Peanut Butter and Jelly Cookies
I work customer service for an online retail store that sells switch plates and wall switches. You know when there is a phone number on a website to call if you have questions or want to place an order? I’m that girl on the other end of the line answering the phone.
You would never guess it looking at this 28 year old blonde California girl, but I can answer just about any question you have about switch plates or switches. Not exactly the most useful knowledge, but I work in the front office with my mom and sister and it is just about the most fun ever.
I take calls from people calling from all over the country, and I’m often wondering who they are and what they look like.
Sometimes they call with silly questions. “I want this switch plate you have, but it’s pictured with the toggle switch on the left and the outlet on the right. I need mine to be the opposite of that.” I’ve gotten asked this questions about 1,000 times, and my answer is always the same, “Then you’ll just rotate the plate to get that layout. Depending on how you’re holding the plate, the outlet can be on the right or the left.” The customer usually feels silly then and goes, “Oh ya…I sure feel dumb.”
Sometimes they’re in a bad mood and not very nice on the phone and say mean things. During these types of calls I have to remind myself that this person is just having a bad day, and this has nothing to do with me. Makes it easier not to let it affect me. I am now the master of letting negative things like that just roll right off me. The saying “You attract more bees with honey than vinegar” is very true. If you call and are very nice and sweet, I’ll do everything in my power to help you. If you you’re nasty…not so much.
My favorite is when I get a calls from nice old men from the south. They’ll ask me about my day, and tell me about theirs. And they always want to know what the weather is like here in California, and then go on to tell me what the weather is like where he lives. I’ll think about how finding this switch plate was on this mans to do list for the day, with probably only 1 or 2 other things, and he has all the time in the world to chit chat.
The opposite is true when I talk to people on the west coast. They’re very concise and quick on the phone, can ask their question in 2 sentences or less, then pop right back off the phone. Now those are people with long to do lists.
While people from different parts of the country have different phone mannerisms, one thing we all have in common is our nationwide love of peanut butter and jelly.
These peanut butter and jelly cookies are the perfect combination of salty and sweet. If you love peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, just wait until you try peanut butter and jelly cookies. It’s your favorite childhood lunch in cookie form.
The peanut butter and jelly cookies are rolled in sugar, baked half way, then taken out and given a thumbprint indentation right in the middle, baked until crispy and golden brown, then filled with your favorite jelly. I used raspberry, but you could use any jelly you have on hand.
Treat yourself to at least 2 peanut butter and jelly cookies, along with a glass of milk.
And be nice to your customer service person on the phone, *wink*.
Peanut Butter and Jelly Cookies
Ingredients
- 1-1/4 cups all purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup smooth peanut butter*
- 1 stick unsalted butter, softened
- 1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar, plus more for rolling
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup jam
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
- In a stand mixer or large mixing bowl with a hand mixer, beat the peanut butter and butter at medium speed until smooth. Add sugars, and beat until fluffy. Add egg and vanilla, and beat until combined. Reduce speed to low, then add dry ingredients, and mix until just combined.
- Scoop level tablespoons of dough, roll into balls, then roll each ball in granulated sugar. Arrange the cookies 2 inches apart on parchment lined baking sheets.
- Bake for 10 minutes, then remove the under baked cookies from oven to make an indentation in centers by pressing with the handle end of a wooden spoon. Return to oven, and bake until edges are golden, 6 to 7 minutes more. Transfer sheets to wire racks, and let cool completely.
- In a small microwave safe bowl, microwave the jam on high for 45 seconds, or until loosened and easy to spoon. Spoon 1/2 teaspoon of jam into each cookie indentation.
- Will keep in an airtight container for 1 week.
Notes
45 Comments on “Peanut Butter and Jelly Cookies”
This is a unique looking cookie!
That sounds like so much fun working with your mom and your sister! But not so much fun having people be mean to you, especially when they don’t even know you. I’m sure you handle it very gracefully though :) These cookies look amazing!!! Peanut butter cookies are some of my favorites because they are so moist, and then putting the jam on top?! I need these now!
Hah, I would totally be that person calling with the dumb question :) Your cookies look so delicious! I am on board with anything peanut butter, and love the PB & J combo :)
I still eat PB&J for lunch and I would go crazy for these cookies! It’s good to remember that other people may just be having a bad day when they’re mean, and I agree that it’s always best to be nice!
Haha, I know what you mean. I worked that type of customer service for years.
And these cookies are going to become my new favorites. Love PB&J.
It was great fun to read your experience with call centers :)
The cookies look irresistible , I’m dying to try them out.
Oh my gosh, I laughed out loud at this one. Yes, I think us folks in the South move at a more leisurely pace. :) I had to call tech support for work this morning and the guy was so matter of fact, he answered everything with a direct response and no explination. I asked him how he was and he said fine, I asked him if he was having a busy day, he said yes. Ha! I just like making small talk! And these cookies look delish, I have posted so many peanut butter recipes lately, I am obviously on a kick! I need to try these!
Oooh I love how the peanut butter cookies crinkle like that. Plus with the jam – YUM! I give you so much credit for working in customer service and dealing with just about every type of person under the sun. In high school I worked at the front desk of a gym and couldn’t believe the types of questions I’d get asked. Definitely one of those “just when you thought you’ve heard everything…” type of jobs!
Oh my gosh, people in the South want to talk foreverrrr. I never got ANYTHING done when I worked in Mississippi. It was a total annoyance to this Boston girl, but we really do need to slow down sometimes and enjoy each others experiences.
I made very similar cookies one year for Christmas and they were SOOO yummy! Not sure why they haven’t made it back in the rotation yet, but they may have to soon!
These look like heaven, I love salty and sweet combinations!
How fun you get to work with your mom and sister. Love these cookies, peanut butter in one of my favorite foods, great idea to add the jelly.
These babies would be destroyed in no time – there’s no way I could stop at just 2, ha. But you did say at least 2.. so I guess you knew who you were talking to ;).
Also, they look absolutely amazing – love seeing your baking skills!!!
These cookies look sooooooooo delicious!! yeah who doesn’t love peanut butter and jelly? lol I know my family will enjoy these! thanks for another great recipe :)
Thanks Irina! They are so yummy! I bet your family will love them. It’s peanut butter + jelly + cookies, what’s not to love?! Have a great rest of your day : )
Nat, I really enjoyed reading about different phone mannerisms. I’ve never payed attention about it. Very interesting!
I ADORE sweet and salty anything. These really look killer and very delicious! Love them ;-)
This was a fun post to read! It’s interesting to think about all the different kinds of people out there – I’m sure you have some stories to tell. It sounds like you have a good attitude about it! These cookies look yummy!
While I never had to answer phones, I can totally relate from my years of working retail when I was in high school and college. You have to have a lot of patience for sure! Glad that you get treated nicely by the southern gentlemen. :) These cookies are so cute! I love how you could make all different flavors by changing the jam.
Haha, I’ve always said that life is too fast and too crazy here on the West Coast. Sometimes it’s simply too much. As soon as my customers sit down in the chair they’re looking at the watch as if they’re already late to be somewhere else. The same is true to retirees, who hate any sort of waiting and are always in a hurry to be somewhere else. I think it’s the way of life here. People are so used to be on the go. Sometimes I simply hate it.
I think these cookies will make it for a good “time to slow down” break time. :) Oh the childhood memeories of PB&J. :)
Gosh it must be so hard working customer service like that. I love the idea that people from different areas have different phone mannerisms, I had never thought of that before. Now I’m going to be paying attention to what my own phone mannerisms are, haha!
These cookies look melt-in-your-mouth good! I enjoyed reading your description of the different phone mannerisms… I think I’d be the one with the long to do list, although I wish I was the one who had all the time in the world to chit chat! I guess kids, a job, a blog, and house to take care of will do that!
Oh, man. PB and jelly is one of my favoriteee combos in the world. These cookies would be my ultimate weakness. I love how they’re a little smaller in size, so that means it’s perfectly ok to have at least 5, right? And I love your photos Natalie! The black backround really makes these cookies POP in sharpness and clarity. Pinned!