Frosted Peanut Butter Cookies

For those peanut butter lovers out there this is something I came up with after combining two of my favorite recipes. I have to say, they are quite tasty!

1 c. shortening
1 c. sugar
1 c. brown sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
2 c. flour
2 tsp. soda
2 eggs
1/2 tsp. salt
1 c. peanut butter

Cream shortening, sugar, eggs and vanilla. Stir in peanut butter and sift dry ingredients. Mix well. Make 1 inch balls, place on cookie sheet and press down with fork or fingers. Bake at 350 for 8-10 min.

Frosting:
1 cup creamy peanut butter
8 Tbs (1 stick) butter, at room temperature
2 cups powdered sugar
3 to 4 Tbs. milk
2 teaspoons vanilla

Place the peanut butter and butter in a large mixing bowl or mixer. Beat on low speed until fluffy, 30 seconds. Stop the machine. Add the powdered sugar, milk and vanilla. Beat on low speed until the sugar is well combined, 1 minute. Increase the speed to medium and beat until the frosting lightens and is fluffy, one minute more. Spread over cooled peanut butter cookies. (This frosting can also be used on cakes. Try it on a chocolate cake!)

After I frosted my cookies I stuck a few miniature Hershey's bars in a ziploc bag and melted them in the microwave for one minute. I squished the bag to make sure the chocolate was nice and melted and then I cut the corner of the bag and squeezed the chocolate in a zigzag pattern over the cookies. Not only did it make them look pretty but it gave them that extra chocolate flavor that is so divine with peanut butter.