March 15, 2017

Peanut butter & jelly thumbprint cookies


This month's Fantastical Food Fight theme is peanut butter & jelly/pb&j! I was happy to see this theme because 1) I've always been a big pb&j fan; and 2) I've been meaning to make these cookies for probably about 3 years now! So I finally had a good reason. I had found this recipe and modified it slightly as written below to reflect the technique we use in my Gram's classic thumbprint cookies. These cookies are delicious - I mean, how could they not be, right? Peanut butter and jelly are a classic combination for a reason! I used grape jelly and mixed berry preserves in my cookies. The preserves melted down into the holes and the jelly just kind of stayed in a glob -- but they both still tasted terrific! You can use whatever your favorite jelly/jam/preserves are in your cookies. This recipe will make approximately 2-1/2 dozen cookies.


We recently gave the twins their first taste of peanut butter now that the recommendations are changed. We have no history of peanut allergies in our family (thankfully!), so I pureed up a banana with a little peanut butter and mixed it in with their oatmeal. They liked it and have eaten it a few times now. So I'm hopeful that they will continue to not have any reactions to peanut butter. I can't imagine how difficult it is to have severe food allergies. 


Peanut butter & jelly thumbprint cookies
1-1/4 cups all-purpose flour 
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1 cup creamy peanut butter
1 large egg
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
your favorite jam, jelly, and/or preserve(s)

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour though salt and set aside.

In a large bowl, using an electric mixer (or a stand mixer with the paddle attachment), beat the butter and sugars together until light and fluffy. Beat in the peanut butter and egg, and then the vanilla.

Slowly mix the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until just incorporated. 

Using a tablespoon cookie scoop to gather the dough. Roll into a ball and place on a baking sheet about 1-inch apart. Bake, one sheet at a time, for 7 minutes. Then remove and print each cookie with your thumb, trying to make a round well. Fill each well with about 1/2-1 teaspoon jelly. Return to the oven and bake for another 9-11 minutes, until the bottom and sides are just golden.

Let cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then remove the cookies to a wire rack to continue cooling. Repeat until all dough has been used.

Store cookies in an airtight container.


What was I cooking one year ago?: stuffed sugar cookies
Two years ago?: thick & chewy pan pizza
Three years ago?: butternut squash spaghetti carbonara
Four?: Guinness chocolate cake
Five?: Irish oaten rolls
Six?: orange-sour cream-poppy seed loaf cake
7?: fish tacos


15 comments:

  1. They are by far my favourite cookies!

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  2. YUM....I need to not read these posts before breakfast, it makes for a soggy keyboard.

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  3. Love these cookies! And yours look like perfection. When I was a kid my mom always made these for Christmas. Nowadays we make them whenever the craving hits -- which is often! :-)

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  4. This is way up there on my list of favorite cookies! And this would definitely be a favorite with the kids in the family. Thanks for the recipe.

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  5. Those cookies look and sound amazing! It's the perfect combination!

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  6. These cookies remind me of the cookies my mom would make for Christmas for my Dad! Love it!

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  7. The husband doesn't like peanut butter cookies but they are my favorite! But them adding a little jam in the center might just change his mind because he does love PB&J sandwiches. Thanks for sharing!

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  8. Such pretty cookies! They look delicious!

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  9. Aren't these a kid's delight!!! Just apt with a tall glass of cold milk...

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  10. Freaking LOVE thumbprints. You've made them better with PB!!

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  11. Amy peanut butter and jam thumbprint cookies are my to do list too. Don't know if I'll get round to baking them soon with my healthy eating resolution:) However, in the meantime will just have to look at the photos of your preparation and drool.

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  12. it would be dreadful to have a peanut allergy--what a treat to miss out on! glad your twins took it well. :)
    love these cookies and that classic combination!

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  13. A perfect cookie for the challenge. I like that you picked grape jelly, too.

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  14. what fun cookies! we introduced pb to our little guy recently too. fortunately he did fine as well!

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  15. I love all things PB&J ♥
    I'll have to bake your cookies! I've made a few different PB&J cookies already and can't pick a favorite - they're all so good!
    Hope you're well :)

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