Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies

Submitted by Rich Williams (‘62)
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Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup vegetable shortening
  • 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
  • 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar, divided
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 tablespoons whole milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 3/4 cups (about 7 1/2 oz.) all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 36 milk chocolate kisses

Cooking Instructions:

  1. Preheat oven to 375°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Beat shortening and peanut butter with a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment on medium speed until smooth, about 1 minute. Gradually add brown sugar and 1/2 cup of the granulated sugar, beating until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add egg, milk, and vanilla; beat on medium-high speed until fully combined and fluffy, about 1 minute. Stir together flour, baking soda, and salt in a bowl; add to shortening mixture, beating on low speed until fully combined, about 1 minute.
  2. Roll dough into 36 (1-inch) balls. Place remaining 1/4 cup granulated sugar in a bowl; roll balls in sugar to coat.
  3. Arrange 12 of the dough balls on prepared baking sheet spaced 2 inches apart. Bake in preheated oven 8 minutes. Remove from oven; immediately press 1 chocolate kiss into center of each cookie. Return to oven; bake at 375°F until lightly browned, about 2 minutes. Remove from oven; cool on baking sheet 3 minutes. Transfer cookies to a wire rack. Repeat process 2 times with remaining 24 balls and chocolate kisses. Let cookies cool completely on wire rack, about 20 minutes.