Peanut Butter Baskets

Submitted to Recipe Goldmine by ltlgranny (Linda)

About 5 dozen

Rich, buttery cookies become more delightful still topped with peanut butter cups and candy. Use appropriately colored decorations to match occasions at any time of the year.

3/4 cup creamy peanut butter
1/2 cup shortening
3/4 cup granulated sugar, divided
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 large egg
2 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
30 miniature peanut butter cups, halved
60 cake decorator candy flowers
30 green gumdrops

Heat oven to 350 degrees F. DO NOT grease baking sheets.

In mixing bowl, cream peanut butter, shortening, 1/2 cup sugar and brown sugar; add egg, milk and vanilla extract; mix well.

Combine flour, baking soda and salt; add to creamed mixture; mix well. Shape into 1-inch balls. Roll in remaining sugar; place on ungreased baking sheets.

Bake 10 to 12 minutes at 350 degrees F or until lightly browned. Remove from oven; immediately lightly press 1 peanut butter cup, cut side down, into each cookie to form a basket. Press a candy flower onto cookie so it appears as if a flower is coming out of the basket; press gumdrop leaves next to flowers. Cool on wire racks.

Enjoy!