Editor's note: Lisa Loeb shared this recipe exclusively with Epicurious. To read more about Lisa and get a peek inside her kitchen, see our Celebrity Kitchen Tour videos.
These are Lisa Loeb's favorite cookies, a version of Mark Bittman's "Refrigerator (Rolled) Cookies," which appeared in his seminal How to Cook Everything. She substitutes high-in-fiber whole-wheat flour for regular all-purpose flour, uses rich dark brown sugar instead of plain, and adds natural peanut butter and an extra pinch of kosher salt for a rich, nutty flavor. Before baking, she tops each cookie with a dollop of all-fruit jam, which balances out the sophisticated saltiness with the perfect hint of sweetness. If you prefer not to use jam, before baking try sprinkling cookies with good-quality sea salt, such as fleur de sel, to bring out their sweetness.
Recipe information
Yield
Makes about 3 dozen cookies
Ingredients
Preparation
Step 1
Using an electric mixer, beat butter and sugar at high speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add peanut butter and beat until thoroughly incorporated, about 30 seconds. Scrape down bowl, add the egg, and beat until smooth, about 20 seconds.
Step 2
In a large bowl, whisk together flour, salt, and baking powder. Add dry ingredients to butter-sugar mixture and beat at low speed until just combined, about 1 minute. Scrape down bowl, then add milk and beat at low speed until just combined, about 30 seconds.
Step 3
Gather and press dough together, then divide into 2 equal pieces. Using a sheet of waxed paper as an aid, form each piece of dough into a log about 1 1/2 inches in diameter. Wrap logs tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm, at least 2 hours and up to 2 days. (Dough can be made ahead and frozen in an airtight bag for up to 6 months).
Step 4
Preheat oven to 400°F and lightly butter 2 large baking sheets.
Step 5
Cut each log crosswise into 1/8-inch-thick slices and arrange slices 1/2 inch apart on prepared baking sheets. Top each cookie with a 1/2-teaspoon dollop of jam.
Step 6
Bake cookies until edges are lightly browned and centers are set, about 10 minutes. Cool on sheets 2 minutes, then transfer to a rack to cool completely. (Cookies will keep, stored in a covered container at room temperature, up to 2 days.)
