This past weekend at a lunch with friends, someone asked if my family has any Christmas food traditions. At the time, I didn’t really have a great answer—I mean, my family loves to experiment and make all kinds of fun foods for the holidays. We basically take Christmas as an excuse to cook something we normally don’t make—like cornish hens, or braised lamb shanks. One year I even made a stuffed pork tenderloin where I literally had to roll cut the thing (still proud, tbh). But then the more I thought about it, I realized we do have some annual traditions. Mom always makes her famous Chex Mix (recipe to come), along with dozens and dozens of Christmas cookies. These peanut butter blossom cookies are usually on the list.
I admit, I’m not a big cookie person—but I guess you could say out of all of the Christmas cookies mom would make each year, these are my favorite. It has peanut butter and chocolate for crying out loud—what more could you want? I admit I do love baking sugar cookies and gingerbread cookies during the holidays simply because I love to decorate them. But in terms of eating cookies? Peanut butter blossom cookies are always my number one
This Saturday, I’ll be hosting a cookie swap at my apartment—and these cookies will absolutely be making an appearance. So I figured it would be worth sharing them this week in case you also get a craving for some peanut butter and chocolate this holiday season. I mean, when would you not have a craving for peanut butter and chocolate, am I right?
Before we dig in, I do need to make a note that this recipe of mine was originally posted on Eat This, Not That! While it is a recipe of my creation, I do think it’s worth linking out to the original so you’re aware that I’m not copying myself, I guess?
Peanut Butter Blossoms
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter softened
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1 egg
- 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup smooth peanut butter
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp baking powder
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 24-30 Hershey's kisses
Instructions
- Beat together the butter, brown sugar, sugar, egg, and vanilla extract.
- Once mixed, add in the peanut butter. Mix until the peanut butter is fully worked through.
- Add the salt, baking powder, and flour. Mix until a dough has formed.
- Wrap up the dough in plastic wrap and chill in the fridge for 3 hours.
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
- Remove the dough from the fridge and unwrap. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Scoop 1-inch balls and roll, then space the cookie dough balls a few inches apart (about 12 cookies per baking sheet).
- Bake in the oven for 10-12 minutes. While the cookies are baking, unwrap the Hershey's kisses.
- When the cookies come out, gently press a kiss into each peanut butter cookie. Cracks are okay—just don't break the cookie completely! You don't need to press it all the way through the cookie.
- Let the cookies cool a bit before serving—unless you are up for a mouthful of melted chocolate.
Notes
More festive dessert ideas!
Just in case you’re throwing a little holiday shindig and you’re in need of more sweet treats to serve:
- Melty Hot Chocolate Cookies
- Single-Layer Raspberry Chocolate Cake
- 5-Ingredient Key Lime Pie
- Classic Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Salted Caramel Chocolate Blondies
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