Q & A With Wiki

The Question: Peanut butter cookies have track marks on them by using a fork. How was that started? Why?

The "Official" Answer: In 1931 the Pillsbury cookbook mentions the need to flatten the peanut butter balls with a fork. The funny thing is that the cook book never mentions why it needs to be flattened. However, with a little more research and some of my own knowledge, I discovered that the peanut butter dough is too dense and therefore would not cook properly, leaving the middle of the cookie to be doughy instead of cookie like. Therefore, by pressing down the dough with a fork, the cookie is evened out properly allowing for even cooking of the entire cookie. From my understanding, the first recipe probably mentions using a fork because it was the only tool on hand at the moment the recipe was written. It is said that anything could be used as long as it flattens the dough.

My "Personal" Answer: Who cares why it's done. I think they do it just to make them look pretty.

Until next time....

Wiki.