Double Peanut Butter Shamrock Cookies
by Mar 15th, 2011 // Desserts, Holiday
Double Peanut Butter Shamrock Cookies
The other day at work we were having a debate over which was better: Reeses Pieces or peanut butter M&Ms. Reeses are obviously the original, but the argument for them was that the chocolate to shell ratio is better. I tend to disagree. I like them both but I like the thicker chocolate shell on M&Ms.
All that talk about peanut butter M&Ms turned me into a drone on one mission. To buy a bag of them and turn them into something utterly delicious. Separating out the colors without eating them all is a huge challenge. We managed. Not without some casualties…
Our shamrocks leaves were a rainbow of colors but we outlined them all with horrible green cookie icing from the grocery store. I’m not perfect.
They were really adorable and tasted even better than they look because they are double the peanut butter – peanut butter M&Ms on peanut butter cookies. MMMMmmmmmm.
Double Peanut Butter Shamrock Cookies
Prep Time: 15 mins Cooking Time: 10 to 12 mins
Ingredients:
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
1 cup packed light-brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled)
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup granulated sugar, for rolling dough
1 large bag peanut butter M&Ms, separated by color
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Using an electric mixer, cream peanut butter and butter in a mixing bowl until smooth.
3. Add brown sugar; beat until combined, scraping down bowl as needed.
4. Add eggs and vanilla, and beat until incorporated.
5. In a small bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. With mixer on low speed, gradually beat in flour mixture in two batches.
6. Scoop off dough into heaping tablespoons; roll into balls. Place granulated sugar on a plate; roll balls in sugar, coating completely.
7. Place 2 inches apart on a nonstick insulated baking sheet and bake until about 7 or 8 minutes.
8. Remove from oven. Press 3 matching peanut butter M&Ms into a shamrock pattern on each cookie
9. Return to oven; continue baking until cookies are golden brown and chocolate has begun to melt, about 4 or 5 minutes more.
10. Let cool at least 10 minutes on baking sheet before transferring cookies to rack to cool completely.
11. Use store bought cookie icing to outline the shamrock on each cookie.
Makes 3 dozen cookies.
These look tastier than any pot of gold! Thanks for the great weekend activity idea!