chewy vanilla cookies with reese's pieces

i can't believe the last time i made cookies was almost a four full months ago...for christmas! all the salty and coconutty treats lately means i've been passing on cookies, one of my all time favorites. especially since they're easy to make and i've never met one i didn't like.

which brings me to these cookies. two of my all time favorite things - peanut butter and vanilla -  wrapped into one simple, super chewy, delicious cookie. i was skeptical at first - do vanilla and peanut butter really work together? it seems like an odd combination - but as soon as i had the first whiff from the oven, i knew they would be keepers. too bad i didn't make a double batch: half for now, half for later.

chewy vanilla cookies with reese's pieces
adapted from averie cooks
1 hour start to finish, makes 18 cookies

1/2 cup vegetable shortening
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
1 egg
1 tablespoon water
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 cups flour
1 cup reese's pieces candy

1. preheat your oven to 375F. line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
2. in a large bowl, beat the shortening, sugars, egg, water, and vanilla until creamy.
3. add the cinnamon, salt, baking soda, and flour and mix until combined.
4. add the candy and mix until combined.
5. cover and refrigerate the dough for 30 minutes.
6. roll about 1 to 1 1/2 tablespoons of dough into balls (or use a cookie scoop) and place on the prepared cookie sheet. 
7. bake for 8-10 minutes or just until set and starting to brown. cool on the pan for about five minutes before transferring to a rack to cool completely.
8. store in an airtight container.