Description
These festive Rudolph Peanut Butter Cookies combine creamy peanut butter with a buttery, sweet dough, topped with mini pretzels, red M&Ms, and chocolate chips to create adorable reindeer faces. Perfect for holiday parties or a fun seasonal treat, these easy-to-make cookies are soft, flavorful, and sure to delight kids and adults alike.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Dough
- 1 cup peanut butter (creamy or chunky)
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Decorations
- 24 mini pretzels (for antlers)
- 24 red M&Ms (for Rudolph’s nose)
- 48 mini chocolate chips (for eyes)
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Baking Sheets: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure easy cleanup.
- Mix Wet Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, beat together the peanut butter, softened butter, and granulated sugar until smooth and creamy, about 2 minutes. Add the egg and vanilla extract, mixing until the mixture is well combined and fluffy.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt to evenly distribute the leavening and salt in the flour.
- Form the Dough: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined to form your cookie dough, being careful not to overmix.
- Shape Cookies: Roll the dough into 1-inch balls and place them on the prepared baking sheets, spacing about 2 inches apart to allow room for spreading. Flatten each ball slightly by pressing down with a fork.
- Bake: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden and the centers are set. Remove from oven and allow to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes.
- Decorate Cookies: Once the cookies are cooled, decorate each one by gently pressing a mini pretzel onto the top for antlers, a red M&M in the center for Rudolph’s nose, and two mini chocolate chips for eyes.
- Set and Store: Let the decorated cookies set for a few minutes before serving. Store any leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature to maintain freshness.
Notes
- Use either creamy or chunky peanut butter based on your texture preference.
- Make sure the butter is softened to room temperature to blend smoothly with the peanut butter and sugar.
- Press decorations gently to avoid breaking the cookies.
- For crispier cookies, bake an additional 1-2 minutes, but watch carefully to avoid burning.
- These cookies can be stored at room temperature for up to one week.
