Peanut Butter Cut-Out Cookies

These are a nice change from the traditional butter sugar cookie. Peanut Butter Lovers will enjoy these. You can find this recipe in the 2003 Country Woman Christmas Cookbook, as well as the Taste of Home's 2004 Treasury of Christmas Recipes Cookbook.

• Ready In: 2 hrs 18 mins
• Yields: 54 cookies

Ingredients

• 1⁄2 cup butter, softened
• 1  cup creamy peanut butter
• 3⁄4 cup sugar
• 3⁄4 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
• 2  large eggs
• 1⁄3 cup milk
• 1  teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 1⁄2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1⁄2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1⁄2 teaspoon baking soda
•  vanilla frosting
•  assorted  colored crystal sugar
•  candy sprinkles

Directions

1. In a large mixing bowl, cream butter, peanut butter and sugars.
2. Beat in the eggs, milk and vanilla.
3. Combine the flour, baking powder & baking soda; add to creamed mixture and mix well.
4. Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours or until easy to handle.
5. On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to 1/4-inch thickness.
6. Cut with 2-inch to 4-inch cookie cutters.
7. Place 2-inches apart on ungreased baking sheets.
8. Bake at 375° for 7-9 minutes, or until firm, and edges are golden brown.
9. Cool for 1 minute, before removing from pans to wire rack to cool completely.
10. Frost and decorate as desired.
11. Note: This recipe states to bake the cookies in a 375° degree oven, but I prefer to bake them in 350° oven.