I was so
excited…I started to do a little dance of joy…I had successfully, for the first
time EVER made my favorite Christmas cookie!!!!!!!The one my Gram and only my Gram ever made
because none of us has the patience to try it.The one I have been craving.The
one I try every few years and have an epic fail and the meltdown of frustration
and disappointment and sadness that accompanies the fail.But this year, I had done it!!!!!!Then I tried to slice the 2nd log
oh no I had celebrated too soon!!!The chocolate
inside had set too much and was starting to crack!!!!!I tried to remain calm (and not slice off my
finger) as I eased the knife through the hardened chocolate, pressing and
holding the peanut butter sides in place. It worked, mostly, the cookies did not completely
crumble as they had in years past but bear a resemblance to the swirled cookies
they are supposed to be.I have one tray
of perfect Peanut Butter Whirligigs and one tray of passable but yummy Peanut
Butter Whirligigs so I guess I succeeded (I didn’t slice off my finger so that’s
a win).
The cookies
are Peanut Butter Whirligigs, a yummy combination of peanut butter cookie
spread with melted chocolate chips that are rolled and sliced.They are wonderful!!!!The trick is not to chill the rolls too long,
even the few extra minutes the 2nd roll was in the fridge was almost
disastrous. 30 minutes was the magic
number today.The other trick is when
spreading the chocolate and rolling the cookies work in 2 batches and work
quickly so the chocolate doesn’t set.Next year I will master these cookies!!!Try them, they are worth every second of work and frustration.
So after
writing this and taking pictures and eating a few I decided that I like the not
so perfect ones best.The shape is
intriguing and not all the same and the chocolate dispersal is more pleasing to
my palate.
So I guess the whole batch
was a success after all.
½ cup shortening ½ cup granulated sugar ½ cup brown sugar ½ cup peanut butter 1 egg 1 ¼ cup flour ½ tsp baking soda ½ tsp salt 6-8 oz chocolate chips, melted
Combine shortening, granulated sugar, brown sugar,
and peanut butter until fluffy. Add egg. Mix in flour, baking soda, and salt.
Dump dough onto wax paper. Cover with another sheet
of wax paper. Roll into a rectangle ¼ inch thick. Melt chocolate and spread on dough. Roll dough jelly roll style. Wrap and chill.
Preheat oven to 375. Slice roll into ¼ slices. Place slices on baking sheet lined with parchment
paper.
Bake 10-12 minutes.
Makes
3-4 dozen
NOTE: My Gram always rolled between 2 sheets of wax
paper, it is a quick, clean, nonstick rolling surface and it helps when rolling
into a jelly roll.
It is helpful to cut dough into 2 rectangles. Melt
half the chocolate, spread on 1 roll, roll up & chill. If the chocolate
hardens before rolling it is a disaster.
