Decadent chocolate dipped peanut butter cookies ~

I've been making this basic recipe for peanut butter cookies since the late 70's.  It's easy and pretty healthy.

But on Pinterest (oh how I love that place), some gal added a decadent level.... she dipped the edges in chocolate and then in finely chopped peanuts.

The thing I love about these cookies, is they are gift worthy, but are so easy to make.  And they are delicious too!

Recipe:

1 egg
1 cup of peanut butter (I use creamy)
1/2 cup of sugar

4 oz. melted chocolate chips (I used the microwave)
3/4 cup of finely chopped peanuts (I used Trader Joe's roasted)

Mix sugar, peanut butter and egg in a medium bowl.  Place bowl, covered with plastic wrap in refrigerator for 1/2 hr. 

Chop peanuts in food processor and set aside.

Fifteen minutes after the cookie dough is in the frige, preheat oven to 325 degree Fahrenheit.  Line a 1/2 sheet pan with parchment paper.

Take cookie dough out of the refrigerator.  Roll cookie dough by teaspoonful, into round balls.  Place 2" apart on the cookie sheet.   After all cookie balls are on sheet pan, take fork and press down to make a tic tac toe impression on top, while pressing down on dough.

Place cookies in oven and bake for 15-18 minutes, until golden brown.

Remove cookies from oven and place on cooling wrack.  Let cool for 1/2 hour.  Melt chocolate.  Set the bowl of chocolate and the bowl of peanuts next to each other on counter.  Take each cookie and dip one edge in chocolate and then into peanuts.  Turn cookie half way around and dip the second edge in chocolate and then into peanuts.

Place cookies back on half sheet pan with parchment paper.  When cookies are all dipped, place sheet pan in the fridge to cool cookies completely.

Store in a plastic container and store.  Makes 18 cookies.

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And boy are they good!  Yum ~