Description
Delight in the festive flavors of Peanut Butter Christmas Cookies, featuring a tender peanut butter base dipped in smooth semi-sweet chocolate and adorned with holiday sprinkles. Perfect for holiday gatherings or gifting, these cookies offer a classic combination of sweet and salty with a joyful seasonal touch.
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 and Toppings
- 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 2 teaspoons coconut or vegetable oil
- 3 tablespoons holiday sprinkles
Instructions
- Prepare for Baking. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper and preheat your oven to 375°F to ensure even baking.
- Mix Dry Ingredients. In a medium bowl, whisk together the sifted all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and kosher salt to evenly distribute the leavening agents and salt.
- Cream Butter and Sugars. In a large bowl or stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the unsalted butter, creamy peanut butter, granulated sugar, and light brown sugar together until smooth and creamy for a tender cookie base.
- Add Egg and Vanilla. Incorporate the large egg and vanilla extract into the mixture, beating until the dough becomes light and fluffy to improve texture and flavor.
- Combine Dry and Wet Ingredients. Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Scrape down the bowl sides as needed to ensure all flour is incorporated.
- Portion Dough. Use a medium cookie scoop to portion out the dough onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing them at least 2 inches apart to allow spreading.
- Shape Cookies. Gently press each dough ball with a fork in a crisscross pattern with two presses to flatten slightly while maintaining the cookie shape.
- Bake. Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 12 minutes until golden around the edges. Remove from oven and transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely, about 30 minutes.
- Melt Chocolate. In a small bowl, melt the semi-sweet chocolate chips in the microwave starting with 1 minute, stirring well, then continue melting in 30-second intervals, stirring between each, until smooth and fully melted.
- Add Oil to Chocolate. Stir in the coconut or vegetable oil to the melted chocolate until fully combined, which helps achieve a smooth, glossy finish for dipping.
- Dip and Decorate. Dip each cooled cookie halfway into the chocolate, then set on parchment paper and sprinkle immediately with holiday sprinkles for a festive finish.
- Set Chocolate. Allow the dipped cookies to set at room temperature for 1 hour until the chocolate hardens and coating is firm.
Notes
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 7 days to maintain freshness.
- You may substitute salted butter for unsalted butter but omit the additional ½ teaspoon salt to balance flavor.
- These cookies freeze well in an airtight container for up to 3 months, perfect for preparing ahead.
- Melting wafers can be used instead of chocolate chips for dipping if preferred.
- Rolling cookie dough balls in granulated sugar before baking adds extra sweetness but is optional since the chocolate dip provides sufficient sweetness.
- For variation, top cookies with crushed peanuts along with sprinkles for added crunch and flavor.
- Replace holiday sprinkles with mini M&Ms for a colorful, chocolaty twist.
- A sprinkle of sea salt on the melted chocolate adds a delightful sweet-salty contrast.
- You can swap semi-sweet chocolate for milk chocolate for sweeter cookies or dark chocolate for a richer taste.
- Change sprinkles seasonally to make these cookies suitable for any holiday celebration.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 150 kcal
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 90 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 25 mg
