Peanut Butter Blossoms - A Classic Christmas Cookie Recipe! (2024)

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These Peanut Butter Blossoms are a Christmas tradition! Sweet peanut butter cookies rolled in sparkling sugar, with a milk chocolate kiss in the center!

Love peanut butter cookies? Then check out my traditional chewy peanut butter cookies, peanut butter cookie cups, and peanut butter cup cookies!

Peanut Butter Blossoms - A Classic Christmas Cookie Recipe! (1)

Table of Contents

  • Peanut Butter Blossom Cookies
  • The Best Peanut Butter Blossoms Are Made with Shortening
  • How to Make Peanut Butter Blossoms
  • How to Dress Up Peanut Butter Blossoms
  • How to Store Peanut Butter Blossoms
  • Get the Recipe

    Peanut Butter Blossom Cookies

    It doesn’t matter what you call them, Peanut Butter Blossoms, Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies or even just “you know dear, my favorite peanut butter Christmas cookies!” like my husband’s great Aunt…we all know these classic Christmas cookies!

    These peanut butter blossom cookies have stood the test of time and are now considered a classic. In my house, they are a mandatory Christmas cookie that has to be made every year.

    Peanut Butter Blossoms are a deliciously dense peanut butter cookie, adorned with sparkling granulated sugar and a delicious little Hershey kiss in the center.

    Peanut Butter Blossoms - A Classic Christmas Cookie Recipe! (2)

    The Best Peanut Butter Blossoms Are Made with Shortening

    I feel like I may start a fight here, but I am going to go ahead and say it anyways.

    Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies are best when made with shortening versus butter. Please don’t shoot the messenger!!

    I have tested this recipe both ways, with butter and with butter flavored shortening (like the classic recipe calls for) and they are just better when made with shortening.

    If you use shortening, the cookies will be just a little softer and almost…chewier. It’s hard to describe the difference, but you can taste it in the final texture.

    If you don’t believe me, I recommend making this recipe with shortening and with butter and then doing a blind taste test! It’s actually pretty fun and then you will know which way you prefer best.

    No matter which one you pick — butter or shortening — your peanut butter blossom cookies will be delicious. Just if you choose shortening, they will be just a tad better. ;-)

    Peanut Butter Blossoms - A Classic Christmas Cookie Recipe! (3)

    How to Make Peanut Butter Blossoms

    The cookie recipe itself is very easy to make with a quick and easy peanut butter cookie dough that we roll into balls and then into granulated sugar.

    Place on an uncreased baking sheet — or on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper for easy clean up — and bake for about 8 minutes. It’s better to under-bake the Peanut Butter Blossom cookies than to over-bake them.

    Then fresh out of the oven, press an unwrapped chocolate kiss into the center of each cookie and let the cookies cool and the chocolate re-harden. Adding the chocolate kisses is my girl’s favorite part to help with every year!

    This is honestly the hardest part and I always eat a few warm cookies with melt-y chocolate. It’s my favorite part every year — stealing a few warm ones!

    Peanut Butter Blossoms - A Classic Christmas Cookie Recipe! (4)

    How to Dress Up Peanut Butter Blossoms

    I’m going to be honest with you, these cookies are absolutely spectacular in their classic form and need nothing changed about them.

    However, I understand that sometimes we all need something new and fresh, so I have a few fun suggestions you can try to dress up a Peanut Butter Blossom Cookie.

    1. Switch the kiss in the center for a different flavored kiss – I recommend a dark chocolate kiss instead.
    2. Roll your Peanut Butter Blossoms in different colored sprinkles or sanding sugar. Like red and green sprinkles for Christmas.

    Peanut Butter Blossoms - A Classic Christmas Cookie Recipe! (5)

    How to Store Peanut Butter Blossoms

    You can store your peanut butter blossoms in an airtight container on the counter for up to a week…if they last that long!

    They are also a great cookie to ship to friends/family. They hold up wonderfully and stay looking and tasting great through the shipping process.

    Sadly they do not freeze well. The chocolate kiss usually pops off and they do not thaw tasting the same as they did fresh.

    However, you can make the peanut butter cookie dough ahead of time and store it in freezer and then bake a fresh batch, as desired!

    Peanut Butter Blossoms - A Classic Christmas Cookie Recipe! (6)

    No matter what you do this Christmas, you should bake a batch of these classic Peanut Butter Blossoms.

    They are not only my favorite, but just about everyone’s favorite Christmas cookie recipe. I make a triple batch every year and it’s the first cookie gone every year with our friends/family.

    There is something about the nostalgia with these Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies that keeps everyone coming back for more each year. Well, to be fair, it’s also because they are insanely delicious!

    Please leave a review or comment below letting me know how this recipe turns out for you!

    Peanut Butter Blossoms - A Classic Christmas Cookie Recipe! (7)

    4.5 from 21 votes

    Print Pin Recipe

    Yield: 4 dozen cookies

    Peanut Butter Blossoms Recipe

    These Peanut Butter Blossoms are a Christmas tradition! Sweet peanut butter cookies rolled in sparkling sugar, with a milk chocolate kiss in the center!

    Prep Time15 minutes minutes

    Cook Time8 minutes minutes

    Total Time23 minutes minutes

    Ingredients

    • ½ cup butter flavored shortening, or unsalted butter, softened
    • ¾ cup Creamy Peanut Butter
    • ¼ cup granulated sugar
    • ½ cup packed brown sugar
    • 1 large egg
    • 2 tablespoons whole milk
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
    • 1 teaspoon baking soda
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • granulated sugar, for rolling
    • 48 Milk Chocolate Kisses, unwrapped

    Instructions

    • Heat oven to 375°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper (or leave the cooke sheet ungreased).

    • In a medium sized bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda and salt. Set aside.

    • In a large bowl, beat shortening and peanut butter together until well combined. Add 1/4 cup granulated sugar and brown sugar, beating until fluffy.

    • Add egg, milk and vanilla; beating until well combined. Gradually add flour mixture and beat until a dough forms and everything is well combined.

    • Using a small cookie scoop and your hands, shape dough into 1-inch balls. (If you do not have a small cookie scoop, this is a little more than 1 tablespon worth of dough for each ball.)

    • Roll dough ball in granulated sugar and place on prepared cookie sheet.

    • Bake 8 to 10 minutes or ever so lightly browned on the edges and then remove from oven. You do not want to over bake these cookeis, it will dry them out.

    • Immediately press a chocolate kiss into center of each cookie. Allow cookeis to cool for 5 minutes and then transfer cookies to a cooling rack to cool completely.

    • Store in an airtight container, at room temperauter for up to 7 days.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1, Calories: 93kcal, Carbohydrates: 10g, Protein: 2g, Fat: 6g, Saturated Fat: 3g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Cholesterol: 10mg, Sodium: 89mg, Sugar: 6g

    © Jessica- The Novice Chef

    Cuisine: American

    Category: Cookies

    Categories:

    • 30 Min or Less
    • Candy
    • Chocolate
    • Christmas
    • Cookies
    • Desserts
    • Holidays
    • Recipes

    Post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.

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    Peanut Butter Blossoms - A Classic Christmas Cookie Recipe! (2024)

    FAQs

    Why are my peanut butter blossoms going flat? ›

    Why are my peanut butter blossoms flat? If you do not chill your dough before baking, the cookies will spread and look flat. Chilling allows the butter in the cookie dough to resolidify making for a plump end result.

    Why do peanut butter cookies have fork marks? ›

    The baking company shared that the reason has to do with the consistency of the dough. Because peanut butter cookie dough is dense, using a fork helps flatten it into the ideal shape and thickness, allowing it to bake evenly.

    Why are the peanut butter cookies crumbling? ›

    If you're wanting to use natural (no sugar added) peanut butter, the cookies will be less sweet and they will likely spread out more. Using natural peanut butter will change the structure and texture of the cookies. Why are my cookies dry and crumbly? This is most likely a classic case of using too much flour.

    What happens if you don't flatten peanut butter cookies? ›

    Certain cookies — Sugar Cookies, Snickerdoodles, Classic Peanut Butter Cookies — need to be flattened a bit before they bake, lest they end up emerging from the oven looking like ping-pong balls rather than typical flat, round cookies.

    How to keep peanut butter cookies from going flat? ›

    Cookies will flatten if there is a bit of much fat in the dough, usually butter or shortening. Try adding more flour or oats or something else that will add to the firmness of your dough. Why did my peanut butter cookies turn out flat? Peanut cookies are not hard to make.

    Why do my peanut butter cookies not taste like peanut butter? ›

    The most common mistake with peanut butter cookies is using the wrong type of peanut butter. The BEST peanut butter for today's cookies is a processed creamy peanut butter, preferably Jif or Skippy.

    What is the best peanut butter for baking cookies? ›

    Peanut butter: Creamy peanut butter is ideal for this recipe because crunchy peanut butter creates an overly crumbly cookie. You can use processed peanut butter such as Jif or Skippy, or natural-style peanut butter.

    Why are my peanut butter cookies so oily? ›

    You baked your cookies and they came out an oily greasy mess. Urgh, what an awful feeling! If you've had this happen to you, odds are you made one of two mistakes: either you didn't allow the ingredients to thoroughly mix during the creaming process or you didn't allow the dough to rest enough before baking.

    Should you refrigerate peanut butter cookie dough before baking? ›

    Should you refrigerate peanut butter cookie dough before baking? Optional! This is a really soft dough, so it's easier to handle if you chill it a bit (plus it gives the flavors a chance to deepen). But if you put them in the oven right away, it will work just fine.

    What happens if you leave eggs out of cookies? ›

    Eggs in cookies are like the glue in a craft project – they hold everything together. Without them, your cookies might be crumbly, dry, or lack that rich flavor. But fear not, there are substitutes like applesauce, mashed bananas, or even yogurt that can step in and save the day.

    What can I add to cookie mix to make it better? ›

    Here are some easy switches you can make to upgrade your cookie mix and give it a homemade taste.
    1. Butter Instead of Margarine. ...
    2. Substitute margarine or shortening for butter using a 1:1 ratio. ...
    3. Coconut Oil Instead Of Other Fats. ...
    4. Maple Syrup Instead Of Granulated Sugar. ...
    5. Vanilla Extract. ...
    6. Almond Extract. ...
    7. Rum and Ginger. ...
    8. Cheesecake.

    What happens if you add too much peanut butter to peanut butter cookies? ›

    Too much peanut butter leads to dry cookies

    If you want to nail the perfect ratio of ingredients for maximum peanut flavor but a soft cookie texture, try using no more than 1 cup of peanut butter for every 1 1/2 cups of flour and 1/4 cup of butter.

    Should I let peanut butter cookie dough rest? ›

    We prefer natural peanut butter here, so you can dial in the sugar and salt amounts precisely, and smooth peanut butter over crunchy to better control the cookies' fat and moisture levels. Letting the cookie dough rest ensures the flour is fully hydrated, resulting in crisper edges and chewier middles.

    What if my peanut butter cookie dough is too dry? ›

    Dry – “Dry” or “Crumbly” dough is a product of over-mixing or using too much of any ingredient during the mixing process. This can be reversed by adding one to two tablespoons of liquid (water, milk or softened butter) to your mix.

    Why are my peanut blossoms falling apart? ›

    Why Are My Peanut Butter Blossoms Dry and Crumbly? If your cookies turn out too dry and fall apart, you either baked them too long, or added too much flour.

    How do you keep peanut butter firm? ›

    It's quite simple actually. All you have to do is store the peanut butter jar upside-down in the fridge. Once you're ready to spread or scoop just flip the jar over, open it, and scoop—no stirring required!

    Why is my peanut brittle not airy? ›

    To keep the brittle light and airy, do not spread or flatten the mixture.

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