Description
Festive peanut butter cup Christmas cookies blend rich chocolate and creamy peanut butter in a delightful holiday treat. Delicious morsels bring Christmas cheer, inviting you to savor sweet memories of seasonal joy.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- ½ cup (113 grams) creamy peanut butter
- ½ cup (113 grams) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 large egg
- 1 ½ cups (180 grams) all-purpose flour
Sweeteners:
- ½ cup (100 grams) granulated sugar
- ½ cup (110 grams) brown sugar, packed
Flavor Enhancers and Stabilizers:
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 36 mini Reeses peanut butter cups, unwrapped
Instructions
- Prepare the baking environment by warming the oven to 375F (190C) and positioning a mini muffin tin with protective paper liners or light grease coating.
- Create a luxurious cookie base by whipping softened butter, peanut butter, and both sugar varieties until achieving a cloud-like, aerated texture.
- Incorporate the egg and vanilla extract into the creamy mixture, ensuring smooth and thorough integration.
- Separately combine flour, baking soda, and salt, then gently fold these dry ingredients into the wet mixture until a tender, cohesive dough emerges.
- Craft uniform dough spheres approximately one inch in diameter, carefully nestling each into the mini muffin tin compartments.
- Transfer the prepared tin to the preheated oven and bake for 8-10 minutes, watching for delicate golden edges that signal perfect doneness.
- Immediately upon extraction, gently press a mini Reeses peanut butter cup into the center of each warm cookie, allowing slight surface cracking for rustic charm.
- Allow cookies to rest within the tin for ten minutes, facilitating initial stabilization before transitioning to a wire cooling rack.
- Optional festive enhancement includes drizzling melted white chocolate or sprinkling holiday-themed decorative elements for visual appeal.
Notes
- Ensure butter and peanut butter are softened at room temperature for easier mixing and smoother dough consistency.
- Use a cookie scoop or measuring spoon for uniform cookie sizes, creating even baking and professional appearance.
- Prevent overbaking by watching cookies closely; golden edges indicate perfectly baked cookies with soft, chewy centers.
- For gluten-free option, substitute all-purpose flour with gluten-free baking blend, maintaining same measurement proportions.
- Adjust sweetness by selecting different peanut butter brands or using reduced-sugar alternatives for health-conscious bakers.
- Store cookies in airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days, separating layers with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Make ahead and freeze unbaked dough balls for spontaneous baking, extending recipe’s convenience and preparation flexibility.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 24
- Calories: 160
- Sugar: 9 g
- Sodium: 80 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg