There’s something magical about the smell of warm peanut butter and chocolate filling your kitchen at holiday time. That’s exactly why I’m excited to share my Peanut Butter Holiday Cookies Recipe with you. These cookies are chewy, chocolaty, and festive—all the cozy vibes you want from a holiday treat.

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 Holiday Cookies Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Peanut Butter Holiday Cookies Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:

Why You'll Love This Recipe

I’m genuinely thrilled about this Peanut Butter Holiday Cookies Recipe because it hits all the right notes—the perfect balance of peanut butter richness and that melty chocolate dip that makes everyone smile. Plus, they’re easy enough to whip up for a spontaneous cookie craving or a festive gathering.

Perfect Texture: These cookies have a delightful chewiness with a subtle crisp around the edges that makes you want just one more.
Chocolate Dip Magic: Dunked in melted chocolate and sprinkled with holiday cheer, these cookies both look and taste like a celebration.
Customizable Fun: Whether you swap sprinkles or add crushed peanuts, you can make these cookies uniquely yours every time.
Great for Sharing: These cookies bake up in a big batch, making them perfect to gift, share, or stash away for yourself during the busy season.

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

The magic in this Peanut Butter Holiday Cookies Recipe comes from how well these ingredients blend together—flour for structure, peanut butter for that unbeatable flavor and moisture, and chocolate chips for a smooth, sweet finish. Here’s why each ingredient is a must-have:

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 the perfect base for tender yet sturdy cookies—don’t skip sifting to avoid lumps.
Baking powder and baking soda: Work together to give the cookies just the right rise and slight fluffiness.
Kosher salt: Enhances and balances all the sweetness and richness in the cookie.
Unsalted butter: Adds creaminess and richness without extra salt—room temperature butter creams easily for a light dough.
Creamy peanut butter: The star ingredient for that distinct nutty flavor and moist texture.
Granulated sugar and light brown sugar: Brown sugar keeps things chewy while granulated sugar helps with structure and slight crispness.
Large egg: Adds moisture and helps bind ingredients while lightening the dough.
Vanilla extract: A little flavor booster that rounds out the sweetness.
Semi-sweet chocolate chips: Melting these creates a smooth dip that contrasts perfectly with the peanut butter base.
Coconut or vegetable oil: Mixed into the melted chocolate, it keeps the coating shiny and easier to dip.
Holiday sprinkles: For that festive pop and crunch that makes each cookie party-ready.

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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 my favorite things about this Peanut Butter Holiday Cookies Recipe is how easy it is to tweak to suit your taste or whatever you have on hand. I love to switch out sprinkles for crushed peanuts or festive mini M&Ms to change it up every holiday season.

Variation: When I’m in the mood for something a little saltier, I sprinkle a pinch of sea salt over the chocolate before it sets. It amps up the flavor and makes the sweetness pop even more.
Dietary tweaks: These cookies can easily be made gluten-free by substituting with a gluten-free all-purpose flour. Just keep an eye on dough consistency.
Seasonal changes: Swap holiday sprinkles with hearts for Valentine’s or spooky colors for Halloween to keep these cookies festive year-round.

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

Step 1: Prep Your Workspace and Mix Dry Ingredients

Start by preheating your oven to 375°F and lining a baking sheet with parchment paper—this keeps your cookies from sticking and makes clean-up a breeze. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and kosher salt until everything is evenly combined. This step ensures your cookies rise nicely and have a balanced flavor.

Step 2: Cream Butters and Sugars

In a larger bowl (or your stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment), beat the softened butter, creamy peanut butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar together until smooth and fluffy—about 3 to 4 minutes. This airiness is key for that soft, chewy texture you love in peanut butter cookies. If you skip this, the cookies might turn out denser than you want.

Step 3: Add Egg and Vanilla

Beat in the room temperature egg and vanilla extract until the mixture is light and fluffy. A warm egg blends easier and keeps the dough light — so take it out of the fridge ahead of time for best results.

Step 4: Combine Dry and Wet Ingredients

Now, slowly add your dry flour mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing just until combined. Be sure to scrape down the sides of your bowl as you go to incorporate all the ingredients evenly. Overmixing at this stage can make the cookies tough — so keep it gentle and stop as soon as you don’t see flour.

Step 5: Shape and Flatten Cookies

Using a medium cookie scoop, portion out dough balls onto your prepared baking sheet with at least 2 inches apart. Then, gently press each ball with the tines of a fork in a crisscross pattern — two presses per cookie, making sure you don’t flatten them out too much or lose that soft, round shape.

Step 6: Bake and Cool

Bake the cookies for 10 to 12 minutes until they’re slightly golden around the edges but still soft in the center. They’ll firm up as they cool, so don’t overbake. Transfer to a wire rack and let them cool completely before moving on to the chocolate dip.

Step 7: Melt Chocolate and Dip

In a small bowl, microwave the chocolate chips for 1 minute, stirring well. Then continue microwaving in 30-second bursts, stirring between each, until the chocolate is silky smooth. Stir in the coconut or vegetable oil to achieve a glossy finish perfect for dipping.

Step 8: Dip and Decorate

Dip each cooled cookie about halfway into the melted chocolate. Place them back on parchment paper and quickly sprinkle with your favorite holiday sprinkles. Set them aside to let the chocolate harden — about an hour at room temperature should do the trick.

Top Tip

From my experience, the little details make all the difference with this Peanut Butter Holiday Cookies Recipe. I’ve learned the best results come from gentle folding, proper chilling of your ingredients, and picking the perfect chocolate for dipping.

Room Temperature Ingredients: Make sure your butter and egg are at room temp for smooth mixing and fluffy dough.
Don’t Overmix: Once you add the flour, mix just until combined to keep the cookies tender.
Use Medium Cookie Scoop: This keeps cookie sizes uniform so they bake evenly.
Cool Cookies Completely Before Dipping: Chocolate won’t stick well to warm cookies—patience pays off!

How to Serve Peanut Butter Holiday Cookies Recipe

peanut butter cookies - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I usually stick with classic red and green holiday sprinkles for the nostalgia and color contrast, but crushed peanuts add a delightful crunch and a hint of saltiness that pairs beautifully with the chocolate dip. For a playful twist, mini M&Ms bring extra color and chocolate crunch that always gets a smile.

Side Dishes

These cookies shine on their own but pair wonderfully with a steaming cup of hot cocoa or a festive eggnog latte. If you want to offer a spread, a cheese platter featuring mild cheeses and fresh fruit provides a nice savory counterbalance to the peanut butter and chocolate sweetness.

Creative Ways to Present

I love arranging these cookies on holiday-themed platters surrounded by pine sprigs and cinnamon sticks to enhance the festive vibe. For cookie exchanges, I often stack them in mason jars, layered with parchment paper and tied with a ribbon—such a sweet homemade gift.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I store leftover cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week. If you want to keep the chocolate nice and crisp, separate layers with parchment paper. This keeps the cookies tasting fresh and looking pretty.

Freezing

Freezing is a game-changer here! I freeze these cookies in a single layer on a baking sheet first, then transfer to airtight containers or freezer bags. They keep well for up to three months—perfect for holiday prep or surprising yourself later with a sweet treat.

Reheating

To enjoy frozen cookies, I thaw them at room temperature for about 30 minutes. If you want that freshly baked warmth, a quick 10-15 second zap in the microwave does the trick without melting the chocolate too much.

Peanut Butter Holiday Cookies Recipe