peanut butter blossoms

a nice straightforward cookie. :)

preheat oven to 375.

cream together:
1 stick unsalted butter, at room temp
1/2 cup peanut butter (chunky or smooth)
3/4 cup packed brown sugar

then beat in:
2 tablespoons maple syrup
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla

in another bowl, mix together:
1 1/2 cups flour
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
and stir it, gradually, into the liquid ingredients.

if you have an orange on hand, a bit of orange zest grated in is very nice.

drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls onto cookie sheet, bake until pale golden, 7-8 minutes. while the cookies are still warm, stick a chocolate star into each one. cool completely on a wire rack.