Apple Peanut Butter Softies

I could bake all day, every day for several months and still not bake every recipe that’s caught my eye.  I must have close to a hundred recipes bookmarked from all of the food blogs I read, not to mention the six binders of recipes that I’ve clipped from magazines, and of course there are my cookbooks filled with colorful flags marking the recipes that I’d like to try.  And yet I still find myself sitting at home with a desire to bake and no idea what to make.  It was on one of these nights that I stumbled across this recipe while searching for something that would use up some of my CSA apples and satisfy my craving for peanut butter. 

I’m not sure these will supplant my current favorite peanut butter cookies, but they are really, really good.  They’re incredibly soft, almost cake-like, and they have a wholesomeness about them that make them perfect to go alongside a sandwich and juice box for a weekday lunch.

Apple Peanut Butter Softies

Adapted from Taste of Home

1/2 cup shortening
1/2 cup butter – softened
1 cup chunky peanut butter (I didn’t have chunky so I used creamy peanut butter and 1 cup chopped salted peanuts)
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla extract
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
2 grated unpeeled medium apples

Directions

1. In a large bowl, cream the shortening, peanut butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Combine the dry ingredients (flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon); gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well. Stir in apple.

2. Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls 2 in. apart onto greased baking sheets. Bake at 375° for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown. Cool for 5 minutes before removing to wire racks.

Yield: about 4 dozen.