Effortless Peanut Butter Blossoms: The Ultimate Easy Holiday Cookie Recipe with Betty Crocker & Dark Chocolate Kisses
Imagine this: the cozy glow of twinkling lights fills your home, a crackling fire sets a festive mood, and then—ding-dong!—unexpected guests arrive! No need to fret or panic; I have the perfect solution to impress with minimal effort: these incredibly delicious peanut butter blossoms. They are as effortless to make as they are delightful to eat, making them ideal for any last-minute celebration or simply to satisfy a sweet craving.
These classic peanut butter blossoms, crowned with rich dark chocolate Hershey Kisses, truly feel like a Christmas miracle in cookie form. Thanks to a little help from Betty Crocker’s peanut butter cookie mix, you can whip up these melt-in-your-mouth goodies in mere minutes. They’re not just for the holidays; they’re made for any moment you need to impress with a homemade touch, and fast!
Peanut butter blossoms hold a special place in the hearts of many, instantly conjuring feelings of nostalgia and comfort. Their perfectly balanced sweet and salty flavor, combined with the soft, chewy texture, makes them an undeniable crowd-pleaser. This recipe takes that beloved classic and streamlines it, proving that you don’t need to spend hours in the kitchen to create something truly magical. Whether you’re a seasoned baker or just starting out, using a cookie mix simplifies the process without compromising on taste. The result is a consistent, delicious cookie every time, ready to be adorned with that iconic chocolate kiss.
🎥 Watch How Easy They Are!
Prefer to see it in action? This quick video tutorial will guide you through each step, ensuring your peanut butter blossoms turn out perfectly. Watch along to get visual tips and boost your confidence in the kitchen!
🥘 Simple Ingredients for Irresistible Cookies
One of the best things about this recipe is its simplicity, requiring just a handful of ingredients, most of which you probably already have in your pantry. We’re leaning on a quality cookie mix to do the heavy lifting, allowing you to focus on the fun parts of baking!
- Betty Crocker Peanut Butter Cookie Mix: This is our secret weapon for speed and consistency. Keeping a few bags on hand means you’re always ready for impromptu baking sessions. It’s perfectly formulated to give you that classic peanut butter flavor and soft texture without the fuss of measuring flour and sugar.
- Vegetable Oil: Adds moisture and helps achieve that tender, chewy texture that makes these cookies so irresistible.
- Water: Binds the ingredients together, creating a perfectly pliable dough.
- Egg: Acts as a binder and provides structure, richness, and helps the cookies rise slightly.
- Hershey’s Kisses Dark Chocolate: The iconic crowning glory of the peanut butter blossom! Dark chocolate offers a delightful contrast to the sweetness of the peanut butter, adding a sophisticated touch. These bite-sized treats are perfect for melting slightly onto the warm cookies, creating that signature “blossom” effect. Always a good idea to have them at home for an indulgent treat or for decorating other desserts.
For precise measurements and nutritional information, be sure to check the full recipe card below.
🔪 Step-by-Step Baking Instructions
Creating these delightful cookies is a straightforward process, perfect for bakers of all skill levels. Follow these easy steps, and you’ll have a batch of warm, homemade peanut butter blossoms in no time.
Step 1: Get Ready to Bake! Preheat your oven to a festive 375°F (190°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. This simple step prevents sticking and makes for easy cleanup, ensuring your cookies slide right off the tray.
Step 2: Start with the Mix. Pour the entire bag of Betty Crocker Peanut Butter Cookie Mix into a spacious mixing bowl. Using a large bowl ensures you have plenty of room to mix without making a mess.
Step 3: Mix Your Dough. Add the specified amounts of water, vegetable oil, and egg to the cookie mix. Now, it’s time to bring it all together! I highly recommend using a stand mixer with a spatula attachment for the smoothest, silkiest dough that’s a joy to work with. If you don’t have a stand mixer, a hand mixer or even a sturdy spoon will work just fine – just make sure everything is thoroughly combined until no dry streaks remain.
Step 4: Roll Your Balls of Joy. Scoop out teaspoon-sized portions of the dough. The key here is consistency, so try to make them as uniform as possible. Roll each portion into a small, jolly little ball between your palms. This size is perfect for creating dainty, bite-sized cookies, but feel free to make them slightly larger if you prefer a more substantial cookie.
Step 5: Create the Crisscross Pattern. Place the dough balls about 2 ½ inches apart on your prepared baking sheets. This spacing allows them to spread without merging. Flatten each one ever-so-slightly with a fork, first in one direction, then again perpendicularly, to make that signature crisscross pattern. This classic mark isn’t just for looks; it helps the cookies bake evenly and adds a delightful texture.
Step 6: Bake to Perfection. Pop your cookie sheets into the preheated oven. For the teaspoon-sized cookies, bake for 8-10 minutes. If you opted for larger cookies, consult the package directions for your Betty Crocker mix, which usually suggests 12-14 minutes. The cookies should be lightly golden at the edges.
Step 7: A Moment to Cool. Once baked, carefully remove the baking sheets from the oven. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for about 2 minutes. This brief cooling period helps them set, preventing them from breaking when you move them.
Step 8: Add the Chocolate Kiss. This is the moment the magic happens! Gently transfer the slightly cooled cookies to a cooling rack. Immediately press a Hershey Dark Chocolate Kiss firmly into the center of each warm cookie. The residual warmth of the cookie will slightly melt the chocolate, creating a deliciously festive bond and that iconic “blossom” shape. Don’t press too hard, just enough to secure the kiss.
Step 9: Share and Enjoy! Allow the cookies to cool completely on the rack so the chocolate kisses can fully set. Voilà! Your homemade peanut butter blossoms are now ready to spread some holiday cheer or simply be enjoyed as a perfect sweet treat. They’re soft, chewy, wonderfully peanut buttery, and perfectly complemented by the rich dark chocolate. These cookies are guaranteed to bring smiles all around!
Tips for Perfect Peanut Butter Blossoms
- Don’t Overmix: While the stand mixer is great, stop mixing as soon as the dough comes together to avoid tough cookies.
- Chill the Dough (Optional): If your kitchen is warm or the dough feels too sticky, you can chill it for 15-20 minutes before rolling to make it easier to handle.
- Uniform Size: For even baking and a pretty presentation, try to make all your cookie dough balls the same size. A small cookie scoop can be very helpful here.
- Timely Kiss Placement: Press the Hershey Kisses into the cookies while they are still warm, but not piping hot, usually within 2-3 minutes of coming out of the oven. If you wait too long, the chocolate won’t adhere as well. If you put them on too early, the chocolate might melt completely.
- Variations: Experiment with different types of Hershey Kisses – milk chocolate, white chocolate, or even seasonal flavors! You could also roll the dough balls in granulated sugar before baking for an extra sparkly finish.
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Cranberry Bundt Cake
If you’re looking for another show-stopping dessert, this Cranberry Bundt Cake is a delightful blend of warm cinnamon, rich dark chocolate chips, and tangy dried cranberries that will surely satisfy your sweet cravings. It’s a perfect companion to your holiday cookie platter!
🍽 Essential Equipment for Easy Baking
Having the right tools makes any baking project smoother and more enjoyable. For these peanut butter blossoms, you’ll need a few basic kitchen essentials:
- Hand- or Stand Mixer: While you can mix by hand, a mixer makes combining ingredients quick and ensures a consistently smooth dough.
- Teaspoon: Essential for portioning out the cookie dough evenly, leading to uniform cookies.
- 2 Baking Sheets with Parchment Paper: Using two sheets allows you to bake more cookies at once or prepare the second batch while the first is baking. Parchment paper is a must for non-stick baking and easy cleanup.
- Cooling Rack: Crucial for allowing air to circulate around the cookies, cooling them evenly and preventing them from getting soggy bottoms.
- Cookie Jar: The perfect place to store your finished masterpieces, keeping them fresh and ready for snacking.
🌡️ Storage & Freezing Tips
Once baked, these peanut butter blossoms are so delicious, they might not last long! But if you’re lucky enough to have leftovers, or if you’re planning ahead, here’s how to store them:
Room Temperature: Store cooled cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3-5 days. For best results, place parchment paper between layers to prevent sticking.
Can you freeze peanut butter blossoms?
Absolutely! Peanut butter blossoms freeze beautifully, making them perfect for meal prepping your holiday treats or enjoying them much later. To freeze them, allow the cookies to cool completely after baking – this is key to prevent ice crystals from forming. Place them in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze for about an hour or until they are solid. This flash-freezing step prevents them from sticking together in the freezer.
Then, transfer the frozen cookies to an airtight container or a heavy-duty freezer bag, separating each layer with parchment paper. They’ll keep wonderfully in the freezer for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to enjoy, simply let them thaw at room temperature for a few hours. For that fresh-baked warmth and slightly melted chocolate, you can also warm them up slightly in a low oven (around 250°F / 120°C) for 5-7 minutes.
You can also freeze the raw cookie dough! Just form the balls, flatten them, and place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Freeze until solid, then transfer to a freezer bag. Bake from frozen, adding a few extra minutes to the baking time.
More Delicious Cookie Recipes for You to Try
If you’ve fallen in love with these peanut butter blossoms, you’ll surely enjoy exploring more delightful cookie recipes. Here are some of our favorites that are perfect for any occasion, especially during the festive season:
- Cookies ‘n’ Cream Blossom Cookies: A delightful twist on the blossom cookie, featuring the beloved cookies ‘n’ cream flavor.
- Cinnamon Cookies (Zimtsterne): Traditional German star-shaped cinnamon cookies, perfect for Christmas.
- Leftover Egg Yolk Cookies: A clever way to use up egg yolks, resulting in rich and tender cookies.
- Reese’s Pieces Peanut Butter Cookies: Double the peanut butter fun with crunchy Reese’s Pieces.
- Baking Basics for Christmas Cookies: Essential tips and tricks to master your holiday cookie baking.
- Raspberry Almond Thumbprint Cookies: Elegant, buttery cookies with a sweet fruit jam center.
- Butterball Cookies: Also known as Mexican Wedding Cookies, these are tender, melt-in-your-mouth delights.
- Sour Cream Cookies with Pearl Sugar: Soft, cake-like cookies with a delicate crumb and sugary crunch.
- Coconut Busserl: Chewy, sweet coconut delights made with egg whites, perfect for meringue lovers.
We hope you enjoy making these easy peanut butter blossoms as much as we do! If you whip up a batch, please let me know how you liked them by leaving a ★★★★★ star rating and a comment below. Your feedback means the world and helps other bakers discover new favorites! You can also sign up for our Newsletter to get weekly delicious homemade recipes delivered straight to your inbox. And don’t forget to follow me on Pinterest or Instagram and share your delightful creations with me. Just tag me @combinegoodflavors and use the hashtag #combinegoodflavors, so I don’t miss it. Happy baking!
📖 Recipe Card
Easy Peanut Butter Blossoms
Nora
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Equipment
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Hand or stand mixer
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Teaspoon
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2 Baking Sheets with Parchment Paper
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Cooling Rack
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Cookie jar
Ingredients
- 1 bag Betty Crocker peanut butter cookie mix
- 1 tablespoon Water
- 3 tablespoon Vegetable oil
- 1 Egg
- 26 Hershey’s Kisses Dark Chocolate
Instructions
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Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
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Empty 1 bag Betty Crocker peanut butter cookie mix into a mixing bowl.1 bag Betty Crocker peanut butter cookie mix
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Add 1 tablespoon Water, 3 tablespoon Vegetable oil, and 1 Egg, and mix thoroughly. For an extra smooth dough, use the spatula attachment on your stand mixer.1 tablespoon Water, 3 tablespoon Vegetable oil, 1 Egg
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Scoop out teaspoon-sized portions of dough and roll into balls.
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Place the dough balls 2 ½ inches apart on the baking sheets and press each one gently with a fork to create a crisscross pattern.
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Bake for 8-10 minutes, or if you’re making larger cookies, follow the package instructions and bake for 12-14 minutes.
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Remove from the oven and let the cookies rest for 2 minutes.
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Transfer cookies to a cooling rack and press 26 Hershey’s Kisses Dark Chocolate (1 per cookie) onto each one while they’re still warm, allowing the chocolate to melt slightly and bond to the cookie.26 Hershey’s Kisses Dark Chocolate
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Enjoy your delightful peanut butter blossoms!
Nutrition values are estimates only, using online calculators. Please verify using your own data.
⛑️ Important Food Safety Guidelines
Ensuring food safety is paramount when baking, especially when preparing treats for others. Following these guidelines will help keep your kitchen and your delicious peanut butter blossoms safe for everyone to enjoy:
- Proper Cooking Temperature: Always cook foods, especially those containing eggs, to a minimum internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) to ensure any harmful bacteria are eliminated. While cookies typically bake through, this is a good general rule.
- Avoid Cross-Contamination: Never use the same utensils or cutting boards on raw ingredients (like raw eggs, though less of a concern for this recipe since they’re baked) that previously touched cooked food without thorough washing.
- Hand Hygiene: Always wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds before and after handling food, especially when switching between different ingredients or tasks.
- Temperature Danger Zone: Do not leave perishable food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods. Bacteria multiply rapidly between 40°F (4°C) and 140°F (60°C). Once cooled, store your cookies properly.
- Stay Attentive While Cooking: Never leave cooking food unattended. Always keep an eye on your oven to prevent over-baking or potential fire hazards.
- Safe Oil Use: If you use oils for cooking (less relevant for this baking recipe but good general advice), opt for oils with high smoking points to avoid producing harmful compounds.
- Ensure Good Ventilation: Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove or oven to prevent the buildup of fumes.
For further comprehensive information on safe food handling practices, please check the official guidelines from the FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration).