Description
These Melted Snowman Peanut Butter Cookies combine a soft, flavorful peanut butter cookie base with delicious white chocolate peanut butter cup centers and festive melted candy decorations. Perfect for holiday treats, these cookies are easy to make and beautifully decorated to resemble smiling snowmen.
Ingredients
Scale
Peanut Butter Cookie Base:
- 1/2 cup smooth peanut butter
- 1/2 cup butter, softened
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 1 egg, at room temperature
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 & 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1 tbsp corn starch
- 1/4 tsp salt
Decoration:
- 9 white chocolate peanut butter cups
- 2/3 cup white chocolate chips, melted
- 3 tablespoons black candy melts or semi-sweet chocolate chips, melted
- 1 tablespoon orange candy melts, melted
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheet: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and set it aside.
- Cream the Butters and Sugars: In a mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter, smooth peanut butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy. Then, add the egg and vanilla extract, mixing until fully combined.
- Add Dry Ingredients: Incorporate the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, corn starch, and salt into the wet mixture. Stir gently just until the flour mixture has fully disappeared, avoiding overmixing to keep the cookies tender.
- Scoop and Bake Cookies: Using a large cookie scooper, portion out 9 equal-sized dough balls onto the prepared baking sheet. Gently flatten each ball to about 3/4 inch thick. Bake in the preheated oven for 9 minutes.
- Add Peanut Butter Cups: Once out of the oven, quickly unwrap each white chocolate peanut butter cup and place one upside down on top of each cookie. Press gently so it embeds slightly in the warm cookie.
- Melt White Chocolate and Drizzle: Melt the white chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl by heating in 30-second increments, stirring between intervals until smooth. Spoon 1-2 tablespoons of melted white chocolate over each cookie.
- Spread the Melted Chocolate: Using oven mitts, carefully hold the baking sheet and gently tap it up and down on the counter. This helps the melted white chocolate spread evenly creating the smooth ‘melted’ snowman effect.
- Decorate with Candy Melts: Melt the black candy melts (or semi-sweet chocolate chips) and orange candy melts in the microwave in 15 to 30-second bursts, stirring until smooth. Transfer to piping bags or a ziplock bag with a small cut at the tip. Pipe eyes, a smile, and buttons with the black melts and a carrot-shaped nose with the orange melts. Allow the decorations to set before serving.
Notes
- Make sure the egg is at room temperature for better mixing and texture.
- Do not overmix the dough once the flour is added to avoid tough cookies.
- If you do not have candy melts, semi-sweet chocolate chips can be used as a substitute.
- Work quickly when placing the peanut butter cups on the warm cookies so they embed nicely.
- Store baked and decorated cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
- For easier decorating, allow the melted chocolate and candy melts to cool slightly before piping.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 260
- Sugar: 18g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 17g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 35mg
