These holiday cookies are the perfect combination of salty and sweet while being crunchy and soft at the same time. Whether you’re looking for a tasty cookie to serve at your next holiday gathering or just a delicious snack to enjoy, these peanut butter and chocolate holiday cookies are sure to please. They’re loaded with mini peanut butter cups, festive Christmas M&M’s, and roughly chopped peanuts, making them an all-time favorite cookie. Enjoy these festive treats all season long and make sure to save some for Santa on Christmas Eve.
Tis the season; sounds so wonderful, doesn’t it? It conjures up thoughts of dancing around the kitchen while I sing along joyously with Nat King Cole and Bing Crosby, leaving a faint dusting of snowy sugar over everything I touch, as I create the most amazing Christmas cookies. Then reality sets in, and I remember why I promise myself every year that it will be the last time I decide it’s less expensive and much more memorable to bake cookies as gifts for friends, neighbors, and family. I may start out thinking I’m saving myself huge piles of money, but really I’m just avoiding the insane parking lots surrounding my local mall, only to end up in the insane parking lot surrounding my local market instead. (Did I mention that I’m very forgetful? This inevitably means that I will endure over five trips to the same market in one week’s time.) Making cookies for fun is completely different from baking dozens of cookies to give as gifts. If I had to choose just one batch to bake, this would be the one, even if it does require an added trip to Trader Joe’s. These holiday cookies are salty and sweet, crunchy and soft at the same time, and the pairing of peanut butter and chocolate will make Santa a very jolly man on Christmas Eve. If he’s lucky he’ll get to enjoy them and make his escape before being attacked by Brenna.
Ingredients:
- 1 Cup Unsalted Butter, Softened
- 2/3 Cup Light Brown Sugar, Packed
- 2/3 Cup Granulated Sugar
- 1 Egg, Room Temperature
- 1 Tablespoon Vanilla
- 2 1/4 Cups All-Purpose Flour
- 1 Teaspoon Baking Soda
- 1/2 Teaspoon Salt
- 1 (12.6-oz.) Bag of Christmas Milk Chocolate M&M’s
- 1 (12-oz.) Container Trader Joe’s Mini Milk Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups
- 1 Cup Dry Roasted Peanuts, Chopped
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugars together for 2 minutes on medium speed.
- Add egg; mix for 1 minute.
- Add vanilla; mix for 1 minute.
- In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Add the flour mixture slowly to the butter mixture on low speed, mixing just until the flour is incorporated.
- Mix in the M&M’s, mini peanut butter cups, and chopped peanuts with a spatula.
- Use a cookie scoop to drop large tablespoonfuls of cookie dough onto a Silpat or parchment paper-lined cookie sheet.
- Bake for 10 to 12 minutes.
- Allow the cookies to cool on the cookie sheet for 5 minutes, before transferring them to a wire rack to finish cooling completely.
Suggestions:
- Substitute Christmas Peanut M&M’s or Christmas Peanut Butter M&M’s in place of Christmas Milk Chocolate M&M’s.
- If you don’t have a Trader Joe’s in your area, replace the mini peanut butter cups, with chopped Reese’s instead.
- Place the peanut butter cups in the freezer for 30 minutes. It will make them much easier to chop.
- Package the cookies in an airtight container.
- This recipe makes approximately 4 dozen cookies.
Improvements:
- Replace the miniature peanut butter cups with peanut butter chips and semi-sweet chocolate chips.
- Sprinkle a little sea salt over the top of each cookie before baking.
- Replace half of the miniature peanut butter cups with chopped milk chocolate.
- CLICK HERE to check out all of our past cookie recipes. Don’t forget to check out our Christmas cookies section.
Ingredients:
- 1 Cup Unsalted Butter, Softened
- 2/3 Cup Light Brown Sugar, Packed
- 2/3 Cup Granulated Sugar
- 1 Egg, Room Temperature
- 1 Tablespoon Vanilla
- 2 1/4 Cups All-Purpose Flour
- 1 Teaspoon Baking Soda
- 1/2 Teaspoon Salt
- 1 (12.6-oz.) Bag of Christmas Milk Chocolate M&M's
- 1 (12-oz.) Container Trader Joe's Mini Milk Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups
- 1 Cup Dry Roasted Peanuts, Chopped
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugars together for 2 minutes on medium speed.
- Add egg; mix for 1 minute.
- Add vanilla; mix for 1 minute.
- In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Add the flour mixture slowly to the butter mixture on low speed, mixing just until the flour is incorporated.
- Mix in the M&M's, mini peanut butter cups, and chopped peanuts with a spatula.
- Use a cookie scoop to drop large tablespoonfuls of cookie dough onto a Silpat or parchment paper-lined cookie sheet.
- Bake for 10 to 12 minutes.
- Allow the cookies to cool on the cookie sheet for 5 minutes, before transferring them to a wire rack to finish cooling completely.
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MORE GREAT CHRISTMAS COOKIE RECIPES
Cappuccino Swirl Butter Cookies
Chewy Oatmeal Chocolate Toffee Cookies
Chocolate Espresso Brown Sugar Cookies
Christmas is a time for family, friends, and delicious holiday cookies. From classic butter cookies to iced gingerbread cookies, this list of ultimate Christmas cookie recipes has something for everyone. Whether you’re looking for festive colors, unique seasonal ingredients, or just a cookie that’s super easy to make, these Christmas cookie recipes will help you find the perfect cookie for the season. CLICK HERE for the recipes.
