Name: Chocolate-Dipped Peanut Butter Christmas Cookies Recipe
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 1 h 2 min
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 just something magical about the mix of peanut butter and chocolate, especially when it’s dressed up for the holidays. This Chocolate-Dipped Peanut Butter Christmas Cookies Recipe strikes that perfect balance—soft, rich, and festively fun, making them a must-bake this season.

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 Chocolate-Dipped Peanut Butter Christmas Cookies Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Chocolate-Dipped Peanut Butter Christmas Cookies Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Chocolate-Dipped Peanut Butter Christmas Cookies Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

I always make these cookies when December rolls around—they just scream holiday cheer. What makes this recipe truly stand out (besides that dreamy chocolate dip) is how straightforward it is without compromising on flavor or texture.

Perfect Texture: Soft and chewy centers with a slightly crisp edge make every bite irresistible.
Balanced Sweetness: The peanut butter and chocolate combo is sweet but not overpowering, perfect for sharing.
Festive Fun: Holiday sprinkles add that extra sparkle, turning simple cookies into celebration-ready treats.
Easy to Make: No fancy techniques here—just straightforward mixing and baking that anyone can do.

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 recipe uses classic ingredients that complement each other beautifully—the richness of peanut butter, the smoothness of butter, and a perfect blend of leavening agents to create cookies that hold their shape but stay tender.

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: The base of the cookie, providing structure without being too dense.
Baking Powder & Baking Soda: Together they help the cookies rise just right, giving a tender crumb.
Kosher Salt: Balances the sweetness and enhances the peanut butter flavor.
Unsalted Butter: Adds richness and moisture—make sure it’s room temperature for easy creaming.
Creamy Peanut Butter: The star ingredient; smooth texture that blends perfectly.
Granulated Sugar & Light Brown Sugar: Mix of sugars creates sweetness plus a touch of chewiness from the brown sugar’s molasses.
Egg: Binds everything together and helps the cookies rise.
Vanilla Extract: Adds warmth and depth to the flavor.
Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips: For dipping, providing that luscious chocolate coat.
Coconut or Vegetable Oil: Mixed into melted chocolate to keep it smooth and shiny.
Holiday Sprinkles: For that festive finish—feel free to pick your favorite shapes and colors!

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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

I love to switch up the sprinkles depending on the holiday spirit—sometimes a snowy theme, other times bright red and green. And tweaking the chocolate type? Oh yes, I’ve tried it all!

Variation: Adding crushed peanuts along with the sprinkles gives a delicious salty crunch that elevates the cookie to the next level—I highly recommend it.
Chocolate Choice: Milk, dark, or semi-sweet chocolate chips all work beautifully depending on how sweet or intense you want the chocolate coating.
Sprinkle Swap: For Valentine's Day, use pink and red sprinkles; for Halloween, go for orange and black. It’s a fun way to customize year-round!
Roll in Sugar Option: I’ve tried rolling the dough balls in granulated sugar before baking—it adds extra crunch but remember, the dipped chocolate adds enough sweetness already.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Chocolate-Dipped Peanut Butter Christmas Cookies Recipe

Step 1: Prep & Mix Dry Ingredients

Start by lining your baking sheet with parchment paper and preheating your oven to 375°F. In a medium bowl, whisk together the sifted flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. This ensures even distribution and avoids any clumps that might cause uneven rising.

Step 2: Cream Butters and Sugars

In a large mixing bowl or your stand mixer, beat the unsalted butter, creamy peanut butter, granulated sugar, and light brown sugar together until everything is nice and smooth. This usually takes about 2-3 minutes. The mixture should look creamy and fluffy—that’s your cue you’re on the right track!

Step 3: Add Egg & Vanilla

Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until combined, and the batter becomes lighter in color. This step adds moisture and gives your cookies that soft yet sturdy texture.

Step 4: Combine Dry & Wet

Gradually add the dry ingredient mix into your wet mixture, stirring slowly until just combined. Don’t overmix here—you want the dough to be soft but still hold together. Be sure to scrape down the bowl sides so all that goodness is mixed in evenly.

Step 5: Scoop and Shape

Using a medium cookie scoop, portion the dough onto your prepared sheet, spacing each at least 2 inches apart. Then, gently press down on each ball with a fork twice in a crisscross pattern. This keeps the classic peanut butter cookie shape without flattening them too much.

Step 6: Bake and Cool

Bake for 10 to 12 minutes. The edges will be set and lightly golden while the center stays soft. Transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely—don’t rush this or the chocolate dip won’t stick properly.

Step 7: Melt Chocolate and Dip

In a small bowl, microwave the chocolate chips for 1 minute, then stir. Keep microwaving in 30-second bursts, stirring each time, until smooth. Stir in the coconut or vegetable oil to get a shiny finish and ease of dipping.

Step 8: Decorate & Set

Dip each cookie halfway into the chocolate, then place back on parchment paper. Immediately sprinkle with your holiday sprinkles for that festive pop. Let the chocolate set for about an hour; it’s hard to wait, but so worth it!

Top Tip

After making this recipe several times, I’ve found a few little tweaks that really make all the difference when baking and dipping these cookies:

Room Temperature Ingredients: Always use butter and egg at room temperature to ensure smoother mixing and better texture in the dough.
Don’t Overbake: The cookies might look slightly underbaked when taken out—this keeps them chewy inside once cooled.
Melt Chocolate Gently: Go slow in the microwave and stir often. Overheating can make the chocolate seize and get grainy.
Sprinkles While Wet: Add sprinkles immediately after dipping; waiting even a few seconds can make them fall off.

How to Serve Chocolate-Dipped Peanut Butter Christmas Cookies Recipe

peanut butter cookies - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I stick with classic holiday sprinkles—reds, greens, and whites—for that festive look. Sometimes crushed roasted peanuts on top add that salty crunch my family loves. And for a grown-up twist, a light sprinkle of flaky sea salt over the chocolate pop is divine.

Side Dishes

They’re delicious on their own but pair beautifully with a glass of cold milk or a cup of hot cocoa during those cozy winter evenings. I also like to serve them on dessert platters alongside spiced nuts and cranberry-ginger cookies for variety.

Creative Ways to Present

For holiday parties, I arrange these cookies on tiered serving stands or in decorative tins lined with festive paper. Wrapping a few in clear cellophane tied with a ribbon makes a perfect edible gift. And stacking them with alternating chocolate and peanut butter sides up turns heads every time.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I store leftover cookies in an airtight container at room temperature. They keep their freshness and texture for up to a week—if they last that long! If you want to maintain the chocolate sheen, keep the container away from direct sunlight or warmth.

Freezing

Freeze these cookies for up to 3 months in a single layer wrapped tightly in plastic wrap and stored in an airtight container. When I need a sweet fix, I just thaw a few at room temperature, and they taste freshly baked.

Reheating

I prefer eating these cookies at room temperature or lightly warmed. To warm, I pop a cookie in the microwave for about 8-10 seconds—it softens the peanut butter and melts the chocolate slightly without making it messy.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use salted butter instead of unsalted?

Yes, you can use salted butter, but then you should omit the extra salt the recipe calls for to avoid over-salting your cookies.

Do these cookies freeze well?

Absolutely! They freeze nicely in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Just thaw them at room temperature when you want to enjoy some.

Can I substitute melting wafers for chocolate chips?

Yes, melting wafers work perfectly for dipping and often offer a smoother melt, which can make the dipping process easier if you prefer.

Is it okay to roll cookie dough in sugar before baking?

You can roll the dough balls in granulated sugar if you like extra crunch and sweetness, but since the cookies are already dipped in chocolate, I usually skip this step to keep the sweetness balanced.

Final Thoughts

This Chocolate-Dipped Peanut Butter Christmas Cookies Recipe truly feels like a little holiday hug in cookie form. I love how simple it is to whip up, yet everyone always asks for the recipe (and seconds!). Give it a try—you'll find that these are the kind of cookies that make your holiday baking feel extra special and absolutely delicious.