Caitlin's Peanut Butter Cookies

My mom used to make these for me, and me for my daughter--now when she comes home I get her to make a batch for me! Simple, satisfying, and they smell great when they're cooking!

• Ready In: 35 mins
• Yields: 24-36 cookies

Ingredients

• 1⁄2 cup brown sugar
• 1⁄2 cup white sugar
• 1⁄2 cup butter, softened
• 1  egg
• 1  cup crunchy peanut butter
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
• 1⁄2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 1⁄2 cups flour
• 1  teaspoon vanilla

• Optional

• 1  cup  semisweet chocolate chunk (optional)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. Beat butter in large mixing bowl till soft.
3. Add sugars gradually to butter, blending till creamy.
4. Beat in egg, peanut butter, salt, and baking soda, till well combined.
5. Add flour to the batter, mixing well, then vanilla.
6. If using, add the chocolate chunks at this point. Batter will be stiff.
7. Roll dough into small balls and place on greased cookie sheet.
8. With the tines of a fork, press 'tic-tac-toe' design into cookies. These don't spread too much, so you'll be flattening them to about 1/2-inch high.
9. If you used chocolate chunks, the pattern won't be perfect--that's fine!
10. Bake about 15 minutes, till golden brown.
11. Remove carefully while still warm, and let cool on wire rack.