Name: Peanut Butter Christmas Cookies with Chocolate Recipe
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 1 h 20 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1¼ cups all-purpose flour sifted; ½ teaspoon baking powder; ½ teaspoon baking soda; ½ teaspoon kosher salt; 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; 2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips; 2 teaspoon coconut or vegetable oil; 3 tablespoons holiday sprinkles

Nothing says holiday magic quite like the sweet, nutty aroma of fresh-baked peanut butter cookies dipped in glossy chocolate. This Peanut Butter Christmas Cookies with Chocolate Recipe brings that cozy, festive feeling right into your kitchen, delivering chewy, melt-in-your-mouth bites perfect for sharing (or sneaking a few when no one’s looking!).

The image shows several round, light brown cookies with a rough texture arranged closely on a white marbled surface. Each cookie is half covered with smooth, dark chocolate on top, and the chocolate is decorated with colorful sprinkles in red, white, green, and yellow. Some sprinkles are round flat dots, while others are small sticks. The cookies overlap slightly, and some crumbs are scattered around them. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make Peanut Butter Christmas Cookies with Chocolate Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Peanut Butter Christmas Cookies with Chocolate Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Peanut Butter Christmas Cookies with Chocolate Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

I've tried a lot of peanut butter cookie recipes over the years, but this Peanut Butter Christmas Cookies with Chocolate Recipe stands out for its perfect balance of rich peanut butter flavor and festive chocolate dipped indulgence. It’s seriously the kind of treat that makes holiday baking feel joyful and rewarding.

Easy to Make: The steps are straightforward, and you won’t need any fancy equipment beyond basics you already have in your kitchen.
Perfect Holiday Flair: Dipping in melted chocolate and adding sprinkles makes these cookies look as festive as they taste.
Customizable: Want to swap sprinkles for nuts or try different types of chocolate? It’s all up to you!
Great for Gifting: They freeze well and store beautifully, so you can make a big batch early and still impress friends and family later.

The image shows a wooden square plate filled with ten round cookies arranged randomly. Each cookie is half dipped in dark brown chocolate on one side, topped with colorful festive sprinkles in red, green, yellow, and white. The cookies have a light golden brown color with a slightly crisscross textured surface on the plain side. The plate sits on a white marbled surface, and there is a plaid cloth with red, green, and white colors at the bottom right corner of the image. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

Every ingredient in this Peanut Butter Christmas Cookies with Chocolate Recipe comes together to create that lovely texture and flavor you remember from holiday cookie tins. Using creamy peanut butter adds softness and richness, while the combination of baking soda and powder helps the cookies rise just enough without losing that classic chewy bite.

Flat lay of a small mound of sifted all-purpose flour on a simple white ceramic plate, a small white bowl with fine light brown sugar, a small white bowl with granulated sugar, a smooth half cup of unsalted butter in a neat slab on a white ceramic dish, a dollop of creamy peanut butter on a white plate, a single large whole egg with clean shell resting on the white surface, a few semi-sweet chocolate chips scattered on a small white ceramic bowl, a tiny white bowl containing clear coconut oil, a small white bowl filled with colorful holiday sprinkles, all arranged with perfect symmetry and balanced proportions, placed on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

All-purpose flour: Provides structure to the dough but keeps the cookies tender when measured just right.
Baking powder and baking soda: These leavening agents work together to ensure a light crumb and nice spread.
Kosher salt: Enhances the sweet and nutty flavors, balancing the cookie perfectly.
Unsalted butter: Room temperature butter creams smoothly with sugars, producing a tender, moist cookie base.
Creamy peanut butter: The star of the show—adds intense peanut flavor without grittiness.
Granulated and light brown sugar: Brown sugar adds chewiness and subtle caramel notes, while white sugar helps crisp the edges slightly.
Egg: Binds everything together and helps with fluffiness.
Vanilla extract: A little warmth and sweetness to deepen the flavor profile.
Semi-sweet chocolate chips: Best for melting and dipping—it provides the perfect bittersweet contrast to the peanut buttery sweetness.
Coconut or vegetable oil: Mixed into the melted chocolate for a smooth, glossy finish that hardens nicely when cooled.
Holiday sprinkles: Adds festive color and that joyful crunch at the end!

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Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

What I love most about this Peanut Butter Christmas Cookies with Chocolate Recipe is how easy it is to switch things up without losing the cookie’s charm. Feel free to personalize the toppings and chocolate types to fit any holiday or craving.

Variation: One year, I swapped holiday sprinkles for crushed peanuts on half the batch—it added such a delicious salty crunch that everyone requested those first!
Diet-friendly swaps: For dairy sensitivities, I’ve successfully used vegan butter and dairy-free chocolate chips with excellent results.
Seasonal twists: Try festive sprinkles for Halloween or Valentine's, or even drizzle white chocolate instead of dipping for a different look.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Peanut Butter Christmas Cookies with Chocolate Recipe

Step 1: Gather and Prep Your Ingredients

First things first, preheat your oven to 375°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Make sure your butter and egg are at room temperature—this helps everything blend smoothly and gives you the best texture in the final cookie.

Step 2: Combine Dry Ingredients

In a medium bowl, whisk together the sifted all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and kosher salt. Sifting helps the dry ingredients mix evenly and prevents clumps—quick and worth the effort!

Step 3: Cream Butter, Peanut Butter & Sugars

Using a stand mixer or hand mixer, beat the softened butter, creamy peanut butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until the mixture is smooth and creamy. Patience here means you’ll get those soft, chewy cookies everyone loves. It usually takes about 2-3 minutes on medium speed.

Step 4: Add Egg and Vanilla

Mix in the egg and vanilla extract until the batter is light and fluffy. You’ll notice it gets a little lighter in color – that’s a good sign your cookie dough is coming together beautifully.

Step 5: Incorporate Dry Ingredients

Slowly add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until combined. Scrape down the sides of your bowl to ensure everything is well incorporated. The dough will be soft but manageable.

Step 6: Shape and Press

Using a medium cookie scoop, drop dough balls onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing them at least 2 inches apart. Then, gently press each cookie with a fork, making a crisscross pattern—you’ll do two presses per cookie but be careful to keep their round shape.

Step 7: Bake and Cool

Bake for 10 to 12 minutes until the edges are just turning golden. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely—this step is important before chocolate dipping so the chocolate doesn’t melt off.

Step 8: Melt Chocolate and Dip

In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the semi-sweet chocolate chips in one-minute increments, stirring in between until smooth. Stir in the coconut or vegetable oil to give it a silky finish and help it set nicely.

Step 9: Decorate and Set

Dip each cookie halfway into the melted chocolate and place it back on parchment paper. Immediately sprinkle with your favorite holiday sprinkles. Let the cookies sit at room temperature for about an hour until the chocolate is fully set.

Top Tip

After several batches, I’ve learned that the key to getting those iconic fork crisscross marks is using a fork dipped temporarily in flour or sugar so it doesn’t stick to the dough. Also, waiting for cookies to cool before dipping avoids chocolate melting too thin and dripping off.

Fork Pressing Made Easy: Lightly dust your fork with flour or sugar before pressing to keep the dough from sticking and keep a clean pattern.
Chill Your Cookies: If your dough feels too soft, a quick 30-minute chill helps maintain the shape during baking.
Melt Chocolate Slowly: Don’t rush melting chocolate; short bursts in the microwave with stirring will prevent burning.
Use an Offset Spatula: When removing dipped cookies, an offset spatula helps keep the chocolate smooth and intact.

How to Serve Peanut Butter Christmas Cookies with Chocolate Recipe

peanut butter cookies - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I usually stick with classic holiday sprinkles because they bring vibrant color and a playful crunch. But nothing beats topping some with finely chopped roasted peanuts for a little salty-nutty texture that enhances the peanut butter flavor wonderfully.

Side Dishes

These cookies pair perfectly with a warm cup of spiced hot cocoa or a frothy eggnog. For a holiday party, I like to serve them alongside a cheese platter with nuts and dried fruits, balancing sweet and savory bites.

Creative Ways to Present

Once, I arranged these cookies in festive shapes on a large platter—think Christmas tree shape—and drizzled extra melted white chocolate over the top for a snowy effect. Edible gold dust or crushed candy canes also make for stunning presentation and an extra festive touch.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I store leftover cookies in an airtight container at room temperature, layering them between sheets of parchment paper to prevent sticking. They stay fresh and chewy for up to a week—perfect for snacking over several days or handing out as gifts.

Freezing

Since this recipe yields about 40 cookies, freezing is a game-changer. I freeze baked (and fully cooled) cookies between layers of parchment in airtight containers or resealable bags. They last up to 3 months and thaw quickly at room temperature.

Reheating

When I want to warm them up, a quick 10-second zap in the microwave revives that fresh-baked softness without melting the chocolate too much. Just be sure to watch them closely so they don’t get too hot.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use salted butter instead of unsalted?

Yes, you can use salted butter in this recipe. However, if you do, I recommend omitting the additional ½ teaspoon of kosher salt to keep the flavors balanced.

Can I roll the cookie dough in sugar before baking?

Certainly! Rolling the cookie dough balls in granulated sugar before baking adds a nice sparkle and crunch, but since the cookies are already dipped in chocolate and decorated with sprinkles, I usually skip it to avoid extra sweetness.

Can I substitute melting wafers for chocolate chips?

Yes, melting wafers work perfectly for dipping and might even melt a bit smoother than chips, making dipping easier. Just follow the same melting instructions.

How long should I bake these cookies?

Bake these peanut butter cookies for 10 to 12 minutes, until the edges start to turn golden and the cookies look set. Keep an eye on them to prevent overbaking, which can dry the cookies out.

Final Thoughts

This Peanut Butter Christmas Cookies with Chocolate Recipe is one of those holiday staples that becomes a family favorite over time. The combo of chewy, nutty cookie and rich chocolate feels like a hug on a chilly evening. I’m confident once you try it, this recipe will earn a spot in your holiday tradition too—baking them is like spreading a little festive joy, one delicious bite at a time!