Peanut Toffee Cookies

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This is my second attempt at these peanut and toffee treats. I made a batch for Christmas and thought of something new to try right after I made it. I wanted to chop the peanuts to match the size of the toffee bits and rice cereal. Shaping them with a mold was also part of the plan this time rather than letting them harden into free form clusters.

I used mini-whoopie pie pans for molds and they worked fine except that it was tough getting them out. I had to use a knife and I nearly lost a finger in the process of freeing them. I think I’m going to try a silicone mold that will allow me to pop them out next time. I also bent one of the whoopie pie pans rather severely thinking that if I gave it a twist, the little cookies would fall right out. Wrong. All I did was deform a $12 pan.

Chopping the nuts seemed to change the whole complexion of the treat. Without the whole peanuts, the end product seemed like a candy bar center and it just screamed for a chocolate coating – but that will have to be a final touch for the next time.

Despite the mold or coating, I highly recommend trying these. They are delicious. I’m proud to finally have a candy treat of my own – even if it's a work in progress!

BEHIND THIS BITE
I took these to a meeting and I’m surprised at how fast they went. A few ate more than two. I believe that cookies are like beer, once you go past a couple, chances are you're over-indulging. Needless to say I was very pleased that some liked them that much.

Deserts and sweets are something I need to make more of. The best part about this is that it’s still a work in progress and people are already snatching them up – a chocolate coating might take this out of the park!

Eat well, cook often ...

THE RECIPE
Makes 30 treats; 2 hours 30 minutes
1 lb Vanilla candy coating
1/2 C Creamy peanut butter
1 1/2 C Dry roasted peanuts, chopped
1 C Crispy rice cereal
1 C English toffee bits

Melt candy coating, ad peanut butter
In a microwave or a double boiler melt the vanilla candy coating, once completely melted stir in peanut butter.

Stir in peanuts, cereal and toffee
Take mixture off heat and stir in peanuts, crispy rice cereal and toffee bits until well incorporated.

Scoop and cool
In tablespoon-sized scoops, place mixture into molds of 2 prepared mini-whoopie pie pans. Makes about 48 treats. Put in a cool place for 2 hours to let candies set completely, remove from molds then serve.

Peanut Butter Cookies with Bits of Toffee

Recenlty my aunt, who is also a good friend and mentor, was informed that she was in for a pretty tough fight, health-wise. This prompted those who know and care about her to organize a benefit to help with the cost of expensive medicines and treatments that she will need to prolong her life.

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Part of the benefit involved a bake sale. I really don’t have much experience with baking. Most of the dishes I make seem to be what one would typically eat while watching football. I took the bake sale as a challenge and decided to make cookies.

My favorite candy bar is a Heath Bar – made of chocolate covered toffee. My favorite cookie is peanut butter. For this recipe, I combine the two, and create a peanut butter cookie with chunks of toffee covered in milk chocolate. It took me a couple of tries to perfect, but in the end, I was able crank out a large quantity for the bake sale and every one of them sold. The benefit was a great success and it inspired me to create a yummy new cookie recipe.

BEHIND THIS BITE

Recently on this blog, I mentioned that I was back living in New York City. I had been there for almost a month with my girlfriend when my aunt got sick. I decided (with my girlfriend's blessing) that it was a good idea to be around my family to help out with the situation. I packed up my belongings and returned to Churubusco, Indiana.

My aunt was diagnosed with lung cancer and given 18 months to live.

It was a huge shock to our close-knit family.  Everyone is dealing with it well and my aunt has settled into her treatments and is doing great, given the circumstances. I've been spending Wednesday evenings with her. We hang out in the kitchen and I've used those nights to experiment with recipes.

This cookie recipe was created in her kitchen.

The first batch was a disaster, the second was good. The third try - well, this is the third try. These cookies are outrageously good and you get lots with this recipe. After all, it's designed for a bake sale. For a snack version at home, just use half of all the ingredients.

Life can throw a punch from time to time, so you always need to be prepared to remain upright once one lands. I'm grateful to be in a situation that allows me to spend time in New York and then, if I need to, back in Indiana with my family. I hope my aunt can defy the odds and make it through this disease, and I hope to make many more recipes with her.

Eat well, cook often ...