Lazy Day Cookies

I love to bake but sometimes I’m too lazy to make a complicated recipe or take a trip to the grocery store. Here's a really simple peanut butter cookie recipe using ingredients you probably already have in your pantry:

1 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon. baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup butter

3/4 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup crunchy peanut butter

In a small bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, and salt, set aside.

In a large bowl, mix the butter and sugar until creamy, about 2 minutes. Add the egg and vanilla extract and mix until blended.

Using a spoon, stir in the peanut butter and blend thoroughly. Stir in the dry ingredients. Chill for at least 30 minutes, or until firm.  

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spoon out rounded teaspoonfuls of the dough and roll into balls (or, even easier, use a medium sized cookie scoop). Place the balls on parchment lined baking sheets about 2 1/2 inches apart and press flat with a fork that has been dipped in water, making a crisscross pattern.  Bake for 12 minutes, or until lightly colored.  Transfer to a wire rack to cool.    

These cookies hold up well if you'd like to pre-scoop them and freeze so you can bake a few at a time whenever you get a sudden sugar craving.