Red Hots and Peanuts Cookies

Back in the fall I told y'all about my love for candy corn and peanuts. My husband has the same love for Red Hots and Peanuts. So this year for Valentine's Day, I decided to put these little goodies in a cookie for him. 

Red Hots and Peanuts Cookies

I made two versions of these because frankly, I couldn't decide between the two. I ended up making an oatmeal cookie version which has great texture and a warm cinnamon flavor. Then I made a peanut butter cookie version which are great little drop cookies with a hint of peanut butter flavor.

These cookies are awesome because they have the sweet and salty aspect. I used salted party peanuts so I didn't add any salt to the cookie doughs.

Red Hots and Peanuts Oatmeal Cookies
adapted from Quaker oats vanishing oatmeal cookies 
      makes 24
1/2 C butter, softened
1/2 C brown sugar
1/4 C sugar
1 eggs
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
3/4 C flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 1/2 C quick oats
1/2 C Red Hots
1/2 C salted peanuts, roughly chopped


Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, cream the butter, brown sugar and sugar together. Beat in the egg and vanilla. In a separate bowl, mix together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon and oats. Add the dry ingredients into the wet and mix just to combine. Do not over mix. Add in the Red Hots and chopped peanuts. Drop by spoonfuls onto a baking sheet.

Bake for 11-12 minutes or until golden brown.  Remove from oven and after a minute, remove cookies and cool on a cooling rack.

 These cookies are chewy and delicious!

Red Hots and Peanuts Peanut Butter Cookies
     makes 48 drop cookies
3/4 C butter, softened (1 1/2 sticks)
1/4 C natural creamy peanut butter
1/2 C sugar
1/2 C brown sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 1/2 C flour
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 C Red Hots
1/2 C salted peanuts

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, cream together the butter, peanut butter, sugar and brown sugar. Beat in the egg and vanilla. In a separate bowl, mix together the flour and baking soda. Add the dry ingredients in with the wet and combine. Do not over mix. Drop by spoonfuls onto a baking sheet.

Bake for 10-11 minutes, or until golden brown.  Remove from oven and after a minute, remove cookies and cooling on a cooling rack.

If I had to choose a favorite cookie, it would have to be the oatmeal cookies. Make sure to check out my Holiday Page for other Valentine's Day treats. These would also make great Christmas cookies!

*One thing to note is that the Red Hots stay hard in the cookies, so don't go biting into it with out knowing it. :) I hope everyone has a great Valentine's Day! xoxo