Cookie recipe wins $1 million

[The Purple Fuzzy]

Cookie recipe wins $1 million


Associated Press - April 15, 2008 4:45 PM ET

DALLAS (AP) - A Maryland woman's recipe for peanut butter cookies won the $1 million grand prize today at the 43rd Pillsbury Bake-Off in Dallas.

59-year-old homemaker Carolyn Gurtz, of Gaithersburg, won with her Double-Delight Peanut Butter Cookies. The cookies had finished first in the Sweet Treats category, making her 1 of 5 contestants eligible for the grand prize.

The prize is disbursed in 20 annual payments.

Along with the grand prize, she won the Jif Peanut Butter Award and an additional $5,000 for having the best recipe using at least 1/4 cup of Jif Peanut Butter.

Gurtz thought she might have a winning creation when 1 of her sons kept coming back for more, telling her: "Mom, these are winners." But clincher was when her "mixed Golden Retriever" named Tucker could not get enough of them.

Gurtz's winning recipe was:

1/4 cup dry roasted peanuts, finely chopped

1/4 cup sugar

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 cup creamy peanut butter

1/2 cup powdered sugar

1 (16.5-ounce) package Pillsbury Create 'n Bake refrigerated peanut butter cookies, well chilled

Preheat oven to 375 F. In small bowl, mix chopped peanuts, sugar and cinnamon; set aside.

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

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.

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 nonstick 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.

Bake 7 to 12 minutes or until edges are golden brown. Cool 1 minute; remove from cookie sheets to cooling rack. Store tightly covered. Makes 24 cookies.

PER COOKIE: Calories 150 Fat 7 g (1.5 g sat) No cholesterol Sodium 125 mg No fiber Carbohydrates 17 g Protein 3 g


Information from The Dallas Morning News, http://www.dallasnews.com

[The Purple Fuzzy]

Can you imagine winning a million dollars with store bought cookie dough...

[MelodyB]

*heads to the store*

[LeahMarie]

Yummmm!