logo

THE SEMISWEET SISTERS

Two sisters who love to bake...

Peanut Butter Cookies Recipe

By 2 Comments

A Classic Peanut Butter Cookie Recipe. Soft & Chewy.

Peanut Butter Cookie Recipe

Peanut butter cookies!  This is another recipe I got from my aunt a long time ago & it’s one of my favorites. This is one cookie that I never tire of eating. I’m pretty sure I could eat these everyday for the rest of my life & still not get sick of them.  I make this recipe way too often because I love it that much.

Peanut Butter Cookies

This recipe is easy to make & the cookies always turn out the same every time, I wish I could say the same about every cookie recipe I’ve tried. ;) I think it’s important to use melted butter with this recipe, if I only use softened butter (room temperature) then these cookies don’t have quite the same texture. These cookies are sweet but full of peanut butter flavor & they are soft which I love.

Makes about  2 1/2 dozen cookies (I usually end up with about 32 cookies).

Peanut Butter Cookies
 
Print
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
Recipe type: Cookies
Serves: 32
Ingredients
  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • ½ cup packed brown sugar
  • ½ cup (1 stick) butter, melted (microwave for 25-30 seconds)
  • ½ cup smooth peanut butter
  • 1 large egg
  • ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. In a medium sized mixing bowl add sugar, brown sugar, & butter together & stir until creamy. Add peanut butter, egg, & vanilla & stir until smooth & creamy.
  3. Add flour & baking soda & stir until well combined.
  4. Scoop or roll dough into 1 inch balls & place on ungreased cookie sheets. Flatten each ball using a fork making a criss-cross pattern on top.
  5. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until edges start to slightly brown. (Don't over bake or your cookies will turn out hard).

 

Share

Mom’s Coleslaw

By 2 Comments

Mom's Coleslaw Recipe

I have tried so many coleslaw recipes over the years, and after I found this recipe I quit trying others. My mom LOVES this recipe that is how it got its name. I even have a big star on the top of my paper copy that says “mom’s favorite” on it. I have made this so many times and it always turns out perfect. Even when I don’t have buttermilk on hand I will substitute (1/4 cup regular milk, add 1/2 teaspoon white vinegar or lemon juice and let sit 5 min. then add to mixture).  I also don’t recommend using light mayo or miracle whip because it won’t taste the same. Don’t forget to let it sit for a few hours in the refrigerator before you make it.

 IMG_2164

Mom's Coleslaw
 
Print
Prep time
Total time
 
Author:
Recipe type: Side dish
Serves: 10
Ingredients
  • ½ cup mayonnaise
  • ⅓ cup sugar
  • ¼ cup milk
  • ¼ cup buttermilk
  • 2½ tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1½ tablespoons white vinegar
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ⅛ teaspoon pepper
  • 1 tablespoon dried minced onion or 2 tablespoon fresh minced onion
  • 1 bag of shredded cabbage or shred about ½ head fresh.
  • ¼ cup shredded carrots (optional)
Instructions
  1. Combine mayonnaise, sugar, milk, buttermilk, lemon juice, vinegar, salt, pepper, and minced onion in large bowl. Mix until smooth.
  2. Add the cabbage and carrots and mix well.
  3. Cover and refrigerate for 2-3 hours.

I have tried so many coleslaw recipes over the years, and after I found this recipe I quit trying others. My mom LOVES this recipe, that is how it got it’s name. I even have a big star on the top of my paper copy that says “mom’s favorite” on it. I have made this so many times and it always turns out perfect. Even when I don’t have buttermilk on hand and have to use the substitute (1/4 cup regular milk, add 1/2 teaspoon white vinegar or lemon juice and let sit 5 min. then add to mixture).  I also don’t recommend using light mayo or miracle whip because it won’t taste the same. Don’t forget to let it sit for a few hours in the refrigerator before you make it.

Share

Peanut Butter Chocolate Bars

By Leave a Comment

peanut butter choclate barsPeanut Butter Bars….

About 10 years ago, I got this recipe from my cousin. The funny thing is she does not cook or bake but she thought this recipe looked good, so she ripped it out of a magazine and asked me to make it for her. I changed a few things around over the years to get it just right, but every time I make it someone asks for the recipe. This is also one of my husband’s favorites. He likes anything peanut butter and/or butterscotch. They are very easy to make, just make sure you leave enough time for the chocolate to get solid before you serve them, probably about 2 hours in the fridge or if you live in northern Indiana with 9 months of winter like I do, just put them outside.

Peanut Butter Oatmeal Chocolate Bars

 
Print
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
Author:
Recipe type: Dessert
Serves: 15
Ingredients
  • ⅔ cup soft butter
  • ¼ cup peanut butter
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • ¼ cup corn syrup
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla
  • 4 cups quick oats
  • 1 cup chocolate chips
  • ½ cup butterscotch chips
  • ⅓ cup peanut butter
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
  2. In medium bowl mix butter, peanut butter, and brown sugar until creamy.
  3. Then add corn syrup, vanilla, and oats and mix until well blended.
  4. Press evenly into the bottom of a greased 9x13 pan.
  5. Bake for 12-14 minutes at 400 degrees.
  6. While this is baking, melt chocolate chips, butterscotch chips and peanut butter in a small pan on medium-low heat or microwave in 30 second intervals. Don't overheat or the mixture will harden.
  7. When the oat mixture is done pull out of oven and pour the sauce over the top.
  8. Let cool in refrigerator until top becomes solid.

 

peanut butter chocolate bars

Share

Vanilla Buttercream Frosting Recipe

By Leave a Comment

This is my favorite vanilla buttercream frosting recipe for frosting cupcakes.

Vanilla Buttercream Frosting

I have newly discovered the ingredient vanilla bean paste (amazon affiliate) and found that it works great for making vanilla frosting. It does not contain any alcohol like vanilla extract so you end up with a richer creamier vanilla flavor plus it contains real vanilla bean seeds in it. However before discovering vanilla bean paste I made it the traditional way with vanilla extract so don’t worry if you don’t have any you can just use pure vanilla extract instead.

Depending on what your using the buttercream frosting for whether it’s for cupcakes, a cake, or cookies you will have to adjust the consistency to suit your needs. The recipe below is what I like to use when I’m piping cupcakes so it’s fairly stiff and hold its shape well. If I was going to use it to frost a cake I would make the consistency slightly thinner by adding more whipping cream so it would spread easier. If you want the frosting thicker then just add more powdered sugar to thicken it up.

 

Vanilla Buttercream Frosting
 
Print
Prep time
Total time
 
Creamy Vanilla Buttercream Frosting
Author:
Recipe type: Frosting
Ingredients
  • 3½ tablespoons heavy whipping creme
  • 2½ cups powdered sugar
  • 6 tablespoons butter, softened
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla bean paste (may substitute with vanilla extract)
Instructions
  1. Combine ingredients & beat on medium speed with mixer until the consistence you want has been reached. Add a little extra whipping creme if you want the frosting thinner or add more powered sugar to thicken it.

 

Share

Vanilla Cupcake Recipe

By Leave a Comment

Light and moist vanilla cupcakes topped with vanilla buttercream frosting & sprinkles.

Vanilla Cupcake Recipe

For years I have searched and tried to find a vanilla cupcake recipe that I would like enough to make again and again. I think this recipe is a keeper because I’ve made it at least 25 times now.  I didn’t realize I was so picky when it came to vanilla cupcakes but I truly am. I expect a vanilla cupcake to be light, moist, tasty, and full of vanilla flavor. This recipe sort of reminds me of store bought cupcakes but only in the good ways.  I think that the sour cream is one of the secret ingredients that make this cupcake recipe so good!

This recipe makes about 18 cupcakes. I usually use one cupcake pan that holds 12 cupcakes & one that holds 6 when I make these. Source: this recipe was adapted from cupcake project.

Vanilla Cupcakes

Vanilla Cupcake Recipe
 
Print
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
Author:
Recipe type: Cupcakes
Serves: 18
Ingredients
  • 1¾ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1½ teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • ¼ cup soybean oil or vegetable oil
  • ⅓ cup sour cream
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • ⅔ cup milk (I used 2%)
Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line cupcake pan with paper liners.
  2. In a medium sized mixing bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, & salt & mix together. In another bowl cream sugar & butter together with electric mixer until light & fluffy.
  3. Add the creamed butter & sugar to the flour mixture & mix on medium-low speed for about a minute, you will end up with a crumb texture.
  4. Add eggs, oil, sour cream, & vanilla to the flour mixture & beat on medium speed until just combined.
  5. Slowly add in the milk on low speed until just combined.
  6. Fill cupcake liners ½ full. Bake for 14-16 minutes. Insert toothpick in center of a cupcake until it comes out clean or you can gently tap the top of the cupcake with your finger, if it springs back its done.
  7. Remove from oven & let cool in pan for a few minutes then move to a wire rack to finish cooling.

FROSTING– To frost the cupcakes I used my favorite vanilla buttercream frosting recipe.

Share

Connect With Us