Wednesday, January 18, 2017

Peanut Butter - Nutella Marble Cookies


15 years ago I gave myself a punching bag and set of boxing  gloves for Christmas. I was trying to work through some "stuff" that was making me a bit too cantankerous. I immediately set up my gift and began to punch away with 80s music blaring. The singing along and punching to the beat became a daily routine. One day, my desire to rid my life of any misplaced aggression had me swinging a bit over zealously. My right shoulder was throbbing. For a few weeks I was unable to use my right arm for much of anything. I was unable to pick up my toddler, load or unload groceries, fold laundry, and certainly my hair and makeup were a little "off".
Throughout the years as I've gotten older, I'm able to identify my physical limits a bit better. So on days like today where I kinda wish the ol' punching bag was still  hanging in the garage, I head to my Kitchenaid instead.
Today I'm blending two cookies into a fun marblely mix. I begin by making a batch of Peanut Butter Cookies and a batch of Nutella Cookies.

Peanut Butter-Nutella Marble Cookies
Make a batch of
Peanut Butter Cookies:
1/2 cup butter-flavored shortening
1/2 cup soft butter
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup peanut butter
2 eggs
2 tsp. Vanilla
2 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
Cream shortening, butter, sugars and peanut butter until smooth.  Stir in eggs and vanilla. Mix in dry ingredients.

Make a batch of Nutella Cookies:
1/2 cup butter-flavored shortening
1/2 cup soft butter
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup Nutella
2 eggs
2 tsp. Vanilla
1/2 cup cocoa ( I used Hershey's special dark)
2 1/4 cups flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
Cream shortening, butter, sugars and peanut butter until smooth.  Stir in eggs and vanilla. Mix in dry ingredients.

Make equal sized balls of each kind of dough and flatten one on top of the other.
  Next, break the dough disc in half and stack. You now have four layers of dough in alternating flavors.
 Break in half and stack again. Now, roll into a ball. You will see the marble effect.



Flatten slightly and chill or freeze for 24+ hours; or - if it's a cookie emergency, bake immediately for 10-14 minutes at 375 degrees.

This batch  makes a lot!! So keep your eye out for anyone who may threaten to have a bit of misplaced emotion, someone unable to use their right arm due to over zealous punching, or for certain if you hear 80s music blaring and someone singing loud and proud and completely off key...share these cookies!
If you spot someone who is a bit too cantankerous, has a bum right arm, and you hear a one-armed assault on a punching bag with 80s music blaring mixed with awful singing, give her ALL the cookies and an XL diet soda. 😋

**This recipe has been created at high elevation. Decrease flour by a tablespoon or two depending on location.