My Kitchen Helper and the Peanut Butter Blossoms
My grandson calls these “the hug cookies.” He says the chocolate kiss gives the cookie a big hug. I still laugh at that. Making these peanut butter blossoms with him is my favorite part of holiday baking.
We use natural peanut butter for our recipe. It makes the cookies taste more like real peanuts. This is one of those classic peanut butter blossoms that never goes out of style. Do you have a baking helper in your family too?
Why the Chill Time Matters
You must chill the dough for an hour. I know, waiting is hard! But this step matters so much. It keeps your cookies from spreading too flat in the oven.
Chilled dough makes the best peanut butter blossom cookies. They stay thick and chewy. *Fun fact*: The first peanut butter cookie recipe was printed in a newspaper in 1916! It didn’t have a chocolate kiss on top yet.
The Secret to a Chewy Cookie
Do not over-bake them. Watch for little cracks on top. That is your sign they are ready. The cookies will look a bit soft in the middle. That is perfect.
This is how you get chewy peanut butter cookies. They firm up as they cool. The warm cookie melts the Hershey’s Kiss just right. Doesn’t that smell amazing? What is your favorite smell from the kitchen?
More Than Just a Christmas Cookie
Many think of these as Christmas cookie recipes. We make them for Pi Day too. March 14th! The round cookie with the kiss in the center looks just like a pie symbol.
This shows how food can be for any happy day. It is not just for holidays. An easy peanut butter blossoms recipe is for making memories. That is why this matters. It is about the time spent together.
Your Turn to Bake
This peanut butter cookie recipe is very forgiving. If your balls are not perfect, that is okay. They will taste wonderful. The sugar coating makes them sparkle like little snowballs.
I promise these are the best homemade peanut butter blossoms. Give them a try. Will you use milk chocolate or dark chocolate kisses? Tell me how yours turn out!
Ingredients:
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Natural creamy peanut butter | 3/4 cup | |
| White sugar | 2/3 cup, divided | Divided use in dough and for rolling |
| Unsalted butter | 1/2 cup | |
| Packed brown sugar | 1/2 cup | |
| Large egg | 1 | |
| Vanilla extract | 1 teaspoon | |
| All-purpose flour | 1 1/2 cups | |
| Baking soda | 3/4 teaspoon | |
| Baking powder | 1/2 teaspoon | |
| Salt | 1/4 teaspoon | |
| Milk chocolate candy kisses (e.g., Hershey’s) | 24 pieces | For pressing into baked cookies |
Instructions
Step 1: Let’s make the dough for our classic peanut butter blossoms. Cream the peanut butter, sugars, and soft butter together. It should look fluffy and light. Now mix in the egg and vanilla. Doesn’t that smell amazing already? (Use room-temperature butter for a smoother mix.)
Step 2: Whisk the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in another bowl. Gently stir this into your peanut butter mixture. This is the secret for chewy peanut butter cookies. Now, wrap the dough and chill it. I still laugh at the time I skipped this step.
Step 3: Preheat your oven to 375°F. Roll the cold dough into one-inch balls. Roll each ball in the reserved white sugar. This gives our easy peanut butter blossoms their pretty, sparkly look. Do you know why we chill the dough first? Share below!
Step 4: Place the sugared balls on a baking sheet. Bake them for about 10 minutes. You’ll see little cracks form on top. That’s your sign they’re perfect! This peanut butter cookie recipe is so forgiving. Pull the tray from the oven right away.
Step 5: Now for the magic! Press a Hershey’s Kiss into each warm cookie center. The chocolate will melt just a little. Let them cool completely on the tray. Your best peanut butter blossom cookies are ready. Holiday baking memories are made right here.
Creative Twists
Use dark chocolate kisses for a richer flavor. Try a sprinkle of sea salt on top before baking. Mix a handful of oats into the dough for extra chew. Which one would you try first? Comment below!Serving & Pairing Ideas
These natural peanut butter cookies are wonderful with a cold glass of milk. For a festive plate, mix them with other Christmas cookie recipes. A simple dusting of powdered sugar makes them look like snow. Which would you choose tonight?
Keeping Your Blossoms Fresh and Ready
Let’s talk about storing these sweet treats. Cooled cookies love an airtight container. They stay chewy for a week on the counter. For longer keeping, the freezer is your friend. Place them in a single layer on a tray first. Once frozen, pack them into a freezer bag.
You can also freeze the dough balls. This is a wonderful batch-cook trick. I remember my first big holiday bake. I made all my dough on a Tuesday. Having those frozen balls ready saved my whole week. It made sharing so much easier.
Storing well matters because it saves time and reduces waste. A ready treat brings instant joy to a busy day. It means you can always share a little sweetness. Have you ever tried storing it this way? Share below!
Simple Fixes for Common Cookie Troubles
Even grandmas have cookie mishaps. First, if your dough is too sticky, just chill it. Cold dough is much easier to handle. I once tried to roll warm dough. What a sticky mess that was on my fingers.
Second, if cookies spread too much, check your butter. Was it very soft? Using cooler butter helps them keep their shape. Third, if the chocolate kiss slides off, your cookies were too hot. Let them bake and rest for two minutes first.
Fixing these small issues builds your cooking confidence. You learn how ingredients work together. It also makes sure every batch tastes just right. Which of these problems have you run into before?
Your Quick Questions, Answered
How to make peanut butter blossoms without corn syrup?
This easy peanut butter blossom recipe does not need corn syrup. The brown sugar and butter create a wonderfully chewy texture. They give the cookies their perfect sweetness and soft center. You get the best peanut butter blossom cookies with just simple ingredients. This classic peanut butter blossoms recipe is foolproof without any extra syrups.
Can I use natural peanut butter for peanut butter blossoms?
Yes, natural peanut butter works great here. Just make sure it is well-stirred. Using natural peanut butter makes delicious, rich natural peanut butter cookies. The oil separation can sometimes change the dough texture slightly. But your holiday baking will still be a big success with this peanut butter cookie recipe.
Why do my peanut butter blossoms crack?
Cracking on top is perfectly normal and good. It means you have chewy peanut butter cookies. The cracks are where you press in the chocolate kiss. They are a sign of a perfectly baked cookie from this classic recipe. Do not worry if your Christmas cookie recipes have these lovely cracks.
How to store peanut butter blossom cookies?
Let your Hershey’s Kiss cookies cool completely first. Then layer them in an airtight container. You can use parchment paper between layers. They will stay fresh and chewy for about a week. This keeps your easy peanut butter blossoms ready for any surprise guest.
Can you freeze peanut butter blossom cookie dough?
You can absolutely freeze the dough balls. It is a great holiday baking trick. Roll the dough and coat them in sugar. Then freeze on a tray before bagging them. You can bake frozen dough balls anytime for fresh, warm cookies.
What can I use instead of Hershey’s Kisses on peanut butter blossoms?
You can use other chocolate pieces. Try a chocolate star or a small chocolate square. A fun fact: some folks use a chocolate-covered caramel. Any small chocolate candy will work on this peanut butter cookie recipe. It is your kitchen, so you get to choose.
Which tip will you try first?
From My Kitchen to Yours
I hope you love baking these classic cookies as much as I do. They fill the house with the best smell. Sharing them is my favorite part of any season.
I would love to hear about your baking adventure. Did your family enjoy them? What stories did you share over a plate of warm cookies? Have you tried this recipe? Tell me all about it in the comments below.
Happy cooking!
—Grace Ellington.
Peanut Butter Blossom Cookie Recipe
Description
Classic, soft peanut butter cookies topped with a Hershey’s Kiss for a perfect sweet and salty treat.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Beat peanut butter, 1/2 cup white sugar, butter, and brown sugar together in a bowl until creamy. Beat in egg and vanilla extract until combined.
- Combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in a separate bowl. Stir into the peanut butter mixture. Refrigerate dough for at least 1 hour.
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
- Roll dough into 1-inch balls. Roll in remaining white sugar to coat. Place on baking sheets about 2 inches apart.
- Bake in the preheated oven until cracks form on the surface of the cookies, about 10 minutes. Remove from oven and place a milk chocolate kiss in the center of each cookie, pressing down gently. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.
Notes
- For best results, ensure the dough is well chilled before rolling. Unwrap the chocolate kisses while the cookies are baking so they are ready to press in immediately when the cookies come out of the oven.