I’m normally very diligent with time and I’m always early. My husband is the organized one and I’m the one that gets us to appointments and places on time and gets deadlines completed on time, or with time to spare. I’m a morning person and a task and deadline oriented type of personality that thrives on working hard efficiently to play hard. Or at least I always thought I was.
But, this morning, I don’t know what came over me…I missed the school bus. This is huge. I’ve never missed the school bus in two years. I was ready and wide awake, lunch packed, homework done, headlines read and everything was ready in the stroller to take our two block walk over to the bus stop. Then, I couldn’t find my keys and then I opened the door and it was surprisingly chilly and so I needed to get jackets on the kids at the last-minute. I could have sworn I had more time. I thought I saw the bus and so we started running up and sure enough, the other moms told me I had missed it. The bus came two minutes early.
Of course it did. Because why wouldn’t it?
They always say, “be there ten minutes early,” but normally it’s a few minutes late, if anything. See, this is the problem with statistics and chance (and my gambling with time, just this one time, this morning). If something happens ninety-nine percent of the time one way, that doesn’t mean that it’s definitely going to happen that way again the next time.
I know this. But, my brain just didn’t work this morning. So, what to do about it?
Well, thankfully a very kind neighbor of mine took Trey to school for me since I don’t have a car and I don’t drive (I blog at home, so there’s not much of a need for it). But, I had already texted Mike (on his commute to work) and said that I had missed the bus and so he turned around to help us out and didn’t get the second text while he was in a dead zone saying I (we) had it covered already. So, without rambling anymore about my idiocy…
I’ll sum up the story with this: I ended up making everyone go out of their way because of my mistake.
Time to bake some cookies.
So I went home and broke out my cookie supplies and went to my old standby. Peanut butter chocolate chip cookies. They’re a hybrid cookie recipe of two classics. The hint of peanut butter and the generous amount of chocolate throughout the dough makes them a favorite. They’re perfectly classic and deliciously child-friendly. A massively appealing way to say, “thank you”.
Though, at the rate I’m going this morning in the luck department, I just hope my very kind neighbors don’t have any food allergies I’m unaware of. I’ll have to ask and hope my luck turns around for the afternoon. Keep your fingers crossed for me.
Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip “Thank You” Cookies
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup butter, at room temperature
- 1/2 cup roasted peanut butter
- 3/4 cup packed dark brown sugar
- 3/4 cup white sugar
- 2 eggs at room temperature
- 2 tablespoons heavy cream or whole milk
- 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 cups chopped semisweet chocolate (plus more for the tops of the cookies, as needed)
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and line two baking sheets with parchment paper (for easy cleanup).
- Using an electric mixer on high speed, cream together the butter, peanut butter, brown sugar, and white sugar in a metal or glass mixing bowl until velvety smooth. Add in the eggs one at a time, beating thoroughly after each egg is added on high speed. Add cream and vanilla and mix once more until combined.
- In a separate mixing bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients: flour, baking soda, salt.
- Stir dry ingredients into the wet peanut butter mixture in two additions, mixing after each addition on low speed. Fold in chocolate chunks until combined. Using a rounded tablespoon measure, drop cookies onto prepared baking sheets.
- Bake for 8-9 minutes in the preheated oven, turning half way through, if desired (I do this, since my oven is slightly uneven) or until edges are golden but not completely browned.
- Allow cookies to cool for 2 minutes on the cookie sheet before removing to wire racks to cool completely.
- Store in air tight container once cooled for two days, or freeze for up to one month (thaw before eating, though).
- ½ cup butter, at room temperature
- ½ cup roasted peanut butter
- ¾ cup packed dark brown sugar
- ¾ cup white sugar
- 2 eggs at room temperature
- 2 tablespoons heavy cream or whole milk
- 1½ teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 cups chopped semisweet chocolate (plus more for the tops of the cookies, as needed).
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and line two baking sheets with parchment paper (for easy cleanup) or alternately, just use ungreased baking sheets.
- Using an electric mixer on high speed, cream together the butter, peanut butter, brown sugar and white sugar in a metal or glass mixing bowl until velvety smooth. Add in the eggs one at a time, beating thoroughly after each egg is added on high speed. Add cream and vanilla and mix once more until combined.
- In a separate mixing bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients: flour, baking soda, salt.
- Add dry ingredients into the wet (peanut butter) mixture in two additions, mixing after each addition on low speed with the mixer until combined.
- Fold in chocolate chunks until combined. Using a rounded tablespoon measure, drop cookies onto prepared baking sheets.
- Add a few additional chocolate chips to the tops of cookies, as needed.
- Bake for 8-9 minutes in the preheated oven, turning half way through, if desired (I do this, since my oven is slightly uneven) or until edges are golden but not completely browned.
- Allow cookies to cool for 2 minutes on the cookie sheet before removing and placing onto wire racks to cool completely.
- Store in air tight container once cooled for two days, or freeze for up to one month (thaw before eating, though).
These cookies look fantastic. A great apology!!
I’ll take your kids to school anytime for a batch of these cookies
Such a nice thank you…I’m certain your neighbors will be thrilled.
Dear Kate, these cookies sound wonderful. I am sure the neighbors will enjoy them very much. Blessings to you, Catherine xo
Don’t put too much pressure on yourself. Everyone makes mistakes, but not everyone can make cookies like these
Sounds like such a delicious thank you! Bookmarked. Thanks!
Awww. There is no way to say thank you/sorry than cookies! These look delicious.
Gorgeous cookies. A classic combination in a new classic of a cookie. Have a great week and save some of these for me! Yummy!
Beautiful! I just love the tips and your story is just perfect. Great recipe!
Very glad you were able to bake yourself out of a jam. Not everyone can do that, you know. Mad skills. Great work.
I agree, a classic in the making. Beautiful photo!
LOL! I’m the most disorganized hot mess you’ve ever met, so this is nothing compared to what I have going on. Don’t worry too much. So kind of your neighbor to help out. We should all be like that.
Great cookies. I’d probably eat some for myself too. They look too good to ignore and just give away!
That is so generous of your neighbour
These cookies truly are the best way to say thank you!
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Classic combination. Perfect for anyone!
Amazeballs, Kate. Nicely executed. Too bad about the bus, but hey…at least you have some great people to help you out.
Isn’t that always the way? Happens to the best of us. Great cookies.
Love love love the recipe. Great post!
Great recipe. Don’t sweat the small stuff. I do stuff like that ALL the time. haha.
A perfect way to say thank you, or …anything else for that matter. I think I may make a batch just for me. Yum!
Amazing..why have I never done this before? So perfectly simple and yet I’ve never thought about it. I love your stories! You remind me of me.
Even though it was a tough morning for you, it was definitely your neighbor’s lucky day receiving a batch of these cookies. Who needs flowers?
I make cookies when I need to say thank you too. Great recipe!
These look amazing. I love that they’re so perfectly put together in the little box too. Great tips! A classic in the making.
haha. This happens to me almost every day. Consider yourself lucky to be a natural morning person. These cookies will make everyone happy, no matter what I did that particular day… Definitely a keeper recipe. Thank you.
My grandmother always had a sign in her kitchen that read “The hurrier I go, the behinder I get!” I hate when I have a lot of time and then am completely late…it must be in the genes! Great cookie recipe!!