Peanut butter cookies

How long does it take to go to the shops to buy cookies when you fancy them?  If your butter is already at room temperature you can make these gorgeous little cookies in about twenty minutes.  I made them because one of my boys seems to be spending more time away from home than here and as he doesn't like peanuts then his younger brother can reap the benefits.  These will keep for several days in an airtight container and are soft like you expect an American cookie to be.

PEANUT BUTTER COOKIES

• 100g/4oz butter, softened
• 250g/9oz peanut butter (either)
• 175g/6oz caster sugar
• 1 egg
• 1/2 tsp vanilla essence
• 150g/5oz plain flour
• 1 tsp baking powder

Preheat your oven to 180C/350F/Gas 4

Cream the butter, peanut butter and sugar together till light and smooth

Beat in the egg and vanilla essence

Fold in the flour and baking powder

Roll the mixture into little balls the size of a large grape and place well spaced onto a lightly greased baking tray

Use a fork to flatten the balls and make a criss cross pattern on top

Bake for 6-8 minutes till set but not hard

Remove from the oven and leave on the trays for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool

I made 30 from this recipe, you can make them as big or small as you like.