Here are step-by-step instructions for making melt-in-the-mouth Chinese New Year Peanut Cookies from scratch in 10 Steps (with Pictures). Peanut cookies are my fourth brother’s favorite Chinese New Year cookies. He always complains that my peanut cookies do not melt in the mouth. So I made these melt-in-the-mouth peanut cookies for him this year. Each bite of the cookies will literally melt in your mouth. This recipe makes about 100 pieces.

Chinese New Year Peanut Cookies Recipe

Ingredients:

300g raw peanuts
300g all purpose flour
150g icing sugar
150ml peanut oil
1 tsp salt
1 egg, lightly beaten

Method:

1. Line a baking tray with baking paper.
2. Roast peanuts at 180°C for about 10-12 minutes. Let the peanuts cool slightly. Rub them with your hands to remove the skin. Grind the peanuts to fine.
3. Sift the flour and icing sugar. Add salt and mix well.
4. Add ground peanuts into the flour mixture and mix until crumbly.
5. Add peanut oil and mix until the dough is soft and pliable but still firm enough to be handled.
6. Divide the dough into small balls. Place on the lined baking tray.
7. Brush the top with the egg.
8. Add a circle pattern to the top of the cookies by pressing and flattening them with a drinking straw.
9. Preheat the oven to 180°C and bake for 7-8 minutes, until a nice peanut smell comes from the oven.
10. Allow the peanut cookies to cool on the baking tray for about two or three minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool. When the cookies are completely cool, layer them between sheets of baking or waxed paper into an airtight container and keep at room temperature.

Note:

• Peanuts, flour, icing sugar, oil 2:2:1:1 ratio.
• Roast and grind your own peanuts.
• If you are worried that it could be too sweet, reduce the amount of icing sugar.
• Do not use sea salt, normal salt will do.
• Do not add baking powder as it would harden the cookie.
• Double the ingredients if you want to make more.

Comments from my beloved uncle and aunt:

Aunt:

Thank you for the melt-in-your-mouth cookies <3.

Uncle:

I must say your peanut cookies are comparable to many of those on sale. It is crunchy. My only complaint, if you can call that a complaint, is that it is a bit too sweet. As you know I do not have a sweet tooth.  But to be fair, others may like it sweet.  As the saying goes: Some like it hot, some like it cold, some like it in the pot nine days old.

Try you make your own peanut cookies and leave me a comment. I hope you like this homemade recipe.