PEANUT BUTTER BEARS

PEANUT BUTTER BEARS
1 CUP SHORTENING
1 CUP PEANUT BUTTER
1 ½ CUPS GRANULATED SUGAR
½ CUP PACKED BROWN SUGAR
1 ½ TSP. BAKING SODA
2 EGGS
1 TSP. VANILLA
2 ¼ CUPS ALL-PURPOSE FLOUR
DECORATIONS (IF YOU WANT)

Preheat oven to 350*. Put shortening and peanut butter in
the mixing bowl. Beat with the electric mixer on medium speed until
well mixed. Stopping the mixer to scrape with rubber spatula. Stop
the mixer. 2. Add the granulated sugar, brown sugar, and baking soda.
Beat with the electric mixer on medium speed until well mixed,
stopping the mixer to scrape the bowl. Stop the mixer. 3. Add eggs
and vanilla. Beat with the electric mixer on medium speed until well
mixed. Stop the mixer. 4. Add the flour, ½ cup at a time, to the
peanut butter mixture. Beat with the electric mixer on medium speed
until well mixed. Stop the mixer; stir in any remaining flour with
the wooden spoon. 5. To make one bear, shape the dough into balls of
the following sizes: one1-inch ball, one ¾-inch ball, six ½-inch
balls, and one ¼-inch ball. On the ungreased cookie sheet use your
hand to press gently on the1-inchball, flatten it to ½-inch thickness
for the body. Attach the ¾-inch ball for the head; flatten it to ½-
inch thickness. Attach the six ½-inch balls for the arms, legs, and
ears. Place the ¼-inch ball on the head for the nose. Repeat with
remaining dough, leaving about 1 ½-inch space between each bear. Or,
form dough into other shapes such as bunnies, butterflies, or
dinosaurs. For even baking, all cookies must be about the same size.
Prep: 20 minutes plus shaping Bake: about 10 minutes per batch Makes
24-36 cookies