Classic 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.
I was inspired to turn this recipe that takes your favorite soft peanut butter cookie and combines it with the classic melt in your mouth goodness of a Hershey’s chocolate kiss candy. And turn the traditional cookies into a super fun, super cute Christmas Tree Peanut Butter Blossoms!
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!
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?
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!
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
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
- green frosting
- 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.
More Family Favorite Cookie Recipes
Obviously, I love peanut butter cookies with chocolate on top, but those aren’t my only favorites. Check out the list below for some more of my family 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.
- 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
Want more cookies?
Check out the main page for the 12 Days of Cookies and you’ll find the links to all the recipes!
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