Recipe : Peanut Butter Blossom

My friend Susan made these for our cookie exchange this year and I just couldn’t get enough of them.  I think the key to this cookie is keeping the cookie small, a one inch ball.  It makes the cookie just the size of one bite, so you get all the flavor at the same time.  This is, I think, the BEST recipe for peanut butter blossoms, a classic American cookie.  Thanks for sharing Susan!

Peanut Butter Blossom
Ingredients:
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup shortening
1/2 cup peanut butter
2 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 egg
Sugar to sprinkle
48 milk chocolate candy kisses, unwrapped

1. Heat oven to 375 degrees.  In a large bowl, combine flour, 1/2 cup sugar, brown sugar, baking soda, salt, shortening, peanut butter, milk, vanilla and egg; mix at low speed until stiff dough forms.  Shape dough into 1-inch balls; roll in sugar.  Place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets.
2. Bake at 375 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes or until golden brown.  Immediately top each cookie with 1 candy kiss, pressing down firmly so cookie cracks around edge.  Remove from cookie sheet.