The Sorting Hat Peanut Butter Cookies

By Gryffindor, the bravest were prized far beyond the rest;

 For Ravenclaw, the cleverest would always be the best;

For Hufflepuff, hard workers were most worthy of admission;

And power-hungry Slytherin loved those of great ambition.

 –The Sorting Hat, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

At the beginning of each school term, the Sorting Ceremony is performed at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.  This is a momentous event in lives of first year witches and wizards - for they will be assigned to one of four houses for the rest of their schooling. It is the job of the Sorting Hat to tell you which house you belong, and wherever the Sorting Hat puts you, there you stay.  

I'd like to celebrate the Sorting Ceremony with a classic cookie that tastes great, is super simple to make, and offers the comforts of home to students who are far from it.  My twist:  it is now customized for every Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin. 

Ready to make some magic?  Wands UP! 

Ingredients:

1/2 cup white sugar

1/2 cup packed brown sugar 

1/2 cup creamy peanut butter

1/2 cup (one stick) salted butter, softened

1 egg

1 ½ cups. flour

¾ tsp baking soda

½ tsp baking powder 

32-36 Hershey Kisses, unwrapped

Red, blue, yellow, and green icing

Instructions: 

Heat oven to 375°F. 

In large bowl, beat granulated sugar, brown sugar, peanut butter, butter and egg with electric mixer on medium speed until well blended. 

Add flour, baking soda and baking powder until dough forms.

Shape dough into 1-inch ball. Roll in white granulated sugar.  

On ungreased cookie sheets, place about 2 inches apart.

Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until edges are light golden brown.

Immediately press one Hershey’s kiss in center of each cookie. 

Using a knife or toothpick, form eyes and a mouth into the warm chocolate. 

Use icing to pipe a ribbon of each house color around the base of the kiss. 

For the icing:  

I used about 1/2 cup of powdered sugar, 1 teaspoon of milk, and several drops of food coloring.  Stir well and put in a Ziplock bag.  Snip the end with scissors to pipe icing. 

Let the sorting begin!