I have tried to write this post so many times and I can’t quite do it justice. So I’m just going to splurge my stream of consciousness out onto the blog and press publish and be damned.
Last year I met a great woman who I have been lucky enough to become great friends with. In fact I’d go as far as to say she’s become a close friend. She makes me laugh, she’s got a wicked sense of humour and she’s incredibly giving. She’s also a bloody great baker. Her name is Jo and she won the Great British Bake Off.
Jo sent me a copy of her new book recently and, well, it’s beautiful. Full of recipes I want to bake and written with such warmth and personality. When I first met Jo she was her own worst critic, I hope through her Bake Off win and this gorgeous book already being a best seller, she realises what a star she is. Here’s one of the recipes from her book which I have made two batches of today, printed with her permission:
Makes 10
Ingredients:
- 100g unsalted butter, softened
-
100g peanut butter, either smooth or crunchy
-
60g demerara sugar
-
60g caster sugar
-
1 large egg, beaten
-
100g plain flour
-
1/2 tsp baking powder
-
1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda
-
60g salted peanuts or chocolate chips
Preheat the oven to 180C/Gas 4. Cream the butter, sugars and peanut butter together until light and fluffy. Gradually add the egg and mix thoroughly. Sift the flour, baking powder and bicarbonate of soda into the bowl and mix until the dough comes together. Add the peanuts or chocolate chips.
Place scoops onto a prepared baking tray (lined with parchment) allowed plenty of space inbetween for spreading in the oven. Bake for 5 minutes in the middle of the oven, remove the tray and give it a sharp bang on the work surface to deflate the cookies. Return to the oven for 5 more minutes until golden brown. Cool slightly on the tray and then transfer to a wire rack to cool.
Notes: I didn’t have any plain white flour so used plain wholemeal flour and this worked well. I don’t even think you could tell. I also didn’t have any demerara sugar so used all caster and again this worked fine. I also used chopped up block chocolate as I didn’t have any chocolate chips. Oh and I made my cookies quite small so got 21 out of the mix. These are just delicious! Make them. Please.
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Holly Bell 
I’ve baked many a cookie over the last 25 years & have just made Jo’s peanut butter cookies and my husband announced they’re the best cookies he has ever tasted! I may have to bake more for my son’s visit tomorrow!! Thanx!
Having just discovered your blog I’ve been inspired and batch one is in the oven now. My only problem so far has been trying to stop myself shovelling the raw mixture into my mouth! Looking forward to trying them shortly
They are soooooooooo good aren’t they!? Hope you enjoy them. x
I’ve just made a batch of these, they are delicious. I only had 75g of peanut butter and they still turned out perfectly peanuty. A great recipe. I look forward to buying Jo’s baking book.
Made these a few days ago and very yummy, was odd to take them out oven and flatten them but when they came out the oven they were lovely and crispy at the edges and gooey in the middle. I used a 50/50 of caster and light muscavado and chopped up dark chocolate for the chips. I’d probably use a bit less sugar next time and maybe cook a bit longer to make them more crunchy.
Made this yesterday – om nom nom! The only changes I made were to use self-raising flour instead of plain + bicarb of soda + baking power, and to just use caster sugar. Next time, I think I’ll reduce the amount of sugar from 120g to 100g as they were a little bit sweet but, overall, huge success and will deffo make again.
Hurrah! I have made 4 batches in the last week. Yum. X
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oh man peanut butter cookies are my favourite. will definitely try these. thank you! B
Holly, Where did you buy the white basic hand mixer you had on the week 6 episode of GBBO ( the one you were using to bake with in the house). I know you use a kenwood kmix now but instead of getting another stand mixer i would like an extra/spare hand mixer. I looked quite good for just a basic one so would be great if you told me whre you bought it!! :) :)
Hi matthew, it wasn’t very good, an asda basics one. I have since replaced with a kenwood k mix handmixer. Much better. Sent using BlackBerry® from Orange
Thanks Anyway, i went down to asda on saturday and could not see the one on gbbo but i bought a standard basic one that was reduced for £12 to £5. Maybe yours was an older model. not to worry if it is a fail as i have my kenwood kmix in black for emergency backup!!!
there it is in all its basic glory!!
Thank you Lovely, for a truly wonderful blog Jo xxxx
Hey, thank YOU for the recipe! X
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I love peanut butter cookies. These are on my very long list of recipes to try from Jo’s new book! It really is a beautiful book. I’m going to make the chocolate and strawberry swiss roll today, it looks divine.
It is such a stunning book. I would be chuffed to bits to write one even half as good. Hats off to lovely Jo. Xxx Sent using BlackBerry® from Orange
I love the sound of these, I will definitely have to give them a try. My only use for peanut butter is usually eating it out of the jar with a spoon!
Made them today too with my son, very easy with a six year old, short cooking time so he could eat them quickly…always an important factor. The peanut flavour was not over powering and I used peanut m&m instead, this worked well too. An enjoyable baking session with a young child.