Peanut Butter Blossoms
Peanut Butter Blossoms are the ultimate holiday treat, delivering soft, chewy peanut butter cookies with a crackled sugar coating and a melty chocolate kiss pressed into the center. This foolproof recipe comes together in under 30 minutes with simple pantry ingredients, making it perfect for cookie swaps, holiday parties, or cozy evenings with a glass of cold milk. The combination of rich peanut butter and sweet chocolate is simply unbeatable, and these cookies have been a cherished family tradition for generations.
Equipment
- Large mixing bowl
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Baking sheets
- Small bowl for rolling sugar
- Wire cooling rack
Ingredients
- 1¾ cups all-purpose flour 220g
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup unsalted butter 113g, softened
- ½ cup creamy peanut butter 128g
- ½ cup granulated sugar 100g
- ½ cup light brown sugar 100g, packed
- 1 large egg
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar for rolling
- 48 Hershey's Kisses unwrapped
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. Unwrap all Hershey's Kisses and set aside. Place ⅓ cup granulated sugar in a small bowl for rolling.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine softened butter, peanut butter, ½ cup granulated sugar, and brown sugar. Beat with an electric mixer on medium speed for 2-3 minutes until light and fluffy, scraping down the sides halfway through.
- Beat in the egg, milk, and vanilla extract until fully incorporated. Continue mixing for another minute until smooth and creamy.
- Gradually add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients, about one-third at a time, mixing on low speed after each addition until just combined. Stop as soon as no streaks of flour remain.
- Use a cookie scoop or tablespoon to portion dough into 1-inch balls. Roll each portion between your palms to create smooth, round balls. Roll each ball in the sugar to coat completely, then place on prepared baking sheets about 2 inches apart.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until edges are set and just beginning to turn golden. Centers should still look slightly soft.
- Remove baking sheet from oven and immediately press a Hershey's Kiss into the center of each cookie. Press down firmly but gently so the cookie cracks around the edges but doesn't break. Work quickly while cookies are still hot.
- Let cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes to set, then transfer to a wire cooling rack to cool completely.
Notes
- Use room temperature butter: Softened butter creams better with the sugars, creating a lighter texture in the final cookie.
- Don't skip the rolling step: Rolling the dough balls in sugar before baking creates that signature crackled appearance and adds a nice sweet crunch to the exterior.
- Unwrap kisses in advance: Have all chocolate kisses unwrapped and ready before baking so you can work quickly when the cookies come out of the oven.
- Press kisses while hot: Cookies must be piping hot when you press in the kisses, or they won't stick properly and may fall off later.
- Chill the dough if needed: If your kitchen is warm and the dough feels too soft, refrigerate it for 15-20 minutes before rolling into balls.
- Rotate baking sheets: If baking two sheets at once, rotate them halfway through baking for even results.
- Check for doneness carefully: These cookies should look slightly underdone when removed from the oven; the centers continue cooking as they cool.
- Make ahead: Dough can be prepared up to 3 days in advance and stored tightly wrapped in the refrigerator. Let sit at room temperature for 15 minutes before rolling.
- Storage: Store cooled cookies in an airtight container at room temperature with parchment paper between layers for up to 5-7 days.
- Freezing: Baked cookies freeze for up to 3 months; dough balls can be frozen and baked directly from frozen, adding 1-2 extra minutes to baking time.
- Variations: Try dark chocolate kisses, almond butter instead of peanut butter, peppermint kiss, caramel-filled kisses, Hershey's Hugs, or add ½ cup finely chopped peanuts for crunch.
Nutrition
Serving: 1CookieCalories: 95kcalCarbohydrates: 12gProtein: 2gFat: 4.5gSaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 10mgSodium: 65mgFiber: 0.5gSugar: 8g
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