late night snack or with your morning cup of coffee.

Along with the Christmas dessert tray :)