Get ready to bake a truly special holiday treat! This classic Christmas peanut butter blossoms recipe brings joy with every bite. You’ll love the soft, chewy peanut butter cookies, perfectly topped with a sweet, melty chocolate kiss. These iconic cookies are a staple for festive baking, making your holiday season even brighter and more delicious. This recipe truly becomes a family favorite quickly.
Why You’ll Love This Christmas Peanut Butter Blossoms Recipe
You’ll adore baking this Christmas peanut butter blossoms recipe for many reasons.
- Timeless Family Tradition: These delightful cookies evoke warm holiday memories and create new ones.
- Simple, Beginner-Friendly Baking: Our clear, step-by-step instructions make baking accessible for everyone.
- Festive Appearance with Sprinkles: Adorn your cookies with colorful sprinkles for an extra touch of holiday cheer.
- Irresistible Sweet and Salty Flavor: The perfect balance of rich peanut butter and sweet chocolate is simply divine.
- Perfect for Holiday Platters: These beautiful cookies are a standout addition to any festive dessert spread or cookie exchange.
Ingredients
Gather your ingredients for this delightful Christmas peanut butter blossoms recipe. Using good quality ingredients makes all the difference in flavor and texture.
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 large egg
- 1 1/4 cups + 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 24 Hershey’s Milk Chocolate Kisses, foil wrappers removed
- Optional: Red, green, and white sugar sprinkles
Notes & Substitutions
For the best results with these peanut butter kiss cookies, choose a shelf-stable creamy peanut butter brand like Jiffy or Skippy. Avoid natural peanut butter as its oil separation can affect the cookie dough’s consistency. If using gluten-free flour, opt for a 1:1 gluten-free baking blend that contains xanthan gum. Ensure your butter is at room temperature; it creams better with sugar, creating a light, airy dough. You can also experiment with different chocolate kisses, like dark chocolate, white chocolate, or peppermint-filled varieties, for unique flavor profiles.
Equipment
Having the right tools makes baking these holiday peanut butter cookies a breeze.
- Stand mixer or electric hand mixer
- Large mixing bowls (2)
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Cookie scoop (1 tablespoon size)
- Parchment paper
- Baking sheets
- Wire cooling rack
Instructions
Follow these simple steps to create your perfect Christmas peanut butter blossoms recipe. Precision ensures delicious, consistent cookies every time.
- Preheat Oven & Prepare Sheets: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper; this prevents sticking and ensures even baking.
- Cream Butter & Sugars: In a large mixing bowl, using your stand mixer or hand mixer, cream together the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until the mixture is light, fluffy, and pale in color. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed to ensure everything combines evenly.
- Mix Wet Ingredients: Beat in the creamy peanut butter and vanilla extract until well combined. Then, add the large egg, mixing until it is just incorporated into the dough. Avoid overmixing once the egg is added.
- Whisk Dry Ingredients: In a separate medium bowl, sift together the all-purpose flour, salt, and baking soda. Sifting removes lumps and ensures these dry ingredients are evenly distributed.
- Combine Mixtures: Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined. Overmixing will develop the gluten in the flour, which can lead to tough cookies. The dough for this Christmas peanut butter blossoms recipe should be soft.
- Chill Dough: Cover the cookie dough and chill it in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. This crucial step helps prevent the cookies from spreading too much during baking, ensuring they hold their classic blossom shape beautifully.
- Scoop & Roll: Use a 1-tablespoon cookie scoop or a mounded tablespoon to portion out the dough. Roll each portion into a smooth, even ball. Place these dough balls about 2 inches apart on your prepared baking sheets.
- Add Sprinkles (Optional): If desired, gently roll each dough ball in your festive red, green, and white sugar sprinkles before placing them on the baking sheet. This adds a beautiful, sparkling finish.
- Bake Cookies: Bake for 6-10 minutes. For a very chewy cookie, aim for 6 minutes. For a crispier cookie, bake for 10 minutes or slightly longer. Watch for the edges to be lightly golden and set. The cookies from this Christmas peanut butter blossoms recipe bake quickly.
- Add Chocolate Kisses: Immediately upon removing the baking sheets from the oven, gently press one Hershey’s Milk Chocolate Kiss into the center of each warm cookie. The residual heat will slightly melt the chocolate, making it adhere perfectly. Each cookie from this Christmas peanut butter blossoms recipe gets a sweet chocolate kiss.
- Cool Completely: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes before carefully transferring them to a wire cooling rack to cool completely. This helps them set up and prevents them from breaking.
Pro Tips for Perfect Peanut Butter Blossoms
Achieving perfect blossom cookies is easy with a few expert tips. These small adjustments make a big difference for your holiday baking delight.
- Peanut Butter Choice: Always use shelf-stable, creamy peanut butter. Natural peanut butter tends to be too oily and can make your dough difficult to work with.
- Avoid Overmixing: Mix the dough only until ingredients are just combined. Overmixing develops gluten, leading to tougher, less tender cookies.
- Chilling is Key: Don’t skip chilling the dough for at least 30 minutes. This prevents spreading and helps maintain the cookies’ classic round shape.
- Adjust Bake Time: Know your oven! Bake for 6 minutes for a softer, chewier cookie, or up to 10 minutes for a crisper texture. The edges should look set.
- Immediate Chocolate Kisses: Press the chocolate kisses into the cookies as soon as they come out of the oven. The warmth helps the chocolate melt slightly and stick.
- Accurate Measurements: Use proper measuring cups and spoons, leveling off flour precisely. As highlighted by Hill Street Grocer, accurate measurements are crucial in baking to ensure correct ingredient ratios and successful outcomes for your Christmas peanut butter blossoms recipe.
Serving, Storage, and Variations
These delicious peanut butter blossom cookies are incredibly versatile and perfect for sharing. Serve them warm or cooled as a festive treat at any holiday gathering. They are an absolute star for cookie exchanges, bringing smiles to everyone.
For storage, keep baked cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5-7 days. To enjoy them longer, freeze the baked cookies in a single layer on a baking sheet until solid, then transfer them to a freezer-safe bag or container for up to 3 months. You can also freeze unbaked dough balls; simply thaw slightly before baking, or bake from frozen, adding a few extra minutes to the bake time.
Flavor Variations
Get creative with your Christmas peanut butter blossoms recipe!
- Chocolate Kisses: Use dark chocolate, white chocolate, or even caramel-filled kisses for different flavor experiences.
- Add-ins: Fold in 1/2 cup of mini chocolate chips or finely chopped nuts into the dough for extra texture.
- Decorative Touches: Experiment with different colored sanding sugars or finely crushed peppermint candies instead of traditional sprinkles.
Nutrition Information
This Christmas peanut butter blossoms recipe yields approximately 27 servings. Here’s an estimated nutritional breakdown per cookie, but remember these are estimates and can vary based on specific ingredients and brands used.
| Nutrient | Amount (Estimated per cookie) |
|---|---|
| Calories | 160 |
| Total Fat | 8g |
| Saturated Fat | 4g |
| Cholesterol | 15mg |
| Sodium | 90mg |
| Total Carbohydrates | 20g |
| Dietary Fiber | 1g |
| Total Sugars | 14g |
| Protein | 3g |
Please note: This information is an estimate. Exact values may vary depending on specific ingredients and portion sizes.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: What type of peanut butter is best for this Christmas peanut butter blossoms recipe?
A: Use a creamy, shelf-stable peanut butter like Jiffy or Skippy. Natural peanut butter tends to be too oily and can alter the dough’s consistency, making it harder to work with.
Q: Can I make these cookies gluten-free?
A: Yes, you can! Substitute the all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free baking flour blend that contains xanthan gum. The taste and texture will remain quite similar.
Q: Are sprinkles necessary for the taste of these cookies?
A: Sprinkles are purely for decoration and do not affect the taste of the cookies. Feel free to skip them if you prefer a simpler look.
Q: Why is my cookie dough crumbling?
A: Your dough might be too dry. Ensure accurate measurements, especially of flour. Adding an extra teaspoon of milk or water, very slowly, can help if it’s too crumbly.
Q: Can I make the dough ahead of time?
A: Absolutely! You can prepare the dough and chill it in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days before baking. This makes holiday baking even more convenient and stress-free.
Conclusion
This classic Christmas peanut butter blossoms recipe is a heartwarming addition to any holiday celebration. With its irresistible sweet and salty flavor and charming festive appearance, it’s sure to become a beloved tradition in your home. We encourage you to try this simple, beginner-friendly recipe and share these delightful cookies with your loved ones this season. Happy baking and happy holidays from our kitchen to yours!
