Soft Peanut butter Cookies for Spring

This post is sponsored by Glad Products Company. As always all opinions are my own.

I realize that mid-February is a bit early to be talking about Spring, but right now I’m thinking “The sooner it comes, the better!” This weekend I plan to start working on a few projects to help you decorate for and celebrate Easter and springtime. Naturally, there will be food (specifically, dessert) involved, so I’m kicking things off today with these Soft Peanut Butter Cookies for Spring.

As you know from past recipes, the pairing of peanut butter and chocolate is a favorite of mine. The flavor combination instantly reminds me of Easter. (I think it’s those ubiquitous chocolate peanut butter eggs.) Today, I’m putting the two together in a classic peanut butter cookie recipe which features candy coated chocolate and is sure to please. (The resulting cookies also look adorable for dressing up any spring celebration.)

I decided to get these cookies baked before assembling the rest of my spring celebration since I tend to be a messy baker. While my photos might make everything look “perfect,” after an hour in the kitchen, I have a bit of a mess all over the place. I’m always looking for ways to limit the mess, so I find that discarding trash and cleaning-as-I-go help a lot. Thankfully, the smart folks at Glad developed their new Glad ForceFlex Kitchen Pro trash bags with OdorShield™ and LeakGuard™ technology. They are their biggest and strongest kitchen bag yet, featuring double bag protection. Plus, the bags are made with Febreze freshness so they help to control odor, too. A win, win, win for those of us who love to bake and cook!

While a messy kitchen doesn’t bother me too much when I’m in the midst of things (It’s all part of the process.), I do get kind of anxious when dealing with things that can create germs or odor, such as raw meats or eggs. The worst part is when your bag gets a hole in it or rips when you lift it out of the trash can and everything comes spilling out. Not fun. So, when it comes to trash bags, I don’t mess around. Seriously. If it has stretchable strength, leak protection, and odor control. Count me in. That’s why I’m a fan of these Glad Kitchen Pro trash bags. This new bag is 53% more bag, for 53% more fun! Using them is a small step that makes such a huge difference. Bring on the party!

Okay, with waste disposal taken care of, let’s bake!

Begin by creaming together your butter and sugars. Then, add the peanut butter and eggs, one at a time. You can bring out your stand mixer for this, but I find that a hand mixer works nicely.

Now mix in your dry ingredients. I do this with a spatula so that I don’t overmix the dough. Just before the dough is mixed, toss in the candy coated chocolates. I think the pastel colors of the candy are so lovely with the creamy dough color.

You’ll want to save about 1/2 cup of your candy. I like to add a few pieces to the top of each of the cookies right after they come out of the oven. This is a great little cheat / tip to ensure that your cookies look picture-perfect when it’s time to celebrate!

And that’s it! Your cookies are ready, and that peanut butter chocolatey goodness has a one-way ticket to your tummy. Yum!

Makes about 4 dozen cookies

Here's what you will need:
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup brown sugar, packed
1 cup white sugar
1 1/4 cups creamy peanut butter
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 (12 ounce) bag candy coated chocolate candies

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.

In a large bowl, cream together the butter, brown sugar, and white sugar. Once well combined, add one egg at a time, mixing well. Then, mix in the vanilla.

Stir the dry mixture into the wet mixture with a spatula. When almost combined, mix in the candy coated chocolates, reserving 1/2 cup to garnish.

Roll the dough into 1 1/2-inch balls. Place each ball on an ungreased cookie sheet, and flatten the balls with your fingers. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until the cookies just start to brown. (The longer you bake them, the less soft they will be.)

Remove from the oven and top each cookie with a few pieces of the extra chocolate candy. Then transfer the cookies to a wire rack. Once cool, pack and store them in an airtight container.

I hope you enjoyed this recipe and are looking forward to Spring as much as I am.

Also, if like me, you make a bit of a mess in the kitchen, you can find more information about the new Glad ForceFlex Kitchen Pro trash bags by visiting Glad.com. To purchase, visit Target.com here (They are currently on sale!)

More springtime treats are on the horizon here on IBC. Stay tuned!

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