The Perfect Peanut Butter Cookies

Sugar cookie dough and mini peanut butter M&Ms come together to form a perfect cookie!

Though some consider them simple, sugar cookies are some of my favorite sweet treats out there! Paired with a cup of tea or coffee, a seemingly basic bite becomes a delightful snack!

With such a rudimentary dough, add-ins like butterscotch crumbs or, as used here, itty-bitty peanut butter candies, are a fun and easy way to mix up a standard batch, customize for any special occasion, or to add some beautiful sprigs of color to your cookies. Feel free to get creative and use whatever particular add-ins would most please you and your loved ones. Additional drizzle toppings like caramel sauce, reductions, fruit compotes, or buttercream and royal icings also make delicious tools for personalization.

Ingredients

• 3/4 C unsalted butter, melted

• 3/4 C light brown sugar, packed

• 1/4 C granulated sugar

• 1 egg, 1 egg yolk (room temp)

• 2 1/2 t vanilla extract

• 2 1/4 C spoon, leveled flour

• 1 t baking soda

• 1 t cornstarch

• 1 t kosher salt

• Additional toppings to taste (make sure to save some for topping!)

Procedure

• Preheat oven to 350° F and line a baking sheet, grease with a neutral oil.

• Whisk butter and sugars in a large mixing bowl. Let the butter cool to room temperature.

• Stir in egg/yolk one at a time and then add your vanilla. Mix well.

• Stir in flour one cup at a time followed by remaining dry ingredients.

• Add 3/4 of mix-ins and roll out balls of dough roughly two tablespoons in size. Place on your baking sheet with at least an inch and a half in between each cookie.

• Press down your dough slightly and add the remaining toppings. Make sure to give them a slight push into the dough, securing them in the baking process and once they set to cool.

• Bake those puppies for about 15 minutes, adjusting based on your natural elevation! Your dough will bubble out and begin to deepen to a golden color. Check with a toothpick if you are concerned about raw dough.

• Enjoy!