From Mamaw’s Recipe File #7: Peanut Butter (and More) Cookies

My current exploration into Mamaw’s recipe file uncovered what has become my all-time favorite cookie! It has everything that makes a good cookie—peanut butter, chocolate chips, oatmeal, and nuts. My husband, Michael, the Picky Eater, even asked for seconds…and thirds!

Mamaw’s recipe card calls these delicious morsels Peanut Butter Cookies. Since I have a more traditional style recipe (the one with the fork-made pattern on top) that I like very much, I just skimmed over it in search of other recipe treasures. But this time I noticed Mamaw’s words written at the top in bold, red, capital letters: LOVE THESE COOKIES!!

(Mamaw, laughing on the right, in her Missouri farmhouse kitchen with her sister, Prebble, on Christmas, 1968.)

Well, how could I pass that up? And I changed the name since these cookies have way more to them than just peanut butter.

As I mentioned in a past post, Mamaw always noted on her cards where she got the recipe. This one was from her good friend, Jane Gray Walk, and copied on January 29, 1974. I remember Jane Gray (yes, that’s what everyone called her.) She and her husband, Hall, lived on a farm not far from Mamaw and Papaw. I would go over with them to visit sometimes and enjoyed sitting quietly watching everyone play cards games such as canasta, pinochle, or pitch. I was usually the only child there, and as long as I didn’t make any noise, I could stay at the table. Everyone would drink pop, iced tea, or coffee, and snacks would be served as well, usually chips, popcorn, or some other type of munchies.

(Three of Mamaw's closest friends, including Jane Gray Walk on the left, 1962.)

These are soft, moist cookies with just a hint of peanut butter flavor. Mamaw made them with shortening, but I used butter.

Peanut Butter and More Cookies

Makes 5 dozen

1/2 cup butter

1/2 cup peanut butter
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup milk
1 cup rolled oats
1 cup chocolate chips
1 cup nuts, chopped

Blend butter and peanut butter. Beat in sugar gradually. Add eggs and vanilla and mix well. Sift together dry ingredients and add alternately with the milk to the peanut butter mixture. Stir in oats, chocolate chips and nuts. Drop by teaspoon-full onto a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake at 275 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes, or until golden brown.

(Mamaw holding me, January, 1963. I'm only 28 days old!)