I had a special request.
I LOVE baking, cooking, creating, crafting requests – do you hear me? I’m OPEN FOR BUSINESS!

Tony asked for a carrot cake – to be mailed to NYC. Well, I’m not that impressive. I have no idea how to accomplish that feat.

Thus, we agreed upon something much easier to mail (a task we’ve successfully accomplished before): cookies. Specifically PEANUT BUTTER cookies.

I certainly could not send him JUST peanut butter cookies. I had to come up with something fabulous – something OUTRAGEOUS!

And so I did: Candied Ginger Basil Peanut Butter Cookies.

I wanted a sweet and salty peanut-buttery Pad Thai flair.
Thus, honeyed-peanut butter, honey roasted and salted peanut, candied ginger, and fresh basil all came together to bake into one of the most amazing cookies you’ll ever devour!

I am FOREVER honored to call Tony my friend and one of my soul mates. We are connected in ways beyond measure.
We share purpose, we share destiny. We share support. We share FRIENDSHIP. Thank you, Tony.

Candied Ginger Basil Peanut Butter Cookies

1 1/4 cup Bee’s Knees honey infused peanut butter
1 1/4 cup lightly packed brown sugar
3 large eggs
1/2 cup (1 stick) European butter, (salted) room temperature
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1/4 tsp. sea salt
2 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1 cup crystalized ginger, finely chopped
1 cup honey roasted and salted peanuts
2 Tbs. fresh basil, finely chopped (minced)

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.

Line baking sheets with parchment paper.

Cream together the peanut butter, brown sugar, eggs, butter, baking soda and powder, vanilla, and salt together until light and creamy – beating for about three minutes.

Mix in the flour, 1/2 cup at a time, until well mixed.

Fold in the ginger and peanuts, Lightly mix in the basil.

Space 1″ ball sized dollops of dough on the prepared cookie sheets, and flatten with your fingers.

Bake for 10-12 minutes, until just beginning to brown.

Remove from the oven and cool on the sheets for 10 minutes, or so, before gobbling, consuming, scarfing, but still savoring! Maybe a cup of jasmine tea, as an accompaniment?