Peanut Butter Thumbprint Cookies are easy to make and full of big peanut butter flavor. These Hershey Kiss topped peanut butter cookies (also known as peanut butter blossoms) are is so cute and perfect for Christmastime.
Around here, we firmly believe there is no greater flavor combination than peanut butter and chocolate. If these peanut butter thumbprint cookies with Hershey Kisses aren't proof enough, these chocolate peanut butter brownies most definitely are!
These cookies are so perfect for homemade holiday gift giving! For more Christmas cookie recipes, hop on over here.
Table of Contents
Why This Recipe Works
Growing up, my mom was all about the chocolate chip cookies. (I mean, who isn't?) I'm all about the chocolate, but I'm also all about the peanut butter. So, when I set out to make the world's greatest homemade peanut butter cookie for my little at-home bakery, there was no second-guessing that chocolate would most definitely be involved.
As it turned out, I was right to go the chocolate route. Thumbprint Hershey Kiss Cookies became a best-seller year after year. The combination of milk chocolate and peanut butter in a soft Thumbprint Hershey Kiss Cookie is irresistible, and the bites with the chocolate are always the best.
Peanut-Butter-to-Chocolate Ratio | This is the perfect cookie-to-Kiss recipe. These cookies are a touch smaller than most, making them petite, adorably bite-sized, and just right for that Hershey Kiss center.
So Easy | This peanut butter cookie with Hershey Kisses recipe is beyond easy to make. It's a make-and-scoop recipe; no chilling dough needed.
Big Peanut Butter Flavor | We use our classic peanut butter cookie base for this recipe, which adds loads of peanut butter flavor.
Fun Family Recipe | Thumbprint peanut butter cookies are one of my family's favorite Christmas cookie recipes. I put my kids to work unwrapping Hershey Kisses, and as they unwrap, they inevitably reward themselves with said Kisses. It's a super-fun bake for the whole family.
If chocolate and peanut butter are your jam, whip up these simple peanut butter chocolate chip cookies! And feel free to take that recipe a step further by adding chocolate chunks and oats. Dee-lish!
Peanut Butter Thumbprint Cookie Ingredients
Flour | We use only all-purpose flour for this peanut butter thumbprint cookie recipe. Be sure to measure your flour carefully so your cookies don't turn out dry.
Baking Powder | Be sure to use baking powder and not baking soda. Baking powder gives your cookies more "fluff, making these just the right amount of puffy and chewy.
Butter | Use unsalted butter, or your cookies will be too salty.
Sugar | Combining brown sugar and granulated sugar for a touch of molasses flavor makes for perfect texture and spread.
Peanut Butter | For best results, opt for creamy peanut butter with full sugar here (not the healthy stuff!) Brands like Jif or Peter Pan Peanut Butter work best.
Egg | The egg serves as the binder for this recipe.
Hershey Kisses | You literally can't have thumbprint cookies without the Hershey Kisses. This recipe will make about 60 cookies. Remember, they are just a little bigger than bite-size. Pro-tip: have your Kisses unwrapped and ready to go before the cookies come out of the oven.
If you don't feel up to unwrapping the kisses, make our chocolate-dipped peanut butter cookies instead. Same flavors, less shiny foil.
How-To Video
How to Make Peanut Butter Cookies with Hershey Kisses
Whisk Together Dry Ingredients | First, mix up your dry ingredients. The dry ingredients for these cookies are a simple mixture of all-purpose flour, baking powder, and fine sea salt.
Mix Wet Ingredients | You can use either a stand mixer, a handheld mixer, or a good old-fashioned whisk to combine your wet ingredients. These cookies call for a combination of both granulated and light brown sugar, peanut butter, egg, and pure vanilla extract.
Combine Wet + Dry Ingredients | The dry ingredients are gently mixed into the wet, taking care not to overmix, which ultimately causes your cookie to be tough. And, come on--we all know cookies were not meant to be tough. Especially these cute, tiny little guys.
Scoop + Bake | After the dough comes together, scoop them onto the baking mat, transfer to the oven, and enjoy one of the greatest scents known to man: freshly baked peanut butter cookies. Swoon.
Note: If you want standard-sized cookies, you can easily do that! Just scoop larger dough balls and add 1-2 minutes to your bake.
Add Hershey Kisses | Immediately after the cookies come out of the oven, the Kiss should be planted firmly in the center.
Take note: have your Kisses ready to go! The cookies are small and set up fast. The quicker you get the Hershey Kisses on the cookies, the less likely you'll end up with broken peanut butter cookies.
Peanut Butter Thumbprint Cookie Variations
To shuffle things up a bit and save yourself the time it takes to unwrap your chocolates, you can also make a ganache or jam recipe variations that are equally delicious.
For a Ganache Center
To easily make a ganache:
- Combine 4 ounces of chopped chocolate with a ¼ cup of heavy whipping cream in microwave-safe bowl.
- Heat at 30-second intervals, stirring between each interval, until melted.
And that's all there is to it! Use German, milk, or semi-sweet chocolate bars. The type of chocolate you use will determine how sweet your chocolate center is.
For a Jam Center
Jam and cookies are also a great combo. We love them in our strawberry butter jam cookies and our classic thumbprints.
For peanut butter jam cookies, create a divot in the center of your cookies and using a teaspoon-sized measuring spoon (or your thumb) and fill with grape, strawberry, or even raspberry jam.
How to Store Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies
Store | Store your Hershey Kiss cookies in an airtight container at room temperature. Your cookies will stay fresh tasting for 4-5 days. If you’d like to enjoy your cookies for any time beyond this, you should consider freezing them.
Freeze | Hershey Kiss cookies freeze beautifully, and all you need to do to freeze them is allow them to cool to room temperature, then transfer them to an airtight, freezer-safe container or a freezer-safe zip-top, gallon-sized bag.
If using a container, try to use one that houses the cookies snugly, but not such a tight fit that they are crammed to the point of breaking. If using a zip-top bag, be sure to remove as much air as possible before sealing.
5 More Christmas Cookie Recipes to Try
- Ginger Molasses Cookies
- Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
- Red Velvet Cookies
- Mexican Wedding Cookies
- Sugar Cookies with Frosting
Thumbprint Hershey Kiss Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 ⅓ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp fine sea salt
- ½ cup + 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- ½ cup light brown sugar, firmly packed
- ½ cup + 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1 cup peanut butter
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- About 60 unwrapped Chocolate Kisses
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350° and have ready a cookie sheet lined with a sheet of parchment paper or a Silpat.
- In a mixing bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and sea salt. Set aside until ready to use.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, mix together butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar and peanut butter on medium-high speed. If you don’t have a stand mixer, use a large mixing bowl and a handheld mixer. Add the egg, followed by the vanilla extract. Add the flour with the mixer on low. Remove bowl from mixer and scrape the dough from the bottom, up and over the top. Return bowl to the mixer and mix on low 30 seconds more.
- Scoop out a scant tablespoon of dough and form into a ball. Place about 1” apart on parchment paper. Bake 10 minutes, remove from the oven and set atop a cooling rack.
- Place the chocolate kiss in the center of the cookie and apply gentle pressure to inset. Allow to cool 5-10 minutes, serve and enjoy.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Stine Mari says
These are so cute! And I'm totally with you on making chocolate on every bite. I like peanut butter, but mostly only in combination with chocolate, or maybe caramel!
Kelly Anthony says
Yes!!! Thank you, and I am right there with you, sister!
Jennifer says
Bite-sized peanut butter kiss cookies are perfect solution for me. I love them so. But, I have a small mouth and one cookie is way too big for me to eat at once, but then you're left a lot of times with a crumbling cookie half hanging onto the kiss, half not.
Thanks! Love your site. Love the home bakery story 🙂
Kelly Anthony says
Hi Jennifer!!! Thank you so much! I know exactly what you mean! These will be the perfect lil' cookies for you
Linda says
I’m anxious to make these. I have insulated cookie sheets. Should I cook longer or at higher temp?
Kelly Anthony says
Don't change the temperature, but just check them after the indicated bake time is up, and you can determine if you need to add an extra couple minutes from there 😉
Sarah Newman says
These were always my favorite Christmas cookies as a kid! Brings back such great memories. I loved unwrapping all the kisses and putting them into the soft cookie!
Katie says
These are a classic! We always called them peanut butter blossoms growing up- and it was one we HAD to have every year 🙂
Bev says
These definitely bring back some good memories from childhood. I've never made them with peanut butter cookies but now I am so excited for the flavour combination! Thanks for another amazing recipe.
Jen says
A holiday classic! I haven't made these in years. You have inspired me to give them another go. Adding this recipe to my Christmas cookie list.
Gingey Bites says
Love the story with this recipe, I always enjoy reading this type of thing, especially fond family cookery memories!
Kelly Anthony says
Aw, thank you so much!!!
Marisa says
Yum! Loving the classic flavor combination in these cookies!
Kelly Anthony says
Thank you so much, Marisa!
Valentina says
YUM! I could probably eat a dozen of these in one sitting. I have a love-hate relationship with bite-sized goodies. I love that I can pop them right in my mouth and it's not messy, but I tend to eat a million for the same reason, when they're as deliciious as these cookies look, anyway.
Gloria says
I remember making these when my kids were little. Always a hit with everyone. Perfect for the holiday tray. You can never go wrong with the classics this time of year.
Elaine Benoit says
I remember making kiss cookies when I was a child but I haven't made them in a long time! Your recipe and cookies look so delicious that I'm going to have to include them on my holiday cookie tray!
Jeannette says
This is absolutely the best comfort cookie ever!!!!! I never mad them and wondered how the chocolate kiss never melted! My kids are going to love being a part of making these and being the "unwrappers", LOL, like you said.
Aleta says
EEK these are too too cute! My little girls are going to love making these, I am adding them to our Christmas baking list for sure!
Cheese Curd In Paradise says
These are one of my favorite holiday cookies! They are always delicious and hit. Sometimes I like to make them with the Hugs!
Mirlene says
It is amazing how certain foods can make us forget we are adults and revert back to childhood. These cookies were always a hit growing up, and as an adult they still are. I am looking forward to sharing this experience with my children. I am looking forward to trying your recipe!
Veena Azmanov says
Oh, these are such a classic. Loved making these when we were kids. mom would give me to put the kisses on the cookies. So festive. Love how pretty these look
Maddy says
YUM! I love the combination of peanut butter and chocolate! I can't wait to try! Thank you for the inspiration 🙂
Analida Braeger says
Ahhh these cookies bring back so many memories. I remember my pre-peanut butter days when I would take the Hershey kiss and leave the cookie behind! Haha. Now I wholeheartedly embrace all the elements. Looking forwards to these.
Carrie Ditton says
These were always my favorite Christmas cookies to make with my kids! Brings back such great memories. They always loved unwrapping all the kisses and watching the soft cookie press down!!
April says
Haha, I love absolutely everything about cookies-to-kiss! 🙂 And I think this recipe is just one of the best ones I have seen so far - loving it!
Amanda says
I love how cute these are, and I’m always a fan of peanut butter and chocolate together. I’ll have to add these to my cookie list for the holidays!
Jacqueline Debono says
I've never seen kiss cookies but these are so cute and I can imagine delicious too! Love that they are bite-sized!
Allison says
I love this classic recipe. It's a holiday go-to in my family!
Amanda Mason says
These are my FAVORITE cookies! Love this recipe! Made them and they are DELISH! Love the combo of peanut butter and chocolate! A perfect cookie exchange for Christmas!
Anna Hettick says
Yes! Such a classic but my kids LOVE to help me make these thumbprint cookies!
Saima says
OOh! These mini cookies look so cute. They're a classic for sure and your pictures make me want to go into my kitchen and start on them now! My kids love Hershey's kisses and this is such a fun way to eat them!
Anne Lawton says
These cookies are one of my favorites during the holidays! Of course, who doesn't love peanut butter and chocolate mixed together.
Amy says
These were my favorite cookies growing up. Your recipe looks perfect!
Kelly Anthony says
Thank you, Amy!
Jagruti Dhanecha says
OMG..these classic peanut butter cookies look so cute, such a fabulous recipe to keep for the holiday season.
Krista Price says
These cookies bring back so many childhood memories. My favorite part about baking Christmas cookies with my mom was decorating the gingerbread men and pressing the kiss into the thumbprint cookie! I'd probably eat the entire batch in one sitting!
Renu says
Wow they look so cute. I have heard about Thumbprint cookies just few months before and here I have a new way of using them along with the kisses. I am sure my kids would go mad at this along with me. Would just love munching this addictive cookies.
Natalie says
Thumbprint cookies were always one of my favorite holiday cookies, since I was a kid. Never tried peanut butter version and I loveeee peanut butter. So naturally now I need to give this a try. I bet these taste absolutely amazing. They sure look amazing to me.
Andrea says
They look absolutely perfect! They would make such a lovely holiday gift too!
Kari Heron says
Peanut butter and chocolate? You got me! These thumbprints are adorable. I wish there was a dark hershey. DO you find these very sweet?
Chef Mireille says
hershey kisses are one of my fave chocolate candies and I would love these cookies! they just scream YUM!!!
Stephanie Simmons says
These are a classic! I have fond memories of making these every Christmas with my mom! Her recipe always made 3-4 dozen - our kitchen counters would be completely filled with them!
MKatrinna Richins says
Can I use almond butter in replace of peanut butter?
Kelly Anthony says
Sorry to say, no. For this recipe, it is best to stick to creamy Peanut Butter!
Jess says
Aren't thumbprint cookies just the best??? I see them and I think of the holidays immediately! This recipe's cookies look and sound so perfectly sweet!
Kushigalu says
Love the combination of flavor in this recipe. Must try for this holiday season.
Paula Montenegro says
Who can argue with cookies, and with chocolate and peanut butter, right? I love this classic recipe and using peanut butter takes it up a notch. Definitely making these for Christmas!
Denise says
These are one of the the best cookies ever!! They are always the first spot empty on the cookie tables & trays!! De
Amy Dong says
PB kiss cookies are one of our favorite Christmas cookies. It’s always one that disappears quickly.
Sara says
I'm absolutely living for these thumbprint cookies this year. There's something about the nostalgic component that draws me IN, and this recipe is exactly what I remember from the holidays as a kid! LOVE!
EA The Spicy RD says
I agree-childhood recipes are definitely the best! These look so delicious and I love how easy to make they are too. Looking forward to baking cookies over the holidays!
Jo says
I do similar kind of cookies and have a post on my blog. I know for sure my kids loved it. Your post reminded me of one of my kids favorite cookies. It's time to make these again.
Stacey says
These scream Christmas cookies loud and clear! Such a fun and dare I say must-have cookie for the holidays (and any time of year are far as I'm concerned). Love 'em!
Jan Darling says
There are dark kisses! Especially at the holiday time...
Carmen Gruenfelder says
Question? Do we use Creamy Peanut butter?
Kelly Anthony says
Yes! Only use creamy peanut butter for this recipe 🙂
Rachel says
Can I not put the peanut butter? Without it can it be a shortbread cookie instead?
Kelly Anthony says
Hi, Rachel! I've not tested the recipe without it so I can't say for certain. However, I would assume you'd be losing quite a bit of moisture not using the peanut butter and the cookies might turn out dry. If you experiment with it, I'd love to hear how it turned out for you!
Marianne says
These cookies turned out amazing! My family loves these, will become a go-to cookie recipe!!
Kelly Anthony says
I love that! Thank you, Marianne!