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Christmas Tree Peanut Butter Blossoms

Classic Christmas Tree Peanut Butter Blossoms cookies are one of my all-time favorite treats! 

There is nothing that satisfies like the salty-sweet combination of chocolate and peanut butter.  

Inspiration

I was inspired to transform a recipe classic recipe into these Christmas Tree Peanut Butter Blossoms. So, I began with a favorite soft peanut butter cookie with the classic melt in your mouth goodness of a Hershey’s chocolate kiss candy and decorated it for Christmas.

It was super easy too! All I needed was green frosting and holiday sprinkles! 

Use a bit of green frosting to pipe around the kiss on top of the cookie, then add sprinkles to make it look like a tree.

It’s a fun way to dress them up for a holiday party, cookie swap or your cookie platter for Christmas.

They took just a few minutes to decorate but they are impressive!

Peanut butter blossoms set out on a table for a party.

Are there other ways to make Peanut Butter Blossoms fun for Christmas?

Yes, you can add in some holiday-colored sprinkles to the dough. I have even seen people add food coloring in green and red to the dough to make the cookies themselves holiday colors. 

Just have fun with it and know that no matter what they look like, everyone loves getting cookies as a gift. 

Classic Peanut Butter Blossom Cookies 

We have all had this cookie at some point in our life.  Grandma’s made them when we came over for the weekend, or maybe it was served at a birthday party. 

Many use these as a favorite holiday cookie treat. No matter where you have had peanut butter blossom cookies, you will recognize the pointy top of the kiss on top and know it is a peanut butter cookie on the bottom. 

What makes my recipe the best recipe for peanut butter blossom cookies? 

I think it is in the use of shortening versus butter in the dough.  I love the flavor of butter, but when you want a cookie that stands up better to shape, shortening is a must!

It could, of course, be that I always make these cookies with love in my heart. 

Knowing I am making something yummy for my family – well, that does add flavor to them. Doesn’t it? 

Peanut butter blossom cookies decorated for Christmas. Served on a white cake stand.

Can I freeze these cookies for later? 

Yes! 

That is, in fact, one of the best parts of this cookie. 

You can make the peanut butter dough ahead of time and roll into balls, then freeze those to grab a single cookie at a time to bake. Just leave the Hershey Kiss off until ready to bake. 

I like to make the dough in big batches, then flash freeze balls of it on a cookie sheet.  Once they are mostly frozen, I will drop them into a large freezer bag that has been labeled and dated. 

This makes it easy for me to grab just 4-6 cookies at a time. Without a huge batch on the counter, I am better at self-control.  

Just keep a bag of Kisses in the pantry for those days you want a few peanut butter blossom cookies!

Ingredients to make Christmas tree peanut butter blossoms

Variations on peanut butter blossoms 

Of course, this recipe is a classic that needs no updates. 

However, sometimes I am in the mood for something different.  That’s why I enjoy doing unique things that will add extra flavor to a batch of these cookies. 

Below are some of my favorite ways to switch things up. 

  • Instead of coating the cookies in just sugar, make it cinnamon sugar for a peanut butter snickerdoodle effect
  • Use hugs or caramel kisses instead of traditional chocolate
  • Mix mini chocolate chips into the cookie dough
  • Use crunchy peanut butter
  • Mix in chopped peanuts, pecans, or even walnuts into the dough

More Family Favorite Cookie Recipes 

Obviously, I love peanut butter cookies with chocolate on top, but those aren’t my only favorites. 

Have fun in the kitchen with your kids whipping up a batch of delicious cookies to share over a tall glass of milk, or with a hot cup of cocoa. 

Check out the list below for some more of my family favorites.

Want more cookies?

Here is the complete list of the 12 Days of Cookies!

More Blossoms

Enjoy these other variations of the classic peanut butter blossom cookie!

Christmas Tree Peanut Butter Blossoms

Christmas Tree Peanut Butter Blossoms

Yield: 4 dozen cookies
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 7 minutes
Total Time: 22 minutes

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
  • green frosting
  • red, green, & white holiday sprinkles
  • disposable piping bag fitted with a Wilton #4 piping tip

Instructions

Cookies

  1. Preheat oven to 375°F and line cookie sheet with parchment paper. Remove wrappers from chocolates.
  2. Beat shortening and peanut butter in large bowl until well blended.
  3. Add 1/3 cup granulated sugar and brown sugar; beat until fluffy.
  4. Add egg, milk and vanilla; beat well.
  5. Stir together flour, baking soda and salt; gradually beat into peanut butter mixture.
  6. Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Roll in sugar and place on prepared cookie sheet.
  7. Bake 7-8 minutes or until lightly browned.
  8. Immediately press a chocolate into center of each cookie; cookie will crack around edges. Remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. Cool completely.

Assembly

  1. NOTE: Cookies must be completely cooled & chocolate hardened before decorating.
  2. Fill the prepared piping bag with green frosting.
  3. Starting at the base of the Hershey Kiss, pipe a line of frosting that swirls up & around to the top of the kiss.
  4. Immediately sprinkle with holiday sprinkles.

I love Croatia

Sunday 3rd of January 2021

Absolutely stunning! Thank you on a detailed recipe!

Becca

Monday 17th of December 2018

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!!!

Angel

Saturday 23rd of December 2017

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.

Traci

Monday 15th of December 2014

Can you use butter or margarine instead of shortening?

Traci

Monday 15th of December 2014

Also...how do these freeze? Do the kisses turn white in freezer?

Shelley Stout

Saturday 13th of December 2014

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

Betsy Eves

Monday 15th of December 2014

I typically use the regular white shortening... not flavored. But if the butter flavored is all you have, that'll be okay too :)

Shelley Stout

Sunday 14th of December 2014

I mean butter flavor shortening

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