What does a million dollars taste like?

Well after hiding inside from the 100 degree weather yesterday, watching Food Network and HGTV I had the idea to try to reproduce the winning recipe of the Pillsbury Million Dollar Cooking Contest. So I went online and found the recipe to Double Delight Peanut Butter Cookies that took last year's prize.
I have to tell you the recipe look relatively easy and didn't have many ingredients, so I figure how hard can it be and how can it be worth a million dollars. I headed to the store, after the sun went down so I wouldn't melt in the parking lot and got the makings of my cookies.

I would first suggest maybe doing this in cooler weather as the peanut butter balls tend to get rather warm quickly and melt in your hands. Also the Pillsbury dough need to stay cool when cutting and trying to flatten them. And having the oven on tends to add about another 10 degrees to your already warm house. But other than that the recipe was really quick simple.
Now for the taste. I can't really say I can see why they won a million dollars, of course I can't really think of any recipes that would be worth that much. But I must say I think homemade peanut butter cookies taste a lot better. Not that these tasted bad or anything but just not a million dollars worth. Also they were more like a triple delight with a ball of peanut butter wrapped in a peanut butter cookie dough rolled in peanuts and sugar. I liked the outer layer with the sugared crushed peanut mixture on it and would suggest adding that to homemade cookies.
But if I had to give a million dollars to a cookie recipe I would probably go with the Levin chocolate chip cookies from New York I found after watching Throw-down with Bobbi Flay. These cookies are massive and difficult to make, but I got the best reviews from my co-workers last Christmas when I made them (was told by one older co-woker they were the best she has ever had and she looks like she has eaten a lot of cookies in her lifetime). They are about 400 calories a cookie and have a texture of a scone, but they are well worth it and I would even say a million dollars. You will probably see them in a future blog.

Here is the Pillsbury Double Delight Peanut Butter Cookies winning recipe for you to try yourself.

Ingredients

1/4 cup dry roasted peanuts, finely chopped
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 cup Jif Creamy Peanut Butter
1/2 cup confectioners' powdered sugar
1 roll Pillsbury Create 'n Bake refrigerated peanut butter cookies, well chilled.

Procedure

1. Heat oven to 375°F. In small bowl, mix chopped peanuts, granulated sugar, and cinnamon; set aside.

2. In another small bowl, stir peanut butter and powdered sugar until completely blended. Shape mixture into 24 (1-inch) balls.

3. Cut roll of cookie dough into 12 slices. Cut each slice in half crosswise to make 24 pieces; flatten slightly. Shape 1 cookie dough piece around 1 peanut butter ball, covering completely. Repeat with remaining dough and balls.

4. Roll each covered ball in peanut mixture; gently pat mixture completely onto balls. On ungreased large cookie sheets, place balls 2 inches apart. Spray bottom of drinking glass with Crisco original no-stick cooking spray; press into remaining peanut mixture. Flatten each ball to 1/4-inch thickness with bottom of glass. Sprinkle any remaining peanut mixture evenly on tops of cookies; gently press into dough.

5. Bake 7 to 12 minutes or until edges are golden brown. Let cool 1 minute; remove from cookie sheets to cooling rack. Store tightly covered.