Name: Best Ever Peanut Butter Christmas Cookies Recipe
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 1 h 2 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1¼ cups all-purpose flour sifted; ½ teaspoon baking powder; ½ teaspoon baking soda; ½ teaspoon kosher salt; 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; 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips; 2 teaspoons coconut or vegetable oil; 3 tablespoons holiday sprinkles

There’s something utterly magical about the crunch of cookies dusted with holiday sprinkles and dipped in luscious chocolate. That’s exactly why the Best Ever Peanut Butter Christmas Cookies Recipe is a staple in my kitchen every festive season—it’s the perfect blend of cozy, sweet, and a little bit special.

The image shows many round cookies with a light brown, crumbly texture. Each cookie is partly dipped in smooth, dark brown chocolate covering about half of the cookie's top side. On the chocolate part, there are colorful sprinkles in red, green, white, and some small flat round shapes mixed with longer strands. The cookies are placed closely together on a white marbled surface with a few crumbs scattered around. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make Best Ever Peanut Butter Christmas Cookies Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Best Ever Peanut Butter Christmas Cookies Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Best Ever Peanut Butter Christmas Cookies Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

Honestly, these cookies hold a special place in my heart, and I can’t wait for you to try them. They bring together that comforting peanut butter flavor with festive touches that make gifting or snacking extra joyful.

Perfectly Balanced Flavors: The creamy peanut butter and semi-sweet chocolate create a match made in holiday heaven.
Textural Delight: Crisp edges with a chewy center make these cookies utterly addictive.
Festive and Fun: Adding sprinkles and chocolate dip makes each cookie party-ready and perfect for celebrations.
Great for Gifting: These cookies keep well and look gorgeous wrapped up as homemade gifts.

A wooden tray holds ten round cookies, each half dipped in dark chocolate and topped with colorful sprinkles in red, green, white, and yellow. The cookies have a light golden color with a slightly cracked texture, and the sprinkles are scattered neatly on the chocolate side, with a few falling onto the tray. The tray sits on a white marbled surface, and part of a white plate with a red rim is visible in the upper left corner. A red, green, and white plaid cloth is partially seen at the bottom right corner. The overall look is festive and inviting, photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

These ingredients aren’t just random—they each play a key role in giving you that cozy, classic cookie experience with a little extra holiday charm. Picking fresh butter and good-quality peanut butter makes a noticeable difference.

Flat lay of a small mound of sifted all-purpose flour, a small white ceramic bowl with a mix of baking powder, baking soda, and kosher salt, a half cup of unsalted butter in a simple white ceramic dish, a dollop of creamy peanut butter on a white ceramic plate, a half cup of granulated sugar in a small white bowl, a half cup of light brown sugar packed in a white ceramic bowl, one large whole uncracked egg, a small white bowl of clear vanilla extract, a simple white ceramic bowl filled with semi-sweet chocolate chips, a small white bowl holding coconut oil, and a small white bowl containing colorful holiday sprinkles, all arranged with perfect symmetry, fresh and natural, placed on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

All-purpose flour: The base that gives structure and stability without getting too dense.
Baking powder and baking soda: These leavening agents help the cookies rise just right—light and tender.
Kosher salt: Essential for balancing sweetness and enhancing flavor.
Unsalted butter: Room temperature butter creams perfectly with sugar for that tender texture.
Creamy peanut butter: Adds rich, nutty flavor and moisture to the dough.
Granulated and light brown sugar: A combo that provides sweetness and a slight chewiness.
Large egg: Binds everything together and helps the dough rise slightly.
Vanilla extract: Deepens the overall flavor with warmth and complexity.
Semi-sweet chocolate chips: The perfect dip to balance salty and sweet for that classic Christmas indulgence.
Coconut or vegetable oil: Mixed into melted chocolate, it makes the coating silky and smooth.
Holiday sprinkles: Just because cookies should look as cheerful as they taste!

📝

Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

I love mixing things up now and then with this Best Ever Peanut Butter Christmas Cookies Recipe—you should feel free to put your own spin on it too! Whether it’s a different chocolate or extra crunch, making it yours makes the process all the more fun.

Crushed Peanuts Variation: I sprinkle a few crushed peanuts on top before the chocolate sets. It adds a lovely salty crunch that’s a crowd-pleaser every single time.
M&Ms fun twist: Swap out sprinkles for colorful mini M&Ms for a fun, chocolaty pop of color and texture.
Salted chocolate finish: Try sprinkling a little flaky sea salt on the chocolate dip to twist the sweet and salty balance deliciously.
Chocolate variations: For a sweeter touch, milk chocolate works wonders, and if you prefer a richer bite, go for dark chocolate.
Seasonal sprinkles: Swap Christmas-themed sprinkles with Valentine's, Easter, or Halloween colors to keep this a go-to year-round treat.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Best Ever Peanut Butter Christmas Cookies Recipe

Step 1: Get Ready and Whisk Dry Ingredients

I always start by lining a big baking sheet with parchment paper and preheating my oven to 375°F. While that’s warming up, I whisk together the sifted flour, baking powder, baking soda, and kosher salt in a bowl. This little step ensures even distribution and keeps things smooth when adding liquids later.

Step 2: Cream the Butters and Sugars Till Dreamy

Using either a stand mixer or hand mixer, I combine the softened butter, peanut butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until everything is smooth and creamy—think fluffy clouds of peanut butter goodness. This takes about 2-3 minutes on medium speed. It’s important not to rush this step because it gives the cookies that perfect tender texture!

Step 3: Add Egg and Vanilla, Then Fold in Dry Ingredients

Next, I crack in the room temperature egg and pour in the vanilla. I mix again until light and fluffy. Then gradually, I pour in those dry ingredients I whisked before, mixing slowly so everything blends without overworking the dough. A quick scrape of the bowl sides ensures no stray flour hides around.

Step 4: Scoop, Press, and Bake

I use a medium cookie scoop to portion out dough balls evenly—spacing them about 2 inches apart to give them room to bake and spread. Then comes the signature step: gently pressing the tops with a fork in a crisscross pattern, twice per cookie. This keeps the shape and gives those classic peanut butter cookie marks.

Bake them for 10-12 minutes, and avoid overbaking! The edges will be just set and lightly golden but soft to the touch. I let the cookies cool completely on a rack before moving on to the chocolate fun.

Step 5: Melt Chocolate and Dip Cookies

Melting chocolate chips in the microwave is my go-to shortcut here—start with one minute, then 30-second bursts stirring in between until perfectly smooth. Adding coconut or vegetable oil makes the chocolate silky and easy to dip.

I dip each cookie halfway in the chocolate, letting the excess drip before placing it on parchment. Then, while the chocolate is still wet, I sprinkle on those joyful holiday sprinkles. Let them sit for about an hour so the chocolate sets beautifully.

Top Tip

From my years of bakers’ trials and many cookie batches, these tips have saved me so much time and hassle—especially during busy holiday baking marathons:

Room Temperature Ingredients: Make sure your butter, egg, and peanut butter are at room temperature for even mixing and the best texture.
Don’t Overbake: Cookies will look slightly soft when you pull them out—this ensures they stay chewy inside once cooled.
Fork Pattern Magic: Press the cookies gently but firmly with the fork for that classic peanut butter cookie look without flattening them too thin.
Sprinkle Timing: Add your sprinkles immediately after dipping in chocolate to prevent them from sliding off and help them stick properly.

How to Serve Best Ever Peanut Butter Christmas Cookies Recipe

peanut butter Christmas cookies - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I stick with classic holiday sprinkles because they add that cheerful pop of color and a tiny crunch I love. Sometimes I toss crushed salted peanuts on the chocolate for extra texture and flavor contrast—it really elevates the cookies!

Side Dishes

These cookies are fantastic alongside a steaming mug of hot cocoa or holiday-spiced coffee. I also like serving them with festive fruit platters for a bright, fresh balance.

Creative Ways to Present

Gift-wise, I love stacking these cookies in clear jars tied with a ribbon. For parties, arranging them on a decorative holiday cookie tray layered with greenery or pinecones really sets the scene.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Leftover peanut butter Christmas cookies stay fresh in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week—perfect if you want to stash some for after the holidays. I keep mine in a single layer with parchment paper between so they don’t stick together.

Freezing

This recipe freezes beautifully. I freeze the baked cookies in a sealed container, layering with parchment to keep them separate, for up to three months. When holiday cookie cravings hit, you can thaw just what you need.

Reheating

To freshen up thawed cookies, I pop them in the microwave for about 10 seconds or the oven at 300°F for 5 minutes. This warms the chocolate and softens the cookie slightly without making it soggy.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use salted butter instead of unsalted butter in this recipe?

Yes! If you use salted butter, be sure to omit the extra ½ teaspoon of salt called for in the recipe to avoid an overly salty cookie.

Do these peanut butter cookies freeze well?

Absolutely. These cookies freeze nicely in an airtight container for up to three months, making them perfect for making ahead and enjoying later. Just thaw before serving.

Can I use melting wafers instead of chocolate chips for dipping?

Yes, melting wafers can be used instead of semi-sweet chocolate chips. They melt smoothly and are a convenient alternative.

Should I roll the cookie dough balls in granulated sugar before baking?

You can! Rolling in granulated sugar adds extra sweetness and a slight crunch. However, since these cookies are dipped in chocolate, I find they’re just right without the sugar coating.

Final Thoughts

This Best Ever Peanut Butter Christmas Cookies Recipe never fails to brighten my holiday baking days. It’s the one recipe I keep coming back to because it’s just so reliably delicious, joyful, and easy to make. I hope you find as much joy in making and sharing these cookies as I do—it's like a warm hug in every bite. Go ahead, treat yourself and your loved ones—you’ll be glad you did!