Peanut Butter Cookie Recipes

Ingredients

1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup peanut butter
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1- 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
48 large red M&M candies
96 mini semisweet chocolate chips
Pretzels, broken into 96 1-inch pieces

Directions

1. Heat oven to 375 and place rack in center. Grease two baking sheets. In a large mixer bowl beat together butter, peanut butter and sugars on medium speed until light, about 2 minutes. Add egg and extract; beat until combined. Stir in flour, baking soda and salt until a dough forms. Roll into 1-inch balls and place 1 inch apart on prepared sheets.

2. Bake, one sheet at a time, until just set and bottoms are golden, 8 to 10 minutes. For each cookie, immediately place 1 M&M in center for nose, 2 chocolate chips for eyes and 2 pretzel pieces on top for antlers. Transfer cookies on sheets to a wire rack and let cool completely. (Can be made ahead. Store in an airtight container at room temperature, in single layers separated by waxed paper, up to 2 days.)

Makes: 48 cookies.