Maybe My Favorite Cookie Ever

When I was 16, my very first job was at a cupcake bakery at the mall. The cupcakes were amazing, and I am not just saying that since I worked there. I still try to find cupcakes that are as good as the cupcakes were at this bakery. But what most people didn't know was that they were wasting time with those delicious cupcakes. For this bakery sold beloved Peanut Butter Blossoms, and they were the best peanut butter cookies I have EVER had. 

Now, I'll be the first to admit that my recipe for peanut butter blossoms is not as good as those cookies were. But I don't know that I have every baked, or even eaten a better cookie than those peanut butter blossoms. Thinking about those cookies makes me very happy, and making my own gets me as close as I can get to having one again. Maybe one day I'll get that recipe, but for now, these are for sure second best. 

Peanut Butter Blossoms

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup (1 stick) salted butter, slightly softened
• 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar 
• 1 large egg
• 2 TBS milk
• 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar, for rolling
• 1 bag Hershey's kisses, unwrapped

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375.
2. In a medium bowl, stir together flour and baking soda. Set aside.
3. In the bowl of your mixer, beat butter, brown sugar and 1/2 cup granulated sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy. Beat in egg, vanilla, and milk until blended.
4. With the mixer on low, slowly add flour mixture. Mix until completely blended.
5. Cover dough and chill for at least several hours or overnight.
6. Using a small cookie scoop, scoop chilled dough and roll into a ball with your hands. THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PART! This cookie is all about the ratio of cookie to chocolate, so keep your cookies small. I'm talking a scoop of dough the size of a melon baller.  Roll in granulated sugar and place about 2 inches apart on greased cookie sheets. Bake for about 9 minutes, until edges are just starting to turn golden. Remove from oven and immediately top with a Hershey kiss, pressing into the center of the cookies. 
   
   Be careful, these are dangerous.