There are very few nights where we don’t have a guest sitting at our dinner table. Although I put a lot of thought into our main dishes, I have to say, dessert sometimes gets the short end of the stick when I am entertaining.
I happened upon this recipe for peanut butter cookies that will make a regular appearance for busy weeknight invitations though! The recipe yields between two to three dozen (depending on the size of your scoops) and is made from items out of your pantry. Best of all, you can get all the ingredients at Aldi, which is a bonus in my book!
Be sure to keep the cooking time to the ten to twelve minutes and don’t let the lighter color fool you. I had some burnt cookies in my first batch because I left them in the oven too long. Let them cool as instructed and then place them on a pretty plate for serving. Then you need to complete the most difficult step of all…Try to graciously accept the compliments without giving away your cooking secrets (which I never can do myself!).
I piled these on one of my trays with a carafe of decaf coffee, mugs, creamers, and and special coffee syrups. It was the perfect way to end an evening and I look forward to serving these again and again!
Elaine’s Peanut Butter Cookies (Courtesy of AllRecipes.com)
1 (18.25 ounce) package yellow cake mix
1 cup creamy peanut butter
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 eggs
2 tablespoons water
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. Pour the cake mix into a large bowl. Make a well in the center, and add peanut butter, oil, eggs, and water. Mix until well blended. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets. Flatten slightly using a fork dipped in water.
3. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes in the preheated oven. Let cookies set on cookie sheet for 2 to 3 minutes before carefully removing from the cookie sheet to cool on wire racks.
I am curious, what is your go-to dessert dish when you are having company? I would love some new desserts to add to our dinner table!
STUMBLE This
Add to KiRTSY
Add to MIXX
It's DELICIOUS
24 Responses to “Company is Coming: Fast Peanut Butter Cookies”
We LOVE peanut butter cookies around here, so I’ll have to try that recipe. They look great!
We don’t do a lot of entertaining, but my go-to dessert would be a pan of peanut butter brownines. I guess, technically, they’re more like blondies since there’s no chocolate – they’re awesome. I’ll have to find the link.
I’m impressed to hear how often you have someone else at your dinner table. Hospitality is definitely an area I need to work on.
[Reply]
I have to say brownies and they usually aren’t from scratch. This past weekend I did make a strawberry pretzel dessert that was tasty. Bottom layer, crushed pretzels, butter and a little sugar (once hard), large strawberry jell-o, cool-wip, and sugar (once it thickens) poor it over the pretzels!
[Reply]
I love your blog! Thanks for all the work you put into it. I have you on my blog list, and check in often!
We have an easy brownie recipe we like to make:
1 stick butter
1 C. sugar
1/2 C. self-rising flour
5 t. cocoa
2 eggs
1 C. chocolate chips (opt)
Heat oven to 400. Melt butter in a 8×8 in pan. While it’s melting, mix the dry ingredients together, then add eggs, and mix well. When butter is melted, pour it over other ingredients, stir well. Stir in chocolate chips, and pour all back into the pan. Bake for about 20 minutes.
Also, did you know you can make peanut butter cookies with only 3 ingredients?! Mix 1 C. peanut butter, 1 C. sugar, and 1 egg together. Roll into balls and press with fork. Bake at 375. These are so delicious!
[Reply]
These cookies sound yummy! I can’t wait to try them. Here’s my quick and easy dessert recipe: http://peanutbutterandjell-e.blogspot.com/2008/09/fun-twist.html
[Reply]
Thanks Amy! I wonder what these would taste like made with chocolate cake mix…. maybe a notebook experiment?!? : )
[Reply]
Christi- Hospitality is definitely something I am working on. I am not always the most gracious hostess, but I do my best with two little ones and try to accommodate and open our table up as much as we can to others.
Colleen- That sounds really yummy!!
Laura- I was wondering about other cake mixes myself- I wonder how good those would taste. I just might have to give it a try
Renee- That sounds delicious too! YUM!
Teachermom- What a great recipe- thank you so much for sharing and I am so glad you are enjoying the site!!
[Reply]
Don’t let her fool you…..Amy is a MOST gracious hostess!
[Reply]
Hello,
These look SO delicious — and who doesn’t like peanut butter?!
My pb cookies always turn out just a little too crispy; I think I may be cooking them just a tad too long.
Take Care,
Trixie
[Reply]
My go to dessert is brownies. From a box. They're quick & easy and I always stock the pantry with them when they're on sale for $1/box (the family size). We typically have ice cream in the house so add a scoop of that with a warm brownie and maybe some caramel or chocolate sauce.
We love peanut butter at our house; I'll have to try the recipe. And, I had to make another batch of your Cinnamon Bread Delight this weekend. It is a favorite now of our girls. Thanks for sharing. I love your site.
[Reply]
Have you tried peach cobbler the easy way? You just spray a Pyrex dish with non-stick cooking spray. Then you pour in a large can of peaches (whatever kind you want). Then top it with yellow cake mix ($.88 at Wal-Mart) and a stick of melted butter. Put it in the oven at 350 until it looks done (30 minutes or so). Served warm with ice cream is the best!!
[Reply]
I LOVE allrecipes AND peanut butter cookies, can’t wait to try these out!!
If I have a little notice, I love to make a stripe it rich cake…for me that usually involves boxed cake made per the instructions (usually I substitute applesauce for oil to up the healthy factor) then when the cake is cooled, pour jello (mixed per the package but not set) over the cake. Cool and frost – super moist and yummy!
[Reply]
When I was a teenager… like the late 70’s… lol… I made my chocolate Chip cookies out of a white cake mix and they were the best!
We’ll have to try the p.b ones.
[Reply]
I have a recipe very similar to this, but you use a box of devils food cake mix instead. You get chocolate peanut butter cookies…so delicous!!
[Reply]
We live in Florida, so ice cream is always a welcome treat. I used to make it myself but don’t do it all that often any more. A bowl of vanilla ice cream topped with sweet juicy canned peaches, pears, or other fruit with just a drizzle of chocolate sauce and sometimes a grate of fresh cinnamon usually is a big hit. Yummy!
[Reply]
i LOVE pb cookies! i’ll hv to try these out. LOVE your blog and all your great ideas like this!
here’s a super yummy and EASY dessert i had at a friend’s house the other night. i’m not sure what to call it. maybe u can think of a name?
line the bottom a glass casserole dish with mini ice cream sandwiches. in a separate bowl, mix 1 TB of kahlua (or more, or less, to taste) with a package of cool whip (or your favorite brand of frozen whipped cream). cover the ice cream sandwiches with whipped cream topping mix. crumble chocolate toffee candy bar (like heath bar) into small chunks and sprinkle on top. cut it like a cake and serve. voila! it’s super yummy and appears more complicated than it actually is.
[Reply]
Fruit cobblers or a crisp. Such an easy thing to throw together and always good with some whipped cream or ice cream. And the left overs are my favorite breakfast!
[Reply]
Sally- Crisp or cobbler for breakfast…now that’s my kind of girl! I know we would be best friends if we lived closer
[Reply]
We love “Dump” Cake. . .
Dump a can of crushed pineapple in the bottom of a 9×13 pyrex. Dump a can of fruit pie filling (we like cherry or blueberry) on top of the pineapple. Dump a box of yellow cake mix evenly across the top. Place butter pats all over the top. Bake at 350 degrees until top is bubbly and golden brown.
This is great because you can keep all ingredients on hand and buy when they are on sale.
[Reply]
That’s my kind of cooking…quick and easy=)
[Reply]
My go to recipe is Apple Dumpling Cake on allrecipes.com – it is a no fail recipe that always receives compliments.
[Reply]
My go to dessert is apple or cherry turnovers. I use a pie pastry crust (from Aldi) and roll it out then cut it into sections. Put a little canned apple or cherry pie filling, cover with another piece of the pastry and cook for about 10-15 minutes. Simple, easy and fast. top with a scoop of ice cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon (for apple)
[Reply]
If i want to get fancy, strawberry shortcake when they are in season. mmm Other than that, a simple brownie from scratch plus vanilla ice cream is always good.
[Reply]
how about 3 ingredient peanut butter cookies?
1 c brown sugar
1 c peanut butter
1 egg
Bake for 15 minutes at 350°F
A hershey’s kiss can be pressed into the top after baking if desired.
Nice thing about these cookies is that in most cases you have all the ingredients.
[Reply]
The cookies sound delish!!
Our usual go-to dessert is brownies. I use Betty Crocker SUPREME box mix, mixing in 3 eggs (in the directions section of suggestions for cake-like brownies), baked in a 9×9 airbake pan. Then I put frosting on top when mostly cooled. If we have ice cream, we make ice cream brownie sundaes (warm up the brownie in the microwave – YUM!). If I don’t have time for brownies, I’ll usually bake cookies (usually a Betty Crocker pouch mix or refrigerator pack from Pillsbury or Nestle).
[Reply]