12 Days of Christmas Cookies
Soft, chewy peanut butter cookies rolled in sugar and topped with a Hershey kiss. These cookies should be a little crisp on the outside and soft and chewy within.
An old favorite.
My first introduction to the magical world of chocolate and peanut butter!
A pairing made in Heaven.
I am persnickety about my Peanut Butter Blossoms. {Can you even imagine?} I prefer to eat them 1-3 hours after they come out of the oven or slightly warmed up. You know, when the Kiss hasn’t quite firmed up yet, so you get a little melty, milk chocolate in each bite. That’s the stuff.
Truth be told, when cooled completely, I eat the cookie and then the Kiss.
The trick to making these soft is roll ‘em big and underbake. It’s the only way. I ruined 3 dozen cookies trying to bake 1 inch balls into soft, chewy perfection. No. Not with this recipe.
I used the Gold Standard Betty Crocker recipe but I made a few tweaks. A little vanilla, a little pinch of salt, a different baking temperature and a different order of combination of ingredients. Nothing major but sometimes it’s the little things that count. (Or at least that’s what I was told last Christmas. #justkidding Tee hee.)
I searched each and every single one of my old cookbooks and came up with approximately zero recipes for Peanut Butter Blossoms.
Not one.
So I did a little digging and I found that Mrs. Freda F Smith created these magical cookies for the Pillsbury National Bake Off in 1949. They were runner-up but have been gracing the cookie tray ever since. I wonder what won? Must have been awesome.
The Betty Crocker recipe is almost identical to the original recipe except it has a bit less flour, an extra egg and they eliminated the vanilla, which I unwittingly added back in!
Peanut Butter Blossoms are a Christmas Cookie favorite but you will love these classic peanut butter chocolate classics all year round! They are incredibly easy to make and chocolate and peanut butter is an all-year-round kinda thing.
These Peanut Butter Blossoms are for the fifth day of my 12 Days of Christmas Cookies. You won’t want to miss the Old Fashioned Oat Lace Cookies, Raspberry Linzer Cookies, Holiday Bark or Cherry Pecan Cookies!
Soft, chewy peanut butter cookies rolled in sugar and topped with a Hershey kiss. These cookies should be a little crisp on the outside and soft and chewy within. A classic for a very good reason - they are delicious!
Ingredients
- ¼ cup granulated sugar plus more for rolling
- ½ cup packed light brown sugar
- ½ cup butter, softened
- ½ cup creamy peanut butter (I use Jiff)
- 1 egg
- ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ¾ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- pinch kosher salt
- 3 dozen Hershey Kisses (buy one 12 oz bag – you’ll have some leftover!)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350° F.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, soda, powder, and salt. Set aside.
- In a large bowl cream together butter, granulated sugar and brown sugar until light and fluffy; add peanut butter, beat until incorporated; add egg and vanilla, beat until incorporated. You can beat with a hand mixer on medium speed or a wooden spoon.
- Add the flour in 3 additions, mixing on low speed between each one.
- Shape dough into 2-inch balls and roll in granulated sugar. Place 2 inches apart on an ungreased, unlined baking sheet. Bake 8 minutes or until the edges just begin to crack but there are no deep crevices in the center. Immediately press a Kiss in the center of each cookie and remove to a wire rack to cool.
- Store in an airtight container. They are best eaten within 4 days.
Notes:
Recipe based on Betty Crocker
More Holiday Treats to Make the Season Bright!
Spiced Apple Cider Cranberry Cupcakes
Soft Nutella Chocolate Chip Cookies
31 Comments
Sophie
December 13, 2014 at 10:29 amI love these special sort cookies! They look like fun to make!
MMMMM,…I never tasted such a special cookie before! 🙂
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice
December 13, 2014 at 2:04 pmPeanut butter blossoms are one of my favorite cookies! Love the peanut butter dough combined with the chocolate. Such a great cookie for the holidays, Lindsey!
Lindsey
December 13, 2014 at 11:22 pmAgreed! Mmmm peanut butter!
Kelly @ Trial and Eater
December 13, 2014 at 6:33 pmI L.O.V.E. peanut butter blossoms – best combo ever.
Lindsey
December 13, 2014 at 11:19 pmMe too Kelly!!!
Kathleen @ Yummy Crumble
December 13, 2014 at 10:28 pmI love vintage recipes! These look awesome and perfect for a cookie swap 🙂
Lindsey
December 13, 2014 at 11:21 pmMe too, Kathleen! They make me happy!
Alice @ Hip Foodie Mom
December 14, 2014 at 12:28 amoh my goodness! I read that same article about Mrs. Smith!! I absolutely love Peanut Butter Blossoms and for me, this cookie is truly a classic and are to enjoyed all year round!! love these!!
Lindsey
December 14, 2014 at 9:25 amDid you really!? I thought I was the only foodie nerd who just needed to know where the recipe came from!
Oana
December 14, 2014 at 7:16 amSuch a lovely treat for peanut butter lovers! Myself included! Thanks for sharing the recipe!
I’m loving your holiday treats, but those pecan cherry cookies instantly caught my attention, so delicate and elegant!
Lindsey
December 14, 2014 at 9:26 amThanks, Oana! The cherry pecan cookies are my favorite photos so far!
Sophia
December 14, 2014 at 7:58 amI love your cookies, you always make amazing cookies and these are no exception. They looks so moist and chewy, my fav type of cookie. I wonder what won too, they mast have been out of this world cookies.
Lindsey
December 14, 2014 at 9:27 amThanks, Sophia!!
David @ Spiced
December 15, 2014 at 7:58 amThere they are! I’ve been wondering when my first-place tie cookies would show up…and now I found them! But the kiss last? I’m more of the kiss first kinda guy? The chocolate is delicious and all…but let’s move past that and save that delicious cookie for last!
Lindsey
December 15, 2014 at 4:26 pmHaha! You are right. Truth be told I eat around the kiss and cookie under the kiss, then eat the kiss, then eat the last bit of chewy cookie. But that seemed like a whole lot to explain to people and it made me feel a little odd, so I left it out! 😉
marcie
December 15, 2014 at 1:44 pmPeanut butter blossoms — you just can’t go wrong! They’re one of the ultimate Christmas cookies, and these look so fluffy, chewy, and perfect!
Kelly - Life Made Sweeter
December 15, 2014 at 3:36 pmPeanut butter blossoms are one of my favorite holiday cookies! Underbaked and chewy cookies are my weakness! I love how gorgeous and perfect yours look!:)
Lindsey
December 15, 2014 at 4:17 pmMine too! My husband just cannot understand but under-baked goods lovers unite!
Renee @ Two in the Kitchen
December 15, 2014 at 8:08 pmI just recently posted Peanut Butter Blossoms as well. They are my favorite Christmas cookie and I agree: Underbaked and chewy are the way to go!! 🙂
Lindsey
December 16, 2014 at 12:26 amUnderbaking is not optional! I’ll have to check out yours!
Kristi @ Inspiration Kitchen
December 15, 2014 at 8:20 pmLindsey, Sea-Tac airport just called and said that you’d be flying in to make me these cookies, but they wouldn’t tell me an arrival time. Tell me darling, when can I expect you? 🙂 They look FABulous. But, do you do any less? Ummmmm…that would be no. It’s ALL FABulous! xoxo
Lindsey
December 16, 2014 at 12:27 amALOL! You crack me up! I wish I could fly in to bring you cookies!
Kayle (The Cooking Actress)
December 16, 2014 at 7:48 pmomigosh I’m exactly the same about pb blossoms!!!
and yours look like the best evahhh!
Lindsey
December 17, 2014 at 1:49 pmMust.Be.Chewy!
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Tara
December 18, 2017 at 3:01 pmgreat cookies! With a 2″ cookie scoop, I was only able to get 21 cookies total, no where near 3 dozen as the recipe specified. Guess I’ll have to make another batch!!
Lindsey
December 26, 2017 at 1:17 pmHi Tara, This year I made them with a much smaller cookie scoop, plus then you get more chocolate kiss for your blossom! I used a 3/4″ scoop, which I like much better!
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