Million Dollar Peanut Butter Cookies

LITERALLY people….the genius AKA Caolyn Gurtz who created this recipe literally won a million dollars for these.

It's a twist on the classic peanut butter cookie. Crunchy outside, creamy inside, with just a hint of cinnamon.

A real winner.

Ingredients:

Makes 24 cookies

• 1/4 cup Fisher dry-roasted peanuts , finely chopped
  
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  
• 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
  
• 1/2 cup JIF creamy peanut butter
  
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
  
• 1 roll (16.5 ounces) Pillsbury refrigerated peanut butter cookies , well chilled
  
• Crisco original no-stick cooking spray
  

Directions:

Heat oven to 375°. In small bowl, mix chopped peanuts, granulated sugar and cinnamon; set aside.

In another small bowl, stir peanut butter and powdered sugar until completely blended. Shape mixture into 24 balls, about 1 inch each.

Cut roll of cookie dough into 12 slices. Cut each slice in half crosswise to make 24 pieces; flatten slightly. Shape 1 cookie dough piece around 1 peanut butter ball, covering completely. Repeat with remaining dough and balls.

Roll each covered ball in peanut mixture; gently pat mixture completely onto balls. On ungreased large cookie sheets, place balls 2 inches apart. Spray bottom of drinking glass with Crisco original no-stick cooking spray; press into remaining peanut mixture. Flatten each ball to 1/2-inch thickness with bottom of glass. Sprinkle any remaining peanut mixture evenly on tops of cookies; gently press into dough.

Bake 7 to 12 minutes or until edges are golden brown. Cool 1 minute; remove from cookie sheets to cooling rack. Store tightly covered.

Recipe created by Carolyn Gurtz, winner of the 2008 Pillsbury Bake-Off Contest