Description
These Peanut Butter Christmas Cookies combine classic peanut butter flavor with a festive twist of chocolate dip and holiday sprinkles. Soft, buttery, and deliciously chocolate-coated, these cookies are perfect for holiday gatherings or gifting.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 1¼ cups all-purpose flour sifted
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
Wet Ingredients
- ½ cup unsalted butter room temperature
- ½ cup creamy peanut butter
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup light brown sugar packed
- 1 large egg room temperature
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Chocolate Dip & Decoration
- 2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 2 teaspoon coconut or vegetable oil
- 3 tablespoons holiday sprinkles
Instructions
- Prepare Oven and Baking Sheet: Prepare a large baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper and preheat the oven to 375°F to ensure it reaches the correct temperature before baking.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the sifted all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and kosher salt to distribute the leavening agents and salt evenly.
- Cream Butters and Sugars: In a large bowl or stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream the unsalted butter, creamy peanut butter, granulated sugar, and light brown sugar together until smooth and fluffy, which usually takes a few minutes.
- Add Egg and Vanilla: Beat in the large egg and vanilla extract to the creamed mixture until the batter is light and fluffy, helping to incorporate air for a tender texture.
- Combine Dry and Wet Mixtures: Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients while mixing until just combined. Be sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl to ensure all ingredients are well incorporated.
- Shape Cookies: Use a medium cookie scoop to portion the cookie dough onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing them at least 2 inches apart to allow for spreading.
- Flatten Cookies: Using a fork, gently press down each cookie dough ball in a crisscross pattern with two presses per cookie, taking care to keep the round shape intact.
- Bake: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden but centers are still soft.
- Cool Cookies: Remove from the oven and transfer the cookies to a cooling rack. Allow them to cool completely before decorating.
- Melt Chocolate: In a small mixing bowl, melt the semi-sweet chocolate chips in the microwave for 1 minute, stir, then continue melting in 30-second intervals, stirring after each, until completely smooth.
- Add Oil to Chocolate: Stir in the coconut or vegetable oil to the melted chocolate to achieve a smooth, glossy texture ideal for dipping.
- Dip Cookies: Dip each cooled cookie halfway into the melted chocolate, then place them on parchment paper.
- Add Sprinkles: Immediately sprinkle holiday sprinkles over the chocolate-dipped portions of the cookies before the chocolate sets.
- Set Chocolate: Allow the chocolate dipped cookies to set at room temperature for 1 hour, or until the chocolate has hardened.
Notes
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 7 days to maintain freshness.
- Salted butter can replace unsalted butter, but omit the ½ teaspoon of kosher salt if using salted butter.
- These cookies freeze well for up to 3 months when stored in an airtight container, perfect for making ahead.
- Melting wafers can be used instead of chocolate chips for easier melting and smoother coating.
- Rolling cookie dough balls in granulated sugar before baking adds extra sweetness, but the chocolate dip usually provides enough.
- For variation, top cookies with crushed peanuts along with sprinkles for a crunchy texture and salty flavor.
- Replace sprinkles with festive mini M&Ms for a colorful, chocolaty twist.
- Enhance flavor by sprinkling sea salt on the chocolate-coated cookies before it sets.
- Swap out semi-sweet chocolate chips with milk chocolate for a sweeter taste or dark chocolate for a richer flavor.
- Change sprinkles according to the holiday to use these cookies year-round for occasions like Valentine's Day, Easter, or Halloween.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 150 kcal
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 90 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 15 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 25 mg
