While I love holiday baking, it can end up being a LOT of work (and mess) when you want to make multiple kinds of cookies. My easy solution? One simple, affordable batch of peanut butter cookie dough is the secret to creating three totally different and fan-favorite Christmas cookies!
That’s right! I’ve streamlined my holiday prep with this ONE master peanut butter cookie dough. It's a perfect freezer-friendly recipe that saves on time, ingredients, and most importantly, cleanup! Bake one kind now and save the rest of the dough for another day if you like!
Here is the single, perfect dough recipe, followed by the super-easy steps to transform it into three classic holiday favorites.
The Master Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Recipe
This is the quick, easy, and simple dough that serves as the base for all the fun!
Ingredients:
- flour
- baking soda
- baking powder
- salt
- peanut butter - smooth is best
- butter, softened
- brown sugar
- white sugar
- egg
- vanilla
- Hershey Kisses for peanut butter blossoms
- jelly for thumbprints
- pretzels, m&ms and chocolate chips for Rudolph
Instructions for the Base Dough:
- Heat oven to 350 degrees.
- Blend together flour, baking soda and powder and salt and set aside.
- Beat butter and peanut butter with an electric mixer until smooth.
- Add sugars and beat until fluffy.
- Blend in egg and vanilla.
- Add in the flour mixture and stir until combine.
- Roll the dough into 1-inch balls. This is your base! Now, follow the simple finishing steps below for the cookies you want to make.
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1. Classic Peanut Butter Blossoms
These are the quintessential holiday cookie-soft, salty-sweet peanut butter topped with that iconic chocolate kiss. They are the easiest of the three to finish!
Finishing Steps:
- Before baking, roll the prepared dough balls in granulated sugar.
- Place them on the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake for 7-8 minutes or until puffed up and edges are just beginning to brown.
- Immediately upon removing the cookies from the oven, gently press a Hershey's Kiss right into the center of each one.
- Return to oven for 2-3 minutes until light brown. Remove from oven.
- Let cool completely before serving or storing.
👉 Click here for the complete ingredient list and step-by-step instructions for our Classic Peanut Butter Blossoms Cookie Recipe!
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2. Whimsical Rudolph Peanut Butter Cookies
Turn your peanut butter cookies into adorable reindeer! This is a kid-favorite finish that takes just a few extra minutes of assembly after baking.
Finishing Steps:
- Before baking, sprinkle with sugar and gently make an indentation slightly off the center of each cookie.
- Bake 10-12 minutes.
- As soon as they come out of the oven, while the cookies are still hot, gently press two small pretzel pieces into the top for antlers, an M&M for the nose and two chocolate chips (pointy side down) for the eyes.
👉 Find the full assembly instructions and the cutest finishing touches on our Rudolph Peanut Butter Cookies Recipe page!
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3. Nostalgic Peanut Butter and Jelly Thumbprint Cookies
Who said PB&J is just for lunch? This thumbprint cookie brings a bright pop of color and a fun, fruity flavor that is a perfect contrast to the rich peanut butter base.
Finishing Steps:
- Before baking, roll the dough balls in granulated sugar (just like the blossoms).
- Place them on the prepared baking sheet.
- Use the handle of a wooden spoon to press a hole into the top of each cookie.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes.
- Once they are removed from the oven, spoon a small amount of your favorite jam or jelly into the indentation.
- Let cool completely before serving.
👉 Get the complete recipe, tips on the best jams, and why we use grapeseed oil spray for these Peanut Butter and Jelly Thumbprint Cookies!
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Your Thrifty Holiday Baking Strategy is Set!
With this single, versatile peanut butter cookie dough, you’ve unlocked three amazing holiday treats without three times the work!
Bake up a dozen of each, arrange them on your cookie tray, and watch the amazement when your guests realize they all came from the same simple base.
Happy baking!
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