Thursday, April 30, 2009

Mind Control




It's terrible. I went to school and studied hard and got good grades. I went on to college. I attended lectures, took notes, read the texts, and learned the fine art of cramming for tests. So what pops into my head when I'm in the shower? Is it the periodic table? No. Is it the names of all the cranial nerves in order? No. Is it Sonnets from the Portuguese? No.

"Have another Nutter Butter Peanut Butter Sandwich cookie. From Banisco!"



Yes, lame TV theme songs and commercial jingles have so crowded my brain that there's no room there for useful information. Like where my glasses and the car keys might be.

But, as long as I have advertising jingles from the 70's controlling my brain, I might as well roll with it. If my brain thinks I need Peanut Butter Sandwich cookies, that's what I'll give it. But I'll make them myself. That'll show them who's boss!



You can make these as simple round sandwich cookies, but how much more fun to make them in the peanut shape? And, if you're feeling totally Martha, you can imprint a grid on the cookies before baking, to simulate peanut texture. I tried a plastic grid, the kind used for stitchery, on a few of the cookies with OK results.

Homemade Nutter Butters
- adapted from Top Secret Recipes

1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup vegetable shortening
2/3 cup granulated sugar
1 egg
1/2 tsp salt
3 Tbsp peanut butter
1/2 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
1 cup all-purpose flour


Filling

1/2 cup peanut butter
3/4 cup powdered sugar
1 Tbsp fine graham cracker crumbs (from about 1 cracker)

1- Preheat oven to 325 deg. with oven racks dividing the oven into thirds.

2- In a large bowl, cream together the butter, shortening, and sugar with an electric mixer.

3- Add the egg, salt, and peanut butter and beat until well blended, scraping down the bowl as necessary.

4- Put the oats in a food processor and pulse until it's almost as finely ground as flour. A blender on medium speed will work as well.

5- Add the oats and flour to the butter mixture and blend well.

6- Cover the dough and chill well (for at least an hour) for easier handling.

7- Roll small portions of the dough into 1-inch balls. Press these flat on ungreased cookie sheets so that they form 2-inch circles. Pinch in the sides to make a peanut shape. Flatten and press with a grid, if desired.

8- Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, until light brown around the edges.

9-Let cool briefly on the cookie sheet then remove to a cooling rack while still warm.

10- Combine the filling ingredients in a small bowl. It will make a stiff paste, similar to putty in texture.

11- When the cookies are cooled, pair up cookies so they'll match in size and shape. Divide the filling into 24 small portions. Working with your hands, take a portion of filling and press it flat, pressing it onto one half of a cookie pair. Top firmly with the other cookie. Repeat with the remaining cookies.

Makes 24 cookies

20 comments:

Mermaid Sews said...

These are darling and one of my fav. cookies, must try!

Johanna B said...

My coworker LOVES peanut butter cookies and she has a birthday coming up. I now know what she's going to get. Thanks.

Diane said...

OK you got me. Normally I read and go, "Oh peanut butter," and just enjoy what you have written without hankering to try. But for some stupid reason, I love nutter butters.

BTW, the pasta was wonderful. Thanks for the loan. Also the book is marvelous so thank you for the loan on that too!

MyKitchenInHalfCups said...

I'm thinking your the one controlling my mind here. Next time our Atlantic boat boy is over for dinner these would be perfect. He had to have his own private stash of nutter butters on board.

Maria said...

PB heaven! The cookies look most delicious!

Anonymous said...

these are so perfectly shaped! and not processed, like nutter butters; yum!

Sara said...

Well, now I know what I am doing tonight! Those look so good!

Sara said...

Oh my that looks wonderful! I've never had a nutter butter, but I bet yours are much better.

Abby said...

Those are some of my absolute fave cookies in the WORLD. But I've never thought of making them from scratch!

How To Eat A Cupcake said...

Baking has a headlock on my brain too! The other day, my boyfriend and I were going to dinner and I was driving. I almost missed my exit until he screamed "DON'T YOU NEED TO TURN LEFT??" I then apologized and confessed that my mind was on cherry pie filling... CHERRY PIE FILLING?! I'm lucky we survived the trip! ;)

NKP said...

Yum! I don't think we have nutter butters in Canada - yours look very tasty, and I love that platter.

Katrina said...

Ha, great post. I can only seem to remember really important things like jingles as well! Sigh! (I blame it on having kids!)

Yum to the Nutter Butters! Can't wait to try those!

Elyse said...

Hahaha, I hear you. On the way to my wills and trusts exam today, all I could think about was what treat I'd bake when I got home. I can't wait to make these homemade nutter butters!! They look delish.

Melinda said...

They look very special. I love the way you recreated the peanut butter shell motif!
I shall enjoy these one day. As I can not get the commercial variety, I will be jingling in my head, 'have a nutter peanut butter cookie by Lynn!'

Jannett said...

these look great..wonderful photos..
will be trying... :)

CookiePie said...

What could be better than nutter butters? HOMEMADE nutter butters! Fantastic! I must make these. Thanks for sharing the recipe!

Kelly said...

You are so cute! What a creative idea to make these cookies in peanut shape! I adore peanuts and of course peanut butter! and this recipe sounds so yummy! Thanks for sharing. Let me also share one of my favorite peanut recipes and spread the love! Check out the Chocolate Mousse Swirled Cookie Pie at www.dovechocolatediscoveries.com (yes it a pie but you will love the peanut taste in it).

Cate O'Malley said...

Oh they look fabulous! I'm like you with the random thoughts popping in for no reason. Today? It's all about making a St. Paul Sandwich - can't get it out of my mind.

Carly said...

I can not tell you how excited I am to try these cookies! I am a huge fan of nutter butters and this recipe I'm sure will help me out on those days when I don't have the time to run to the store to grab some!

Elle said...

Shaping the cookies is a work of love, but either way they are delightful...and meet the sweet/salty peanutty challenge head on.