This is my mom, Colleen Mott’s recipe. I have a very vivid memory of talking with her in the kitchen while she pressed criss-crosses into the cookies.

I honestly don’t know what it is about these cookies. The recipe is pretty basic. But we have tasted many people’s peanut butter cookies over the years and NONE have measured up.
I think it must be the proportions of ingredients because it just WORKS.

So simple…….use a beater and mix together the shortening, peanut butter and sugars until creamy.
Add in the eggs and whip until fluffy.

Stir in the dry ingredients mixing well.
Make balls and place on cookie sheet.

Use a fork to make the criss-cross design.

For some Valentine’s Day fun, make them according to the recipe, then add unwrapped Dove Chocolate Hearts.

As soon as the cookies come out of the oven, fully baked, place one unwrapped chocolate in the center of each cookie.



Let them sit on the baking sheet for a few minutes more to cool slightly before transferring cookies to a cooling rack to cool completely so the chocolates can set before eating. Pack in an airtight container for storage.




The VERY BEST Peanut Butter Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup shortening
- 1 cup peanut butter
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2½ cups flour
- 1½ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°.
- Cream together shortening, peanut butter and sugars. Whip with beater until creamy.
- Add eggs and mix well.
- Mix together dry ingredients and add to wet mixture. Mix well.
- Make into 1½-2 inch balls and place onto cookie sheet.
- Using a fork, dip into water and press into cookie one direction and then the other, making a criss-cross design.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes. Cool on rack.
Notes
