Dishing It Up Recipe Hop: Cookies!!

One of my fondest memories of Christmas were all of the homemade candies and cookies that my grandmothers would make.  Anytime we visited during the holidays, we knew right where the goodies would be!  Back then I lived next door to one grandmother, and two blocks from the other, so we visited quite often!

Now, I live 5 1/2 hours away from where I grew up, and for the first time since having our children, we will not be traveling there for the Holidays due to my husband's second job in retail.  I'm actually looking forward to starting our own family traditions, though.

I think probably the easiest and most enjoyable family tradition is going to be making Christmas cookies.  My girls helped cut out and decorate some sugar cookies last year, and they loved it.  This year, I'm planning on trying one of my all time favorite cookie recipes that my grandmother and I used to make together.  I'm not even sure what to call it, so I'll just call it a Reeses Peanut Butter Pie!

                               Source: bakedperfection.com via Aliese on Pinterest

*NOTE:  My Granny told me that this recipe will make 8 dozen cookies!  That might be just what you need if you are making them for gifts, or for entertaining, or just have a large family.  You can halve the recipe if need be, or I almost think the dough would freeze well to be thawed and shaped later.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup cooking oil
• 2 cups granulated sugar 
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 3 cups flour
• dash of salt
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 2 beaten eggs
• 1 cup peanut butter
• 2 tsp baking soda
• Will also need miniature peanut butter cups (don't mix these in the dough)

Directions for dough:

• Cream together oil, sugars, and vanilla.
• Add eggs and beat well.
• Stir in peanut butter.
• Stir in dry ingredients.

Now this dough is just plain everyday variety peanut butter cookie dough (I do think this recipe stays a bit moister than some other peanut butter cookies that I've tried, however).  My grandmother usually makes half into peanut butter cookies and half into peanut butter pies.

To make peanut butter pies:

• You will need miniature muffin pans, greased.
• Roll dough into tiny balls.  Place balls into holes in muffin pan.
• Unwrap peanut butter cups and press into the center of the balls of dough, so that the dough rises around it on all sides.
• Bake at 375 degrees for 10 minutes.

If you wish to make cookies, follow the same directions, except place the balls of dough on a cookie sheet and flatten with a fork.

What's your favorite Christmas cookie?

If you'd like some more cookie recipes, please visit the links below.  If you have a cookie recipe, link up!