We all know and love the classic cookie peanut butter blossoms, but have you ever seen them transformed into adorable little Christmas trees? This year, I’ve decided to add a magical touch to our holiday baking tradition.
Let’s embark on this delightful culinary adventure together and make our Christmas cookies extra special!
The Classic We All Adore
Peanut butter blossoms have been a staple in our holiday baking. Their perfect blend of peanut butter and chocolate has brought smiles to many faces, including our little ones eagerly waiting for a taste.
But this year, I wanted to bring in a little more holiday cheer to this beloved classic.
A New Twist: Christmas Tree Peanut Butter Blossoms
Imagine the usual soft, chewy peanut butter cookie, topped not just with a chocolate kiss but adorned to resemble a miniature Christmas tree. This festive twist is not only visually stunning but also a fun activity to get the kids involved in the kitchen.
Let’s Bake Together!
Here’s how we can transform the classic recipe into these festive delights:
- Preparing the Dough: Start by making your favorite peanut butter cookie dough. The aroma of peanut butter mixed with the excitement of the holidays fills the kitchen, setting the perfect baking atmosphere.
- Baking the Base: Once your dough is ready, shape them into balls and roll them in granulated sugar. Bake them as you normally would. The anticipation builds as they turn golden in the oven!
- Adding the Magic Touch: After baking, while the cookies are still warm, press a chocolate kiss into the center of each cookie. This is where our Christmas tree begins to take shape.
Transforming into Trees
Now, for the fun part – decorating these blossoms into Christmas trees!
- Green Frosting: Using green-tinted frosting, pipe a small swirl starting from the base of the chocolate kiss to the top. This creates the look of a festive tree.
- Sprinkles for Ornaments: Decorate your green frosted trees with colorful sprinkles. This is where you can get creative – use red, green, and white sprinkles to mimic the look of Christmas lights or ornaments.
- The Final Touch: Top each tree with a tiny star sprinkle or any decorative element that signifies the star atop a Christmas tree.
Sharing the Joy of Peanut Butter Blossoms
The best part about these Christmas Tree Peanut Butter Blossoms is the joy they bring, not just in eating them but in making them too. Involve your kids in the decorating process. It’s a wonderful way to create lasting holiday memories and instill in them the joy of baking and creativity.
A Tip for Busy Moms
As moms, we know the holiday season can be hectic. Here’s a tip: the peanut butter dough can be made ahead of time and frozen. Whenever you’re ready to bake, just thaw, shape, and bake! It’s a great way to manage time during the busy holiday season.
Christmas Tree Peanut Butter Blossoms are more than just cookies; they are a symbol of the festive spirit, creativity, and the warmth of sharing. This year, as we add this special twist to our holiday baking, we’re not just creating cookies; we’re making memories, spreading joy, and adding a little extra sparkle to our holiday celebrations.
Happy baking, everyone! May your holidays be as sweet and joyful as these delightful Christmas Tree Peanut Butter Blossoms!
Want more cookies?
Check out the list below for some more of my family favorites.
- Chocolate Snickers Cookies
- Classic German Schokokipeferl
- Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Salted Caramel Peanut and Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Browned Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Peppermint Chocolate Cookies
Here is the complete list of the 12 Days of Cookies!
- Day 1 – Frosted Sugar Cookies
- Day 2 – Christmas Tree Peanut Butter Blossoms
- Day 3 – Holiday Spritz
- Day 4 – Russian Tea Cakes
- Day 5 – Holi-Doodles
- Day 6 – Haystacks
- Day 7 – Lebkuchen
- Day 8 – Molasses Cookies
- Day 9 – Raspberry Thumbprints
- Day 10 – Peppermint Meringues
- Day 11 – Lemon Ricotta Cookies
- Day 12 – Peppermint Chocolate Cookies
Christmas Tree Peanut Butter Blossoms
Ingredients
- 48 Hershey's Kisses chocolate candies
- 1/2 cup shortening (I used Crisco)
- 3/4 cup Peanut Butter
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 1/3 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 1 egg
- 2 Tbsp milk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 sugar, for rolling
- frosting (see link in notes)
- green gel food coloring
- red, green, & white holiday sprinkles
- disposable piping bag fitted with a Wilton #4 piping tip
Instructions
Cookies
- Preheat oven to 375°F and line cookie sheet with parchment paper. Remove wrappers from chocolates.
- Beat shortening and peanut butter in large bowl until well blended.
- Add 1/3 cup granulated sugar and brown sugar; beat until fluffy.
- Add egg, milk and vanilla; beat well.
- Stir together flour, baking soda and salt; gradually beat into peanut butter mixture.
- Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Roll in sugar and place on prepared cookie sheet.
- Bake 7-8 minutes or until lightly browned.
- Immediately press a chocolate into center of each cookie; cookie will crack around edges. Remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. Cool completely.
Assembly
- NOTE: Cookies must be completely cooled & chocolate hardened before decorating.
- Fill the prepared piping bag with green frosting.
- Starting at the base of the Hershey Kiss, pipe a line of frosting that swirls up & around to the top of the kiss.
- Immediately sprinkle with holiday sprinkles.
Notes
For the green frosting, I made my recipe for vanilla buttercream and tinted it with green gel food coloring.
Oh my, Betsy, you have outdone yourself. These are just TOO CUTE!
Thanks Kimmie!! xoxo
I cannot get over the cuteness personified here, loveit! Plus ya know…tastiness!
Me too!! SO DARN CUTE… it almost hurts!! hehe š
Very very cute and festive cookies, Betsy!!
Thanks, Katrina! š
Just made these for my kids (I haven’t decorated them yet) and they are delicious!
This is so creative! Thanks for sharing! Pinned.
Think the little trees are adorable! We’re going to use this idea in our annual Cookie Baking Day.
Thanks, Carol! š They really are a fun twist on a classic cookie! Enjoy!
Love the cookies! However, I’m not a cookie baker, especially making cookies from scratch. Wondering if I could use the peanut butter roll of cookies, slice, add chocolate kiss and the icing to resemble a tree. I’m sure they wouldn’t be as good as yours, however, not as time consuming! š
Love the cookies! However, I’m not a cookie baker – especially baking cookies from scratch. Wondering if I could use the peanut butter cookie roll, slice, add chocolate kiss and green icing to resemble tree…wouldn’t be as good as yours, I’m sure, however, not as time consuming! š
I’m sure you could use the roll of peanut butter cookie dough. Break off a ball of it, roll it in your hands, then roll it in sugar. Bake then press a kiss on top. Allow it to cool completely then decorate the kiss with green frosting. However… It’s been years since I’ve baked pre-made peanut butter dough, so I’m not certain how much it will spread. I’d suggest baking 2-3 in various sizes to see how much dough you’ll need to get the right size. š Hope this helps! š Happy Baking!
*Sigh* Peanut butter blossoms!! My favorite, but what a festive way to spruce up a classic š I’ve introduced them to my German family over here and now they are all begging for the recipe š Might have to try this cute twist on them this year! Thanks!!
This recipe would be simple enough to convert to metric measurements! If peanut butter can’t be found, cookie butter (speculoos) may be an option to replace it. Happy Baking!
PS… I totally just watched 3 of your videos. Let’s connect more… I’d love to chat!
These are so adorable and I bet delicious too! Pinned
I clicked on an appetizer recipe for the recipe and came to this for cookies. Not what I was looking for.
Strange! But thanks for visiting, Betty! š
I love your cute cookies! I plan to make some for the Christmas party however I do have one question to ask. Did you use vegetable or butter shortening?
Thank you
I mean butter flavor shortening
I typically use the regular white shortening… not flavored. But if the butter flavored is all you have, that’ll be okay too š
Can you use butter or margarine instead of shortening?
Also…how do these freeze? Do the kisses turn white in freezer?
Hi Traci – I’m not sure how they freeze, I’ve never done it before. Sorry!
I was searching for a quick peanut butter cookie recipe
I followed the recipe exact but my cookies came out very dry. I’m really disappointed. I expect a peanut butter cookie to be moist. I would not try this recipe again.
I can not thank you enough for this recipe! You make it seem so very simple…the addition of the green icing and sprinkles are awesome! Love this!!!
Absolutely stunning! Thank you on a detailed recipe!
Do you have a recipe for the frosting?
You could get a jar of premade frosting from the grocery store or you could make a batch of vanilla buttercream. I use this recipe: https://javacupcake.com/2016/06/vanilla-buttercream/