Recipe of Today: Spider Cookies

Ingredients:

• ⅔ cup granulated sugar
• ½ cup light brown sugar
• ⅔ cup vegetable shortening
• ⅔ cup) smooth (creamy) peanut butter
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour)
• ⅛ tsp baking soda
• ⅛ tsp fine salt
• 3.5 oz dark chocolate, melted and cooled slightly
• 24 Lindt Lindor chocolate truffles 
• 48 candy eyes

Instructions:

For the Peanut Butter Cookies:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Put granulated sugar and brown sugars in the mixing bowl of Kitchenin KM50 stand mixer. Using the flat paddle attachment, gently mix the sugar together to remove any lumps. 

• Add vegetable shortening and peanut butter. Beat on medium speed until the mixture is light and smooth. Then add the egg and vanilla extract and beat for about a minute until they are fully incorporated. Sift the flour, baking soda and salt into the bowl. Beat on low speed until everything is well combined.

• Line a baking sheet with nonstick parchment paper. Roll out the dough into small balls and place on a lined baking sheet about 2-3 inches apart. Gently flatten the dough with your fingers. Bake cookies for about 12 minutes.

• Remove the tray from the oven and use the end of a pestle or similar tool to make soft indentations in the middle of each cookie. The indentation should be large enough to accommodate the Lindor chocolate truffle later on. Don't worry too much if the cookies crack when you do this.

• Return the tray to the oven and bake for an additional 6-8 minutes, or until they are lightly golden brown and the edges feel a bit tough. Place the cookies on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes to firm up, then carefully transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.

For the Decoration:

• Place melted chocolate in a small piping bag. Dot a small amount of melted chocolate into each cookie cavity.

• Put a piece of Lindor truffle in the cavity of each cookie and position them so the bottom of the truffle shows as the mouth.

• Squeeze two small dabs of melted chocolate over each chocolate truffle, then place on candy eyes. Repeat this operation for all cookies. Next, pipe 8 legs onto each cookie.

• Let the chocolate on the cookies set for at least 30 minutes before serving. Enjoy!