Sundae Social Cookies

Did you know, that one of the stories surrounding the Sundae, actually claims that it was a dessert developed to counteract the so-called Blue Laws forbidding ice cream and ice cream sodas on Sunday!  The druggists added chocolate syrup over ice cream and gave it a different name.  Furthermore, the spelling was changed so not to offend religious conventions.  There are several cities throughout the United States that claims the first sundae--1881 to 1891; but all I know is that it is a sweet treat and has with it a memory of spending time with my mother.

Farrell's was an ice cream shop we frequented in Springfield, Virginia whenever we went to the mall.  My mother loved the "Triple Threat," which was vanilla ice cream that came with three containers of hot fudge to pour over it.  I have to say, I miss those sundaes and have never had anything else like them.  The cookie I came up with today pays homage to that sundae--chocolate, roasted peanuts...with a cherry on top:-D

Sundae Social Cookies

3/4 cup + 2T (1 3/4 sticks) unsalted butter at room temperature
1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
2 T heavy cream
1 T vanilla extract
2 3/4 cup King Arthur all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1 cup bittersweet chocolate chips
1 cup roasted, salted peanuts, chopped
1 cup maraschino cherries, quartered
Preheat oven to 350F-degrees.  Line baking sheets with parchment paper.

In a stand mixer, using the paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugars together, thoroughly.  Add the egg, vanilla and heavy cream and beat once again. 

Whisk together the dry ingredients and add to the batter.  While the mixer is running, add the chocolate chips, peanuts and cherries and mix well.

Scoop cookie dough with a 1/4-cup scoop, spacing the cookies apart about 2 inches for spreading. 

Use your fingertips to press dough down slightly

Bake in preheated oven 12 to 14 minutes, until golden brown.  Allow to cool 5 minutes, then, transfer to a rack to cool completely.

As much as hot fudge sundaes are my favorite, my hubby and daughter, Erin, love butterscotch (or caramel) so feel free to substitute the bittersweet chips for butterscotch chips.  What is your favorite sundae? Enjoy!