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 biting into a cookie that combines rich chocolate, creamy peanut butter, and festive cheer all in one. That’s exactly why my Chocolate-Dipped Peanut Butter Christmas Cookies Recipe has become such a holiday staple—it’s like unwrapping a little gift with every bite, perfect for sharing or savoring yourself.

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 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

Honestly, this recipe feels like a little holiday miracle every time I bake it. It strikes that perfect balance between comforting peanut butter flavor, the smooth touch of melted chocolate, and the festive sparkle from holiday sprinkles. Here’s why it’s so special to me—and why you’ll find it hard to put down.

Perfect Texture: Soft, chewy peanut butter cookies with just the right amount of crisp edges.
Chocolate Dip Elegance: Half-dipping the cookies adds a rich chocolate finish without overpowering the peanut butter.
Festive Flair: The holiday sprinkles turn these cookies into instant Christmas classics that everyone will admire.
Made for Sharing: Yields a big batch so you can gift some and still have plenty for yourself.

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

Every ingredient in this recipe plays a key role in making these cookies deliciously memorable. From the creamy peanut butter adding moisture and flavor to the melting chocolate creating that irresistible dip, here’s why I pick each one and a few handy tips for shopping.

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 structure while keeping the cookies tender; be sure to sift to avoid lumps.
Baking powder and baking soda: Work together to give the cookies a slight lift and the perfect crumb.
Kosher salt: Enhances the sweetness and balances the richness of peanut butter.
Unsalted butter: I always use unsalted to control salt levels better, but salted butter works if you skip the extra salt.
Creamy peanut butter: The star ingredient—choose a smooth, fresh jar for the best flavor and texture.
Granulated and light brown sugar: The combo gives sweetness and adds a touch of chewiness from the molasses in brown sugar.
Egg: Adds moisture and binds the ingredients for a stable dough.
Vanilla extract: Brightens the overall flavor and complements both peanut butter and chocolate.
Semi-sweet chocolate chips: Melt down for dipping, striking a good balance between sweet and rich.
Coconut or vegetable oil: Mixed into the melted chocolate for a smooth, glossy finish that hardens perfectly.
Holiday sprinkles: Makes these cookies festive and fun—plus, who doesn’t love a little color on their treat?

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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 most about this Chocolate-Dipped Peanut Butter Christmas Cookies Recipe is how easy it is to tweak it to your tastes. Whether you like your cookies a little sweeter, crunchier, or with some extra festive flair, it’s all fair game.

Variation: I often sprinkle crushed peanuts on top before the chocolate sets for a salty crunch that contrasts beautifully with the sweet. It truly adds another level!
Dietary swap: If you need gluten-free, try swapping the all-purpose flour for a 1-to-1 gluten-free blend—I’ve done this and still loved the texture.
Seasonal twist: Beyond Christmas, change up the sprinkles for Valentine’s Day, Halloween, or any celebration. The chocolate-peanut butter combo never goes out of style.

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

Step 1: Gather and Prep with Joy

Before anything else, I always preheat the oven to 375°F and line a big baking sheet with parchment paper. This makes cleanup a breeze later. While that’s warming up, sift together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and kosher salt—it ensures the dry ingredients are nicely combined and helps the cookies bake evenly.

Step 2: Cream the Butters and Sugars

Using my stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment (though a hand mixer works just fine), I blend the unsalted butter, creamy peanut butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until the mixture is silky smooth—about 3-4 minutes on medium speed. This step is critical for that soft, chewy texture I adore.

Step 3: Add the Egg and Vanilla

Next up, I toss in the egg and vanilla extract, mixing until the batter looks light and fluffy. This aerates the dough nicely and helps the cookies rise just right. Remember, room temperature eggs blend better, so if you forgot to set them out, run the egg under warm water for a minute.

Step 4: Incorporate Dry Ingredients Gently

Now, I slowly add the flour mixture into the wet ingredients, mixing carefully until combined. You want to avoid over-mixing here to keep the cookies tender, so I usually pause to scrape down the bowl’s sides a couple of times to make sure everything is evenly folded in.

Step 5: Scoop, Shape, and Press

I use a medium cookie scoop to portion out the dough, spacing the balls at least 2 inches apart on the baking sheet. Then, instead of squashing them flat, I gently press each cookie twice with a fork in a crisscross pattern—that signature peanut butter cookie look without losing the roundness.

Step 6: Bake and Cool

Bake for 10 to 12 minutes until the edges just start to set but the centers look a bit soft. Pull them from the oven and transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before dipping. This cooling step is essential so the chocolate sticks perfectly without melting off.

Step 7: Melt and Mix Chocolate Dip

In a small bowl, I melt the semi-sweet chocolate chips in the microwave starting with 1 minute, stirring, then adding 30-second bursts, stirring between each, until smooth. Then I stir in the coconut or vegetable oil for that glossy finish that hardens beautifully on the cookies.

Step 8: Dip, Decorate, and Set

Time for the fun part! I dip each cookie halfway into the chocolate, letting excess drip off before setting them on parchment paper. Right away, I sprinkle on festive holiday sprinkles for that cheerful look and texture. Let them sit at room temperature for about an hour until the chocolate hardens before enjoying or packing away.

Top Tip

From my many batches of these cookies, I’ve learned that a few little tweaks can guarantee success every time. These tips have saved me from ruining batches and made baking so much more enjoyable—hope they help you too!

Use Fresh Ingredients: Old baking powder or rancid peanut butter can dull the flavors and texture. Always check your ingredient freshness.
Don’t Overbake: The cookies should look slightly underdone in the middle when you take them out—they’ll continue to set while cooling.
Cool Completely Before Dipping: I can’t stress this enough—the chocolate will slide off if the cookies are warm, so patience here pays off beautifully.
Choose Your Oil Wisely: Coconut oil gives a subtle tropical hint and solidifies nicely, but vegetable oil works great for a neutral taste.

How to Serve Chocolate-Dipped Peanut Butter Christmas Cookies Recipe

chocolate peanut butter cookies - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I stick to festive holiday sprinkles for that classic touch, but I love switching it up by adding crushed roasted peanuts for extra crunch or a sprinkle of flaky sea salt on the chocolate side to balance sweetness wonderfully. If you want a playful spin, mini M&Ms make a vibrant, chocolaty topping kids adore.

Side Dishes

These cookies pair beautifully with a warm cup of hot chocolate or your favorite holiday coffee blend. For gatherings, I like serving them alongside bowls of spiced nuts or bite-sized cheese and fruit platters for a sweet-and-savory combo that keeps everyone happy.

Creative Ways to Present

I’ve wrapped these cookies in clear cellophane bags tied with festive ribbon as gifts, arranged them on decorative holiday platters layered with evergreen sprigs, or stacked them in mason jars for a charming hostess present. Personalized cookie boxes with name tags always make them extra special.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I keep mine in an airtight container at room temperature, and they stay fresh for up to a week. Just make sure the cookies are completely cooled and the chocolate is set before storing to avoid any melty mess.

Freezing

This recipe freezes beautifully! I separate the cookies with parchment paper and stack them in a freezer-safe container. When I’m ready, I pull them out and thaw at room temperature for an hour or so—like magic, they taste just freshly baked.

Reheating

To revive that fresh-baked feeling, I pop a few cookies in the microwave for 10-15 seconds or heat them gently in a warm oven for a few minutes. It brings back the softness while keeping the chocolate glossy and delicious.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use peanut butter alternatives in this recipe?

Absolutely! I’ve swapped in almond butter or sunflower seed butter before with good results, though the flavor will shift slightly. Just make sure the butter you use is creamy for the best texture.

Can I make these cookies without dipping them in chocolate?

Yes! The cookies are delicious on their own. The chocolate dip adds extra flavor and festivity but feel free to skip it if you prefer a simpler cookie or want to reduce prep time.

What if I don’t have coconut or vegetable oil for the chocolate dip?

You can also use a small amount of butter or shortening to achieve that smooth chocolate dip. Just avoid using too much or the chocolate might not set as firmly.

Can I substitute melting wafers for chocolate chips?

Definitely! Melting wafers are an excellent alternative and will give you a smooth, even coating that's easy to work with. Just melt them as per package instructions and proceed with dipping.

Final Thoughts

This Chocolate-Dipped Peanut Butter Christmas Cookies Recipe is more than just a holiday treat to me—it’s a tradition filled with love, warmth, and smiles. I hope you’ll enjoy making and sharing these cookies as much as I do. Pull out your mixing bowl and dip those cookies in chocolate—it might just become your family’s favorite new holiday classic.