Joanna: There's no such thing as natural beauty. jerseylicious sugar plum cookies.

So, I saw these cookies on the internet. Yes, the lovely internet that never lies to you and always has perfectly correct recipes to share by simply download and bake. (can you hear the sarcasm?)

cute, right? don't you want to make them right away? What?! No?! You're not from Jersey?! Oh.

Yes, yet another recipe that I tried off a blog that flopped and flopped big. Funny thing is 98.9% (yes, that is an exact percentage.. i am that calculated.) of the time I check recipes against several similar, to ensure success. This time.. uh, I just didn't. The bright pink girly cookies distracted this jersey girl, that's all I'll have to say. Well, after altering the recipe.. by which I mean.. adding a full cup of flour more!.. they came out perfectly. Anyway, these are so fun.. I will be making them again. Next time in a bright fuchsia pink. They are simply fabulous for a little girl's "Fancy-fancy" party or a boutique event.
In the words of the immortal Truvy... "there's no such thing as natural beauty." Enjoy these guilty pleasures.. very un-natural looking cookies!

this photo shows lovely finished results..

after figuring out how to make this recipe work. read on.

Brightly Hued Jerseylicious Cookies

1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened

1/2 cup butter flavored shortening

1 cup natural peanut butter (or whatever kind of pb you enjoy)

1cup sugar

1 cup light brown sugar

4 tablespoons milk

2 eggs

1 t. vanilla extract

3 1/2 cups all purpose flour

1 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

Food colouring gel.. i suggest bright pink or purple

Sanding sugar mixed with coloured sugar crystals (for added desired bling)

Preheat oven to 375º degrees.

Cream together the butter, shortening, and peanut butter, I used my trusty ol' stand mixer here. Mix in sugars, egg, milk and vanilla.

In a separate bowl, whisk together dry ingredients. Add to wet mixture til just mixed. Don't overwork the dough.

Add gel food colouring... a lot. Use a toothpick or skewer and add a good gob. Mix together until you get a brighter than you think necessary hue. Then it's just right!

Chill the dough for 15 minutes.

I use a small ice-cream scoop.. which is the perfect 1" size. Roll the dough into approximately 1 inch balls.

Roll balls in mixture of sanding sugar and coloured sugar crystals. (I used raw sugar and purple crystal sanding sugar.. avail at supermarket)

Place on an ungreased cookie sheet or silpat, at least 2 inches apart.

Bake between 9 minutes. Let cookies cool about 1 minute on the cookie sheet (but no more) before removing them to a cooling rack.

After cooling for 1 minute... Immediately, deposit 1 HUGS striped kiss in the center, gently. Do not push down too much, it will melt through.

Now run the cookies to a cool fridge (or if you have absolutely no fridge room.. to a dry spot outside or in the garage, if it is winter like it is here)

The reason you do not want these cookies to sit in your warm kitchen after pushing a kiss on them.. is the kiss will then become molten and melt down into what looks like a demented nipple cookie. Don't do this.. I did.. I learned and now I tell you. Seriously, if you don't add enough dye.. way more than you think necessary and then don't heed my take the cookies to cool quickly.. you end up with grey-ish demented nipple cookies. Not exactly what I was going for. see photos of such disappointments.

Now you know.. and when they work.. THEY are FUN! SO, go ahead.. trust me and make some!

THIS, is exactly what the internet will lead you to make. Demented grayish striped deflated nipple cookies.

Ok, remedy. This is the hue you want your dough to look like. GRAPE! purpleicious! and no worries, those little white-ish flecks are the result of choosing chunkalicous peanut butter rather than (yawn) creamy. But, no.. choose what you like. I won't judge you.