Best Peanut Butter Cookies

ingredients

1/2 cup unsalted or salted butter, at room temperature
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated white sugar
1 egg
1 cup smooth peanut butter (I used Kraft™ Extra Creamy)
1/2 - 3/4 tsp. salt (use lesser amount if you used salted butter)
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 - 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour *see note below

method

Preheat oven to 375° F. and grease a cookie sheet (or use parchment/silpat).

Cream butter with electric or stand mixer until light an creamy (2-3 minutes). Gradually add white and brown sugars and blend until creamy. Beat in egg. Add peanut butter, salt, baking soda and vanilla and beat in until combined. Add flour and blend until combined.

Roll the dough into small balls. Place them onto greased cookie sheet, about 2 inches apart (cookies will spread). Press flat with a fork, pressing once in one direction and then once in the opposite direction.

Bake 10-12 minutes or until cookie is firm and edges start to colour.

*The amount of flour used depends on how oily your peanut butter is. If you're using a commercial brand like Kraft™, Skippy™, Jiff™ etc, then you'll probably want to use the full amount. If you're using a reduced-fat brand, you may need the lesser amount. The dough should be at a consistency where you can easily pinch off a piece and roll it into a ball that is moist but holds it's shape easily (not crumbly).