Easy to make, using only four ingredients, these coin-shaped cookies are surprisingly delicious. The taste reminds me of Tagalongs, those yummy chocolate covered peanut butter Girl Scout Cookies. The difference is that Golden Treasure Cookies are coated with butterscotch instead of chocolate. Both sweet and salty, these special treats satisfy with golden peanut butter goodness.
The Stuff of Legend
It’s already March and St. Patrick’s Day is fast approaching. I guess that explains why leprechauns have been on my mind lately. Such strange folkloric creatures, leprechauns, and a bit disconcerting too. I never did care for those feisty little men who make mischief around St. Patrick’s Day.
Like clowns and old dolls, I find those bratty gnomes disturbing. I can’t think of any portrayal that suggests they are cute or caring. There is no familiar character to rehabilitate their image, like Legolas did for elves or Tinkerbell for fairies.
Instead of any suggestion of a heart of gold, leprechauns are almost always portrayed as creepy old tricksters. These greedy fellows jealously hoard their pots of gold at the end of the rainbow. While catching one may bring “a wee bit of luck” they are also said to lure their captors astray.
Pots of Gold
Still, every year I look forward to St. Patrick’s Day. Despite leprechauns, there are many Irish customs and traditions that I admire. As I wait for winter to turn to spring I am eager for a reason to celebrate. I welcome the opportunity to embrace that trace of Irish in my heritage as I observe St. Patrick’s Day.
I think spring in Portland must have a lot in common with spring in Ireland. There is the persistant rain, the relatively gentle climate and the emergent green of a lush landscape. There are also an abundance of rainbows as the sky quickly changes from lightly overcast to rain clouds of gunmetal gray punctuated by bursts of brilliant sunshine. It is a rich environment for intense rainbows. If leprechauns do hide their pots of gold at the end of the rainbow, the Pacific Northwest is prime territory for discovering treasure.
A Treasured Peanut Butter Cookie Recipe
If, however, you prefer a more practical approach to filling a pot with gold, I have a recipe for Golden Treasure Cookies I’m willing to share. (And, with the economy what it is, who couldn‘t use a pot of gold these days?)
These cookies are easy to make, require only four ingredients, and are delicious. The taste reminds me of Tagalongs, those yummy chocolate covered peanut butter Girl Scout Cookies. The difference is that Golden Treasure Cookies are coated with butterscotch instead of chocolate. The finished cookies are both sweet and salty and are filled with peanut butter goodness.
Originally, I found this recipe in one of Aunt Hen‘s many cookbooks. This particular book featured seasonal gifts from the kitchen. I no longer have the book but no matter; the recipe is easily remembered. Use it to make these unexpectedly wonderful cookies for St. Patrick’s Day or other special occasions. They store easily, keep well, and are terrific for gifting.
Golden Treasure Cookies
Course: CookiesCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy36
cookies1
hourDelightfully sweet and salty, these four ingredient peanut buttery cookies are unexpectedly delicious.
Ingredients
1/2 box Ritz crackers (I used two sleeves)
1 cup smooth peanut butter (approximately)
1 (11 oz) bag butterscotch morsels
1 -3 teaspoons shortening
Directions
- Spread peanut butter evenly on half of the Ritz cracker. Top each with another cracker to make approximately 36 peanut butter filled cracker sandwiches.
- Melt butterscotch morsels in the top of a double boiler stirring frequently. Add shortening, a little at a time, to achieve a good dipping consistency.
- When the mixture is smooth, dip the peanut butter cracker sandwiches into the melted butterscotch with a fork. Let the excess butterscotch drip back into the pan or smooth the excess back into the pan using a knife.
- Place coated crackers on parchment or wax paper to cool and set.
- Enjoy!
Notes
- I think I added closer to 3 teaspoons of shortening to my butterscotch morsels and that may have been a little too much. The butterscotch nearly slid off the crackers, though the finished product turned out well. I ended up almost icing the cookies with the butterscotch using a knife to smooth the edges and scrape the excess back into the bowl before placing the cookie on waxed paper.
- These cookies could easily be adapted using other spreads, like almond butter or Nutella, to fill the cracker sandwiches. Likewise, other types of candy could be used to coat the cookies. Chocolate chips or vanilla candy coating would both work well. Follow package directions when provided.
The reason shortening works is that it’s solid at room temperature. I generally swap in coconut oil for shortening, which yeilds a firmer shell when set and a lightly coconutty finish. AMAZING.
Thanks for the tip, Brandon. Using coconut oil is a great idea! I’ll try that next time I make a batch of these.
I’ve never seen anything like this befroe, I LOVE sweet and salty , this is a perfect!
Wow, isn’t this interesting. I have to give it a try. Love the Ritz and PB, but butterscotch added. Sounds like a winner.
This is such a clever idea! My little leprechauns would love these! Good old Ritz crackers … I haven’t had one in ages! I think I’d probably snack on them as I made the cookies!
You have got to be kidding!! That is all that is in these things? I thought you had slaved over them for days! I kept wondering how you had made the “wafer” inside. All I can say is having had the pleasure of trying them personally they are amazingly tasty. Thank you for sharing the recipe.
They sound divine and I love the name and what great timing to make these! 🙂
Wow! These look dangerously rich.
How cool are this cookies! And so few ingredients, that’s allways a plus!
Just checking out your blog after you so kindly commented on mine. What a find! Lovely photos and delicious recipes. I am adding you to my blog roll girl! Looking forward to all your recipes!
fabulous use for those vastly-underrated butterscotch chips. these are a treasure indeed, and don’t let those leprechauns get to you–you’re bigger than they are. 🙂
I have always done this with chocolate but I love the idea of changing that for St. Patty’s. And yes the rainbows are just amazing in the Oregon Spring.
Those are tasty little morsels. Yes, I must confess, I ate both of them.
LeLo – I think these could be made without the shortening. The butterscotch coating would just be thicker. Also, I haven’t tried it but I think you could use oil instead of shortening. I read that suggestion somewhere. I would start with 1 teaspoon or less and see how that works.
Good luck!
I have to give you triple props for the background leprechaun scene in the bottom photo. Thumbs up!
These sound great, even though I don’t have shortening in my kitchen! Do you think they could be made without it or ?
I love strange little holiday cultural recipes like this. 🙂
What a lovely tradition! These are exactly the kind of cookie my mum would have made for us when I was a child. In fact, I used to eat cracker and PB sandwiches for breakfast on Saturday mornings! Thanks for the nostalgia 🙂
Lisa, what a lovely post. Even the name of the cookies is enchanting.