Oh, the holiday season! There’s just something about the crunch of snow, the twinkle of lights, and the incredible smell of baking that just fills your heart with so much joy, doesn’t it? And when it comes to classic holiday treats, you just can’t beat a good cookie. My absolute favorite, the one that always disappears first, is Santa’s Favorite Peanut Butter Blossoms. Seriously, they’re a timeless treasure! What makes them so special? It’s that perfect, dreamy combo of chewy peanut butter cookie and that little kiss of rich chocolate right on top. My grandma used to make these for me every single year, and now I make them for my own little ones. It’s a tradition that just feels like a warm hug from the past.

Why You’ll Love Santa’s Favorite Peanut Butter Blossoms

Trust me, these cookies are an instant hit for so many reasons:

Super Easy to Make: Even if you’re a beginner baker, you can whip these up without a fuss.
That Perfect Flavor Combo: The nutty peanut butter and sweet chocolate kiss are a match made in heaven.
Holiday Ready: They look so festive and festive on any cookie platter!
Crowd Pleaser: Everyone, from kids to Santa himself, just adores them!

Gather Your Ingredients for Santa’s Favorite Peanut Butter Blossoms

Okay, so to make these little beauties, you’ll want to have everything ready to go! First up, we need 2 1/4 cups of all-purpose flour, a good teaspoon of baking soda, and about half a teaspoon of salt – that’s our dry mix. Then, for the gooey, yummy part, grab a cup (that’s two sticks!) of unsalted butter that’s been softened – not melted, just nice and soft. You’ll also need 1 cup of creamy peanut butter. For sweetness, we’re using 3/4 cup of regular granulated sugar and 3/4 cup of packed brown sugar; that brown sugar really gives it a nice chew. Two large eggs and a teaspoon of vanilla extract to make it smell amazing. And of course, the star of the show besides the peanut butter: a 12-ounce package of Hershey’s Kisses. You can use milk chocolate, dark chocolate, whatever your heart desires!

Crafting Santa’s Favorite Peanut Butter Blossoms: Step-by-Step

Alright, let’s get our hands a little messy and make some magic happen! This is where the fun really begins. Don’t worry if things don’t look *exactly* like a magazine photo right away – that’s part of the charm, right? It’s all about the love you put into it.

Preparing the Dough for Santa’s Favorite Peanut Butter Blossoms

First things first, get your oven preheated to 375 degrees Fahrenheit (that’s 190 Celsius). While it’s warming up, grab a medium-sized bowl and whisk together your flour, baking soda, and salt. Set that aside for a sec. Now, in a big bowl – the bigger the better, less mess! – cream together your softened butter, that lovely peanut butter, the granulated sugar, and the packed brown sugar. You want this mixture to get nice and light and fluffy; it takes a couple of minutes with an electric mixer, or a good arm workout if you’re doing it by hand! Once it looks creamy and pale, beat in your eggs one at a time, making sure each is mixed in before you add the next. Then, stir in that teaspoon of vanilla extract. Now, slowly add your dry ingredients to the wet mixture. Mix it all up until it’s *just* combined. Seriously, don’t overmix it, or you’ll have tough cookies! For rolling, a tablespoon of dough makes a nice-sized ball, about an inch across. I like to roll them between my palms until they’re smooth, giving them a little roll on the ungreased baking sheets. And hey, if you want to sneak in a peek at similar chocolatey goodness, check out these chocolate chip cookies or maybe these other chocolate chip cookies for more inspiration!

Baking and Finishing Your Santa’s Favorite Peanut Butter Blossoms

Pop those little dough balls onto your ungreased baking sheets – give them a little space, they like to spread out! Bake them for about 9 to 11 minutes. You’re looking for lightly golden edges, but the centers should still look a little soft. That’s key! As SOON as they come out of the oven, and I mean *immediately*, grab your Hershey’s Kisses and gently press one right into the center of each warm cookie. The heat from the cookie will start to soften the chocolate perfectly. If you wait too long, the cookie will harden, and the kiss won’t sink in nicely, or worse, it’ll just melt into a puddle! Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for about 5 minutes – this helps them set up. Then, carefully transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely. Watching that chocolate soften just a bit is pure holiday magic!

Tips for Perfect Santa’s Favorite Peanut Butter Blossoms

Okay, so we’ve made these tons of times, and I’ve picked up a few little tricks along the way that really make a difference. It’s all about those small details, you know?

Ingredient Quality Matters for Santa’s Favorite Peanut Butter Blossoms

Seriously, use good stuff! Make sure your peanut butter is fresh – nobody likes a stale batch. And for the kisses, grab the ones you really love to eat! Whether it’s classic milk chocolate, dark, or even peppermint Kisses for a little twist, the quality really shines through and makes these cookies taste extra special. It’s worth the little extra effort, trust me!

Achieving the Ideal Cookie Texture

Want that perfect chewy center with slightly crisp edges? It’s all in the timing! Don’t overbake them – pull them out when the edges are just golden brown. The center might still look a little soft, but that’s exactly what you want. They’ll continue to bake a bit on the hot pan. If you like them even chewier, maybe shave off a minute from the baking time. For a slightly crisper cookie, bake them for the full 11 minutes. Oh, and if you’re looking for other ways to get that perfect holiday cookie glow, you might want to check out these Christmas chocolate chip cookies for more ideas!

Variations and Festive Touches

Now, I love the classic Santa’s Favorite Peanut Butter Blossoms just as they are, but who doesn’t love a little sparkle and pizzazz, right? You can totally switch things up! Instead of the regular milk chocolate Kisses, try using dark chocolate ones for a richer flavor, or go for the peppermint Kisses if you’re feeling extra festive – they add this wonderful little zing! And don’t forget the sprinkles! A little colorful jimmie sprinkle or even some edible glitter sprinkled on top of the warm cookie before the kiss goes on is just adorable. You could even add a tiny pinch of cinnamon to the dough for a warm, cozy twist. For some other fun holiday ideas, you might check out these Christmas tree cupcakes for kids!

Storing Your Santa’s Favorite Peanut Butter Blossoms

Keeping these little gems fresh is super easy! Once they’ve completely cooled, pop them into an airtight container. They’re happy just sitting on the counter at room temperature for a good 3-4 days. They really do stay wonderfully soft and delicious!

Frequently Asked Questions about Santa’s Favorite Peanut Butter Blossoms

Can I use crunchy peanut butter for Santa’s Favorite Peanut Butter Blossoms?

You sure can! Using crunchy peanut butter will add a fun little texture to your cookies. Just know that they might not roll quite as smoothly into perfect balls, but the taste will still be amazing!

Why did my chocolate kiss melt too much?

This usually happens if you wait too long to press the kiss in after the cookies come out of the oven. For the best result, press it in *immediately* while the cookie is still piping hot. This softens the chocolate just enough without it turning into a big puddle!

How can I make Santa’s Favorite Peanut Butter Blossoms softer?

For softer cookies, try taking them out of the oven just a minute or two sooner than the recipe says. The centers should still look a little underdone when you pull them out. They’ll finish baking on the hot pan and stay wonderfully soft that way!

Nutritional Information

Just a heads-up, the nutritional info is a rough guide! It can totally change depending on the exact brands of ingredients you use and how big you make your cookies. But generally, one cookie clocks in around 150 calories, with about 8g of fat and 17g of carbs.

Share Your Santa’s Favorite Peanut Butter Blossoms Creations!

I just LOVE hearing from you all! Did you make a batch of these amazing Santa’s Favorite Peanut Butter Blossoms? Tell me all about it in the comments below! Did you try a fun variation? How did they turn out? If you snap some photos, I’d be thrilled if you shared them on social media and tagged me! Your creations make my day! And if you loved them (and I know you will!), please consider leaving a quick rating. It really helps others find this recipe! You can also check out our privacy policy for more info.

Santa’s Favorite Peanut Butter Blossoms

Author: habibarecipes
Total Time: 30 min
Yield: 36 cookies 1x
Diet: Vegetarian

Print Recipe

Description

Classic peanut butter cookies topped with a chocolate kiss.

Ingredients

Scale

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1 cup creamy peanut butter
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 (12 ounce) package Hershey’s Kisses

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt.
In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter, peanut butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy.
Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla extract.
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined.
Roll the dough into 1-inch balls.
Place the balls onto ungreased baking sheets.
Bake for 9 to 11 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden.
Immediately press a chocolate kiss into the center of each warm cookie.
Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Notes

For a festive touch, you can use holiday-themed Hershey’s Kisses.
Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature.

Prep Time: 20 min
Cook Time: 10 min
Category: Dessert
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 cookie
Calories: 150
Sugar: 12g
Sodium: 60mg
Fat: 8g
Saturated Fat: 3g
Unsaturated Fat: 5g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 17g
Fiber: 1g
Protein: 3g
Cholesterol: 15mg

Keywords: peanut butter cookies, chocolate kiss cookies, Christmas cookies, holiday baking, Santa's cookies, classic cookies

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