Peanut Butter Blossom Cookies at the Table

peanut butter blossoms with Hershey's hugs.

From-scratch Peanut Butter Blossom Cookies, also known as peanut butter kiss cookies, are a classic dessert during the holiday season and a staple on every cookie platter. These soft, nutty treats, adorned with a sweet chocolate kiss, are absolutely irresistible. If your family is anything like ours, these peanut butter blossoms are sure to become a year-round go-to at your house!

Why These Peanut Butter Blossom Cookies Are the Finest You’ll Ever Make

There’s more than one reason why everyone loves peanut butter blossoms. Apart from being utterly tasty, they’re also:

Made with simple ingredients.
Speedy and simple to create.
Soft, thick, and chewy.
Loaded with rich, nutty flavor and plenty of chocolate.
Great to prepare in advance for holiday parties and gifting.

peanut butter blossoms on a cooling rack with a bowl of peanut butter on the side.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Below is an overview of the key ingredients and instructions. Be sure to scroll down to the recipe card for the complete details!

Flour – We use all-purpose flour for the base of the dough. However, if needed, a 1:1 gluten-free all-purpose flour can be substituted.
Butter – We recommend using unsalted butter. If salted is all you have, just be sure to reduce the amount of extra salt included.
Peanut Butter – This is crucial to creating peanut butter blossom cookies. For the finest results, use processed varieties like Jiff or Skippy just like we do in our soft peanut butter cookies and peanut butter chocolate chunk cookies. Natural peanut butter tends to separate, which can cause your cookies to become runny.
Sugar – A combination of granulated sugar (white sugar) and light brown sugar helps sweeten the cookies while keeping them soft and tender.
Large Egg – Just one egg is needed to help create a rich flavor and hold the batter together. We haven’t tested this recipe with egg substitutes and can’t guarantee your results if you do.
Chocolate Kiss Candy – Classic peanut butter blossoms use milk chocolate kisses, but you could use dark chocolate, white chocolate, or swirled varieties, too!
Baking Staples – Baking soda, kosher salt, and pure vanilla extract are used to help create fluffy cookies with the finest flavor.

Step-By-Step Instructions to Create Reliable Peanut Butter Blossom Cookies

If you’ve ever made peanut butter cookies, you already know how to make this recipe! It just requires a few little tweaks.

Prepare. Preheat your oven, and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper or a slipmat.
Mix the dry ingredients. Sift the flour, baking soda, and salt together in a large bowl.
Cream the wet ingredients. Use an electric mixer to cream the butter, peanut butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Add the egg and vanilla, and beat again.
Combine the wet and dry ingredients. Gently mix the flour mixture into the bowl of wet ingredients, stirring just until no streaks remain.
Portion. Use a small ice cream scoop to portion the dough into 1-inch balls, rolling them between your palms. Arrange the cookie dough balls on the baking sheet, leaving space in between each piece.
Bake. Transfer the baking sheet to the preheated oven, and bake until the cookies are light brown and puffed up.
Top. Immediately press the chocolate candies into the center of each cookie, pressing down until they crack just slightly.
Cool. Allow the cookies to cool slightly on the pan. Then, transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Baking Tips

Keep the candies in the freezer. If you’re worried about the chocolate melting, transfer them to the freezer for about ten minutes before topping the cookies. This will keep them solid.
Work quickly. You want to have all your kisses unwrapped and ready to go. The key to getting them to stick is to press them into the dough as it’s warm so it solidifies around the chocolate.
Chill the dough. Chilling the dough isn’t completely necessary for this recipe. We don’t! However, if the dough becomes super soft and you’re having trouble rolling it, transferring it to the fridge for an hour or so is a great way to help it hold its shape.
Use room temperature ingredients. Allow the butter and egg to sit out and come to room temperature before you begin. This will make them simple to blend into the dough, preventing you from overmixing the batter.
Measure carefully. For the finest results, use a food scale to measure the flour. Or, if that isn’t an option, use the spoon and level method instead.
Add more sugar. If you want super festive, sparkly peanut butter blossom cookies, roll the cookie dough balls in sanding sugar before baking.

a white bowl of cookies with Hershey's hugs.

Common Questions About This Peanut Butter Blossom Cookies Recipe

Why do my peanut butter blossoms go flat?

That usually means the dough was too warm or the butter was too soft. Try chilling the dough for 30 minutes before baking—it helps keep that nice round shape and gives the cookies a better bite.

Can you roll peanut butter blossoms in something besides sugar?

For sure! Try rolling them in cinnamon sugar for a snickerdoodle twist or even crushed nuts for extra crunch. You can even do a holiday version with colored sugar to match the season.

What makes peanut butter blossoms a holiday cookie?

They show up on cookie trays everywhere during the holidays—maybe it’s the sparkle from the sugar coating, maybe it’s nostalgia, or maybe it’s because they look festive without being fussy. Either way, they’re always a win.

What type of peanut butter is finest for blossom cookies?

Classic silky peanut butter is your finest bet—something smooth and not too oily. Natural peanut butters can sometimes mess with the texture, so stick with tried-and-true brands for the finest results.

More Holiday Cookie Recipes

If you’re as enthusiastic as we are about filling up your holiday dessert table with sweets or gifting from-scratch sweets, you’ll love these holiday cookie recipes!

overhead image of bowls of peanut butter blossoms on a wire rack.

the Ayyem kitchenServings: 60 cookies

Prep: 5 mins
Cook: 8 mins
Total: 13 mins

A fun take on a classic Christmas cookie recipe, these peanut butter blossom cookies are soft, chewy, and full of nutty chocolate flavor! Email

Ingredients

1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour leveled
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon kosher salt
8 Tablespoons unsalted butter room temperature
2/3 cup smooth peanut butter
½ cup granulated sugar + more for rolling
½ cup light brown sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
5 dozen one 11-ounce package Hershey’s Kisses, frozen

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
In a large bowl, sift the flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon baking soda, ½ teaspoon kosher salt
Use an electric mixer to cream the butter, peanut butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar. Add the egg and vanilla, and beat again until well blended.8 Tablespoons unsalted butter, 2/3 cup smooth peanut butter, ½ cup granulated sugar + more for rolling, ½ cup light brown sugar, 1 large egg, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Gently mix the flour mixture into the bowl of wet ingredients, stirring until no streaks remain.
Use a small ice cream scoop to portion the dough into 1-inch balls, and roll them into circles. Place the dough on the cookie sheet roughly 2 inches apart.
Bake for 8-10 minutes or until the cookies are light brown and puffed.
Remove the cookies from the oven, and immediately press a Hershey’s kiss into the center of each cookie allowing them to crack slightly.5 dozen
Cool slightly, and enjoy.
Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.