Recipe: Chocolate Chunk-Peanut Cookies (Southern Living magazine)

CHOCOLATE CHUNK-PEANUT COOKIES

1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup shortening
1 cup chunky peanut butter
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
2 large eggs
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup unsalted dry-roasted peanuts
1 (11.5-ounce) bag chocolate chunks

Beat butter and shortening at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy; add chunky peanut butter and sugars, beating well. Add eggs, beating until blended. Set aside.

Combine flour and next 4 ingredients. Add to butter mixture, beating well. Stir in peanuts and chocolate chunks.

Shape dough into 2-inch balls (about 2 tablespoons for each cookie). Flatten slightly, and place on ungreased baking sheets.

Bake at 375 degrees F for 12 to 15 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool on pan 1 to 2 minutes; remove to wire rack to cool completely.

VARIATION:

DOUBLE CHOCOLATE CHUNK-PEANUT COOKIES:
Reduce flour to 2 cups; add 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, sifted. Proceed as directed.

Makes 28 cookies
Source: Marsha Johnson, Montgomery, Alabama in Southern Living magazine, May 2004