Name: Peanut Butter Holiday Cookies Recipe
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 1 h
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

There’s something truly cozy about the smell of peanut butter and chocolate wafting through the kitchen during the holidays. This Peanut Butter Holiday Cookies Recipe is one of my all-time favorites to make because it blends that classic peanut butter taste with festive touches that everyone loves. Perfect for gifting or snacking by the fire!

The image shows many round cookies with a light brown, crumbly texture. Each cookie is partly dipped in smooth, dark brown chocolate covering about half of the cookie's top side. On the chocolate part, there are colorful sprinkles in red, green, white, and some small flat round shapes mixed with longer strands. The cookies are placed closely together on a white marbled surface with a few crumbs scattered around. 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 Holiday Cookies Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Peanut Butter Holiday Cookies Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Peanut Butter Holiday Cookies Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

I’ve made these Peanut Butter Holiday Cookies Recipe countless times over the years, and it’s always a hit at gatherings. The balance of peanut butter richness with the silky chocolate dip and festive sprinkles is what makes them feel extra special—and honestly, they’re surprisingly easy to whip up.

Perfectly Balanced Flavor: The peanut butter and chocolate combo is a timeless favorite that never gets old.
Festive & Fun: Holiday sprinkles make these cookies instantly cheerful and gift-ready.
Easy to Customize: Whether you want to add crushed peanuts or swap sprinkles, this recipe adapts beautifully.
Great Yield: The batch makes about 40 cookies—perfect for sharing (or sneaking extra!).

A wooden tray holds ten round cookies, each half dipped in dark chocolate and topped with colorful sprinkles in red, green, white, and yellow. The cookies have a light golden color with a slightly cracked texture, and the sprinkles are scattered neatly on the chocolate side, with a few falling onto the tray. The tray sits on a white marbled surface, and part of a white plate with a red rim is visible in the upper left corner. A red, green, and white plaid cloth is partially seen at the bottom right corner. The overall look is festive and inviting, photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

This Peanut Butter Holiday Cookies Recipe uses simple pantry staples that work in harmony to create cookies that are soft yet have just the right bite. Plus, a few little tricks—like adding baking soda for lift and using both brown and granulated sugar for flavor depth—make these cookies really shine.

Flat lay of a small mound of sifted all-purpose flour, a small white ceramic bowl with a mix of baking powder, baking soda, and kosher salt, a half cup of unsalted butter in a simple white ceramic dish, a dollop of creamy peanut butter on a white ceramic plate, a half cup of granulated sugar in a small white bowl, a half cup of light brown sugar packed in a white ceramic bowl, one large whole uncracked egg, a small white bowl of clear vanilla extract, a simple white ceramic bowl filled with semi-sweet chocolate chips, a small white bowl holding coconut oil, and a small white bowl containing colorful holiday sprinkles, all arranged with perfect symmetry, fresh and natural, 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 while keeping the cookies tender.
Baking powder and baking soda: Help the cookies rise perfectly and keep them from getting dense.
Kosher salt: Enhances the peanut butter flavor and balances the sweetness.
Unsalted butter: Adds richness and moisture; I prefer unsalted so I can control the salt balance.
Creamy peanut butter: The star ingredient that gives these cookies their classic flavor and a tender texture.
Granulated and light brown sugar: Brown sugar lends a subtle molasses note and chewiness, while granulated sugar helps with that quick caramelization.
Egg and vanilla extract: Bind everything together while brightening the overall flavor.
Semi-sweet chocolate chips: Perfect for melting and dipping—melts smoothly and pairs well with peanut butter.
Coconut or vegetable oil: Mixed with melted chocolate to keep the coating shiny and easy to dip.
Holiday sprinkles: Fun for presentation and adding a festive touch.

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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

One of the things I love about this Peanut Butter Holiday Cookies Recipe is how versatile it is. You can keep it classic or get creative—either way, you’re in for a treat. My favorite version has a mix of sprinkles and crushed peanuts on top for a salty-sweet crunch that’s incredible.

Sprinkle swap: I once swapped Christmas sprinkles for mini M&Ms during Valentine’s Day, and it was a total hit. So festive and colorful!
Adding sea salt: For a grown-up twist, I like sprinkling a little flaky sea salt on the chocolate-dipped side. It heightens the flavors beautifully.
Chocolate choice: If you prefer sweeter, go for milk chocolate; for richer intensity, dark chocolate is fantastic.
Roll in sugar: Sometimes I roll the dough balls in granulated sugar before baking to add a little sparkle and crunch, but the chocolate dip usually makes that unnecessary.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Peanut Butter Holiday Cookies Recipe

Step 1: Gather & Prep Your Ingredients

Start by sifting your flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together. I find sifting helps prevent clumps and ensures a smoother cookie dough texture. Meanwhile, preheat your oven to 375°F, and line a baking sheet with parchment paper—I like using parchment because the cookies don’t stick and cleanup is a breeze.

Step 2: Cream Butter, Peanut Butter & Sugars

Use a stand mixer or hand mixer to cream the softened butter, peanut butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until everything is velvety smooth. This usually takes about 2-3 minutes on medium speed. Don’t rush this step because well-creamed butter and sugar help build the light texture in your cookies.

Step 3: Add Egg and Vanilla, Then Dry Ingredients

Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until the mixture looks light and fluffy. Then gradually mix in the sifted dry ingredients until just combined. Scrape down the sides of your bowl occasionally to be sure everything is evenly mixed without overbeating—overmixing can make cookies tough.

Step 4: Portion & Shape the Cookies

Scoop out dough balls using a medium-sized cookie scoop (or tablespoon) and space them about 2 inches apart on the baking sheet. To create the classic peanut butter cookie look, press each ball gently with a fork twice in a crisscross pattern, but be careful not to flatten them too much – you still want some height.

Step 5: Bake & Cool

Bake for 10 to 12 minutes until the edges start turning golden, while the centers remain soft. I usually pull them out at 11 minutes and let them cool on a rack. The cookies will firm up as they cool—avoid overbaking to keep that tender, chewy texture.

Step 6: Melt Chocolate & Dip

Melt your semi-sweet chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl, heating for one minute then stirring, followed by 30-second bursts with stirring in between to ensure smoothness. Stir in the coconut or vegetable oil to give the chocolate a glossy finish that dries perfectly.

Step 7: Decorate & Set

Dip each cooled cookie halfway into the chocolate and rest it back on parchment paper. Don’t wait too long to sprinkle on your holiday sprinkles or other toppings—they stick best when the chocolate is still wet. Let everything set completely, about an hour at room temperature, before handling or storing.

Top Tip

I’ve learned a few things over the years that really boosted my success with these Peanut Butter Holiday Cookies Recipe. A little planning and the right techniques go a long way!

Don’t skip sifting: It makes mixing easier and results in lighter cookies.
Room temperature ingredients: Butter and egg at room temp blend more easily, giving fluffier dough.
Use parchment paper: It prevents sticking and helps your cookies bake evenly.
Cool completely before dipping: Warm cookies melt the chocolate, ruining the dip layer.

How to Serve Peanut Butter Holiday Cookies Recipe

peanut butter cookies - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I usually stick with classic red and green holiday sprinkles—there’s just something joyful about those vibrant colors on a cookie. Sometimes, though, I’ll toss on crushed peanuts right after dipping the cookies for a wonderful textural contrast that everyone raves about.

Side Dishes

These cookies pair beautifully with a hot cup of spiced cider, creamy eggnog, or even a robust dark roast coffee. I like setting out a platter of these alongside other holiday treats like gingerbread or peppermint bark for a festive dessert spread.

Creative Ways to Present

For gift-giving, I arrange the cookies in a decorative tin lined with wax paper or festive tissue. You can also wrap small stacks with a pretty ribbon and add a custom tag for a charming homemade holiday gift that’s sure to impress.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I store these cookies in an airtight container at room temperature; they stay fresh and soft for up to a week. Make sure the chocolate coating is fully set before stacking them to prevent sticking.

Freezing

I love freezing these cookies because this recipe yields so many! I separate layers with parchment paper inside a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to three months. When you’re ready to eat them, thaw at room temperature to keep their perfect texture.

Reheating

If you want to freshen up the cookies after freezing, warm them in the oven at 300°F for 5-7 minutes. This softens the cookie and gently refreshes the melted chocolate without melting it completely again.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use salted butter instead of unsalted butter?

Yes! If you use salted butter, I recommend skipping the additional ½ teaspoon of salt this recipe calls for, so your cookies don’t end up too salty.

Can I substitute melting wafers for the chocolate chips?

Absolutely! Melting wafers work perfectly for dipping and usually melt smoothly, just like chocolate chips. You may need less or more oil depending on the wafers used, so add gradually.

Do these cookies freeze well?

They do! I usually freeze leftovers in a single layer with parchment paper between layers inside an airtight container. They freeze well for up to three months and thaw beautifully at room temperature.

Can I roll the cookie dough in sugar before baking?

Yes, you can roll the cookie balls in granulated sugar for a slightly crispier texture and added sparkle, but keep in mind it increases the overall sweetness. I often skip this since the chocolate coating provides enough sweetness.

Final Thoughts

This Peanut Butter Holiday Cookies Recipe has a special place on my holiday baking list because it’s both nostalgic and versatile. Whether you're packing them up for neighbors, serving at a party, or just sneaking a few with your afternoon coffee, these cookies deliver comfort and joy in every bite. Give this recipe a try—you’ll be glad you did, and I bet it’ll become one of your go-tos, too.