Chris' Kicked up Spicy Walnut Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Cookies
Source: Chris Hanrahan
Makes 36

The spicy walnuts add a crunch and a finish that is quite a fun surprise.

Cookie batter
1/2 cup unsalted butter -- at room temperature
1/2 cup dark brown sugar
1/2 cup cane sugar
1 egg
1 cup natural creamy peanut butter
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup chocolate chips
1 cup all-purpose flour

Spicy Walnuts
1 tablespoon canola oil
1 tablespoon Chinese chile oil
1/2 cup finely diced walnuts
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/8 teaspoon powdered ginger
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
2 tablespoons sugar

Heat oven to 375 degrees F. Line a couple cookie sheets with parchment paper (or butter the pans).

Prepare the cookie batter first. In a mixer, mix the butter until it is soft and creamy. Then add both the brown and cane sugar, until it is well mixed. After that is mixed, add the egg, peanut butter, vanilla, baking soda, and salt. Finally, add the chocolate chips. Set aside.

In a medium sized skillet: Add the canola oil and chile oil, heat on the range until sizzling. Add the walnuts, and toss for a couple minutes until golden brown. Add the cayenne, ginger, and nutmeg. Continue to toss for another 1 to 2 minutes. Finally add the sugar to soak in all the goodness at the bottom of the pan. (I strain them to make sure no oil goes into the cookie mix.)

Add the walnuts to the batter. Finally, fold the flour into batter, but don't mix too well. (If you need a wee bit more flour, don't hesitate to add, but the walnuts make for less of a need for large amounts of flour.) Once the flour is folded in, scoop out spoonfuls of dough, and place them on the prepared pan. Press down with fork.

Bake for 14 to 17 minutes (depending on your oven) until golden brown. Let cool on rack.