Mary's Peanut Butter Blossoms

This recipe was given to my mother by one of her neighbors over 30 years ago. It is the only peanut butter cookie recipe I will ever use!

Ingredients

• 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 0.5 teaspoon salt
• 0.5 cup shortening
• 0.5 cup peanut butter
• 1 ½ cups white sugar, divided
• 0.5 cup brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 2 tablespoons milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 (9 ounce) bag milk chocolate candy kisses (such as Hershey's Kisses®), unwrapped

Steps

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. Mix flour, baking powder, and salt together in a small bowl.
3. Beat shortening, peanut butter, 1/2 cup white sugar, and brown sugar together in a large bowl until creamy. Add egg, milk, and vanilla extract; mix until just blended. Slowly add the flour mixture until dough is combined.
4. Roll dough into balls and roll into the remaining white sugar to coat. Place cookies on baking sheets and make a small indentation in the center of each using your thumb.
5. Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, 9 to 11 minutes. Remove from oven and place a chocolate kiss in each indentation. Allow to cool slightly; remove from baking sheets and cool completely.