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Oh, but it's not just me, my husband and children are also quite smitten with toffee bits and from time to time there's even been a toffee-loving mouse who likes to eat his weight of the yummy stuff. Why do I say that? Well, sometimes I purchase a bag or two for a recipe I want to try. A few days later when I get ready to bake, I go to my pantry and there's nary a shadow of the toffee stash. And not a soul at The Café seems to have a clue as to where it may have disappeared to,so it has to be a mouse, right?
Really, all silliness aside, toffee bits do add an unbelievably delicious layer of flavor to baked bread, cakes, bars and cookies. These Peanut Butter Cookies are no exception. The recipe is an old stand-by from Betty Crocker's Cookbook, a gift I received many years ago for our wedding. The cookies have stood the test of time, always receiving rave reviews.
But guess what? They just got better! The addition of toffee bits combines deliciously with the classic peanut butter flavor and gives an extra chewiness to the centers, while the outer edges remain crisp and melt-in-your-mouth yummy. If you want an old-fashioned tried and true treat with a fun new twist, make up a batch of these Peanut Butter-Toffee Cookies. If you get a sweet tooth one evening, pour a glass of cold milk and reach into the cookie jar, but if you only to feel a lot of empty space, perhaps my mouse has moved into your house!
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ¾ cup packed brown sugar
- 1 cup peanut butter
- ½ cup shortening
- ½ cup butter
- 2 large eggs
- 2 ½ cups all purpose flour
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 8 ounce bag toffee bits I use Heath Bits O' Brickle Baking Bits found near the chocolate chips at most larger groceries
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Preheat oven to 350˚F. Line 2 sheet pans with parchment paper.
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In the bowl of an electric mixer combine sugars, peanut butter, shortening, butter and eggs. Mix until fluffy and well combined.
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Add remaining ingredients except toffee bits and mix until fully incorporated. Add toffee bits and mix just till combined.
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Scoop up dough in 1 to 1¼-inch balls. Place about 3 inches apart on prepared sheet pans. Bake 12 to 15 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool 5 minutes; remove from cookie sheet. Cool on wire rack.
I love the crinkly-crackly look of these cookies, but if you'd like more traditional looking peanut butter cookies, flatten each ball of dough in a crisscross pattern with fork dipped in sugar.
twodogsinthekitchen says
Those cookies sounds great. I too, love toffee. Are you familiar with the children's book, "If you give a mouse a cookie"? That is what your story reminded me off...lol!!
Casey says
Looks so gooooood
Cathy at Wives with Knives says
I have been so good about staying away from sweets this month, but these are too tempting to pass up. I love the combination of peanut butter and toffee bits. A real treat without being over the top sweet.
Angie's Recipes says
I love the flavours in these cookies. Peanut butter and toffee...a heavenly combo!
Beth says
What a great combination of flavors! We have the same problem with "disappearing" toffee bits in our house.
Veronica Miller says
Chris, I'm so tired that I thought you were trying to say a moose was eating your toffee and I was trying to restrain myself from correcting your spelling. Seriously. LOL! It's like I couldn't read the word mouse correctly or something. Help me! I'm so going to bed, with visions of toffee peanut butter cookies (the non burnt ones-lol) dancing in my head.
Maria says
The mouse is at it again! : ) Stunning pictures. I'll have to add toffee bits next time I whip up some peanut butter cookies.
Rosemary says
Mr. Rosemary just loves the crossed-fork pattern of peanut butter cookies. (I really wonder why that was started?) I love the toffee idea -- today's my day to make cookies -- and I promise not to photograph them, while baking.
loulou says
Wonderful pictures! Great cookies, the only problem is that I risk eating all of them with 2-3-4 cups of milk (I might be a cat in my previous life)...
Foodycat says
They sound so good!
Jennifer @ Peanut Butter and Peppers says
Ohhhh, I love toffee and peanut butter together! What a great combination!! I want one, no cross that, two, no that's not right, a dozen of these cookies right now!!
Pondside says
Oh my goodness - I did NOT need to know this!.....I can just imagine how delicious they are.
Claire @ Claire K Creations says
It's probably a good thing I can't get these in Australia! Oopsies to the photo shoot although I bet the toffee caramelised into deliciousness!
bellini says
I need to develop a relationship with toffee bits.
Ginny says
They sound and look wonderful,however I am looking more at the little milk jug and the cool pedestal glass, a very pretty scene.
Patti says
I love peanut butter cookies, and the recipe I've used for years is the Betty Crocker Coobook one. I can well imagine that adding those toffee bits will make them even more yummy.
Actually, there hasn't been a single recipe of yours that I've tried that I haven't loved. I told you I made those crinkly, crunchy, toasted pecan ginger cookies over Christmas. Well, I am making another batch tomorrow...right after I pick up some candied ginger at the store. Since I'll be there, I probably ought to buy a bag of the toffee chips too. My son will love that this cold weather has put me in a "turn the oven on to warm the house" baking kind of mood.
Thanks for another great recipe.
Kim G. says
I'm this kind of person, always... I'm quite lucky tough I did not but lots of stuff (just a little:) These cookies, with english toffee bits looks amazing... I have the same kind of mouse around here:)
The Mom Chef says
My dad would be all over those darker cookies. He says that the 'burned' ones are sweeter. I love toffee bits as well. If I lived closer, I'd be the mouse that ate the bag of bits and the cookies.
Hovkonditorn says
Wow, these cookies are perfect!
Happier Than a Pig in Mud says
Perfect, gorgeous cookies! Wish I had one or three:@)
Gloria says
aahhh these cookies look amazing!
kristinwithani says
Ack, yum!!!
Natalie says
Delicious! I love PB cookies, but the addition of the toffee bites probably make these extra good. I am pinning this recipe for later 🙂
Laura (Tutti Dolci) says
Absolutely adore these cookies, Chris! Beautiful photos! 🙂
Alex says
I also love how they look. And the photos are amazing.