I have a lot of fond memories of baking cookies in the kitchen with loved ones during the holidays and I’m hoping to create those same memories with my kiddos. So, when I decided to work on a holiday cookie menu for gifting this season I wanted to add a little flair to the traditional Peanut Butter Blossoms. I knew this would be a recipe that every one could enjoy! I hope you have a much fun making (and eating) these cookies as we did!

Ingredients:

• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• 1 cup softened butter
• ¾ cup packed brown sugar
• 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup roasted salted peanuts 
• ¾ cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup creamy peanut butter
• 2 large eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla paste
• 1-2 bags of Peanut Butter Cups

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Grease a cookie sheet.
• Remove wrappers from your Peanut Butter Cups of choice.
• Combine 1 ¾ cups flour, salt, baking soda, and baking powder in a bowl. Set aside.
• Add 1 cup flour and 1 cup peanuts together into blender or food processor until well combined. Add this to your flour mixture.
• Using your KitchenAid stand mixer beat butter and sugars together.
• Add Peanut Butter and mix until combined.
• Add the eggs and vanilla paste.
• Adjust mixer to low and add flour mixture in separate batches. Mix until well incorporated.
• Refrigerate dough at least 30 minutes.
• Roll the dough into 1-inch balls and space 2 inches apart on the baking sheets.
• Bake the cookies 10 minutes, until the edges are just barely beginning to crack.
• Remove the sheet from the oven and press one peanut butter cup into the center of each cookie.
• Return the baking sheet to the oven and bake for another 2 minutes, until the cookies are lightly golden and the candy is starting to melt.
• Let cool on wire rack and try not to eat them all in one sitting!

Notes:

• This recipe can be customized in so many ways!
• We used traditional Reese’s Peanut Butter cups and also the Oreo variety.
• I would love to use the Peanut Butter and Jelly type as well, or even the Reese’s thins.
• There are so many ways to enjoy this. You could also play around with the different varieties of Hershey’s Kisses. You really can make something for just about anyone with the base of this cookie recipe.
• I like to pre-roll my cookie balls, especially if I’m doubling or tripling this recipe.
• I also had really good luck pre-making this dough a few days in advance and taking it to a cookie baking get together. It held up really well and was easy to roll out after sitting out for a while a room temperature.

I hope you can make some fun family traditions with this delicious recipe as well. I can’t wait for you to make this recipe your own and customize it for your family and loved ones!

Looking for more fun recipes to enjoy with your family? Explore More with My Military Lifestyle and Recipes!