The Best Peanut Butter Cookies Ever

This recipe comes from my mom, who in turn got it from her cousin Teresa, who only allowed her to copy the recipe if she promised that she would only use Jif-brand chunky peanut butter. She and I have both kept to that promise, and have never had reason to regret it.

These cookies are phenomenal - soft, pillowy, and a little crumbly. I've had a number of peanut butter cookies in my short years on this planet, but these take the cake.

Peanut Butter Cookies
Makes: 3 dozen-ish

1 cup brown sugar
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup butter, softened
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups chunky peanut butter (must be Jif!)
3 cups flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. In a large bowl, cream the brown sugar, granulated sugar, and butter until soft. Gradually beat in eggs, vanilla, and peanut butter.
3. In a smaller bowl, combine flour, salt, and baking soda. Gradually add the flour mixture to the peanut butter mixture.
4. Roll dough into small balls, and place on a greased cookie sheet (or a sheet lined with parchment paper). Press balls flat with a dinner fork in a crisscross pattern.
5. Bake cookies for 10-11 minutes; remove from oven. Allow cookies to sit on the cookie sheet for another 2 minutes (cookies will appear slightly under-done). Transfer cookies to a cooling rack until they have reached room temperature.