Ingredients for Soft & Chewy Peanut Butter Blossoms

• Creamy Peanut Butter: This is the star, hon! Use a good, creamy, processed peanut butter (like Jif or Skippy). Natural peanut butter just doesn’t quite give you the same texture here, I tried it once and it was… dryer, let’s say.
• Unsalted Butter: I always use unsalted so I can control the salt level myself. Make sure it’s softened, not melted, for that perfect creamy base.

• Granulated Sugar & Brown Sugar: A mix of both gives these Soft & Chewy Peanut Butter Blossoms their signature texture and depth of flavor. The brown sugar adds that chewiness, trust me.

• Large Egg: Binds everything together. Just one, not too many!

• Vanilla Extract: A splash of vanilla really makes the flavors sing. Don’t skimp on the good stuff, it makes a difference!

• All-Purpose Flour: The backbone of our cookie. Make sure to measure it properly too much and your cookies will be tough, too little and they’ll spread too much.

• Baking Soda: Our leavening agent. It helps these Soft & Chewy Peanut Butter Blossoms rise just right and get those lovely crinkled edges.

• Salt: Essential for balancing all that sweetness and bringing out the peanut butter flavor. Seriously, don’t skip it!

• Hershey’s Kisses: The iconic chocolate topping! Make sure they’re unwrapped and ready to go. Milk chocolate is the classic, but I’ve played around with dark chocolate ones too.

Baking Soft & Chewy Peanut Butter Blossoms

Cream It Up:

First things first, get that softened butter and both sugars into a bowl. Cream them together with an electric mixer until they’re light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes. This is where you’re building the foundation for those incredibly Soft & Chewy Peanut Butter Blossoms, so don’t rush it! It should look pale and airy, almost like a cloud. I always get a little too excited at this stage, sometimes sugar goes flying, but hey, that’s baking, right?

Add the Wet Wonders:

Next, beat in the creamy peanut butter until it’s fully combined. Then, crack in that large egg and pour in the vanilla extract. Mix until everything is just incorporated. You don’t want to overmix here, or your cookies might get tough. It’ll smell amazing already, that distinct peanut butter aroma filling the kitchen? Yep, that’s what we’re going for! I’ve definitely added the vanilla before the egg in a rush, it still works, but mixing order matters a little bit.

Dry Ingredients Unite:

In a separate, smaller bowl, whisk together your all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt. Give it a good whisk to make sure everything is evenly distributed. Then, gradually add this dry mixture to your wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined. Stop as soon as you see no more streaks of flour. Overmixing is the enemy of Soft & Chewy Peanut Butter Blossoms, remember that!

Roll ‘Em in Sugar:

Scoop out rounded tablespoons of dough. I like to use a cookie scoop for consistency, but a regular spoon works too! Roll each portion into a neat little ball between your palms. Then, roll those dough balls in a bowl of granulated sugar until they’re fully coated. This sugar coating gives them that classic sparkle and a little extra texture. Honestly, this is the fun part, though my fingers always end up sticky!

Bake to Perfection:

Place your sugar-coated dough balls about 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets. Pop them into a preheated oven at 375°F (190°C) for about 8-10 minutes. You’re looking for edges that are lightly golden, but the centers should still look a little soft. This is key for Soft & Chewy Peanut Butter Blossoms slightly underbaked is better than overbaked, trust me!

The Iconic Kiss:

As soon as the cookies come out of the oven, immediately press a Hershey’s Kiss into the center of each hot cookie. The warmth of the cookie will slightly melt the chocolate, making it gooey and wonderful. Let them cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. Patience is a virtue here, if you move them too soon, those kisses might slide right off!

Soft & Chewy Peanut Butter Blossoms Storage Tips

So, you’ve got a batch of these glorious Soft & Chewy Peanut Butter Blossoms, and you want them to last? I hear you! Once they’re completely cool (and I mean completely, or you’ll have a sticky mess), store them in an airtight container at room temperature. They’ll stay wonderfully soft and chewy for about 3-5 days. I’ve tried putting them in the fridge once, thinking it would keep them fresher, but it actually made them a bit hard and the chocolate went dull. Don’t do that, lol! If you want to freeze them, place them in a single layer on a baking sheet until firm, then transfer to a freezer-safe bag or container. They’ll keep for up to 2-3 months. Just thaw them at room temperature when you’re ready for a treat!

Soft & Chewy Peanut Butter Blossoms Ingredient Substitutions

Okay, let’s talk swaps for these Soft & Chewy Peanut Butter Blossoms. While the classic peanut butter is, well, classic, I’ve played around a bit. I tried almond butter once, and it worked… kinda. The texture was a little drier, and the flavor profile changed quite a bit, so if you go that route, maybe add a tiny splash more milk to the dough. For the Hershey’s Kisses, mini Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups are a fun alternative if you want to double down on the peanut butter flavor! I’ve also used dark chocolate kisses, which give a lovely bittersweet contrast. If you’re out of brown sugar, you can use all granulated sugar, but just know you’ll lose a little of that delightful chewiness these Soft & Chewy Peanut Butter Blossoms are known for. It’s all about experimenting and finding what you love!

Soft & Chewy Peanut Butter Blossoms Serving Suggestions

These Soft & Chewy Peanut Butter Blossoms are honestly perfect on their own, fresh from the cooling rack. But if you want to elevate the experience, I’ve got ideas! My absolute favorite way to enjoy them is with a tall, cold glass of milk. It just screams childhood nostalgia! They’re also fantastic alongside a hot cup of coffee or tea for an afternoon pick-me-up. For dessert platters, they add a pop of color and a beloved flavor that everyone recognizes. During the holidays, I love arranging them around a bowl of mixed nuts or other festive cookies. And honestly, a quiet night in, a good book, and a couple of these Soft & Chewy Peanut Butter Blossoms? Pure bliss.

Cultural Backstory of Peanut Butter Blossoms

The Peanut Butter Blossom is a truly iconic American cookie, a staple on holiday cookie platters and bake sale tables for decades. Its origins trace back to the 1950s when Freda Strasburg Smith of Gibsonburg, Ohio, won a Pillsbury Bake-Off contest with her “Peanut Butter Kisses” recipe. It quickly became a sensation, cementing its place in countless cookbooks and family traditions. For me, it’s more than just a recipe from a contest, it’s a taste of home, a connection to generations of bakers who found joy in simple, comforting flavors. It’s a testament to how a humble cookie can create such lasting, sweet memories for so many, including my own family’s kitchen adventures.

Frequently Asked Questions about Soft & Chewy Peanut Butter Blossoms

→ Why are my Soft & Chewy Peanut Butter Blossoms not soft?

Usually, it’s because they were overbaked! Next time, pull them from the oven when the edges are just barely golden and the centers still look a little soft. They’ll firm up as they cool, I promise!

→ Can I use natural peanut butter for these Soft & Chewy Peanut Butter Blossoms?

I’ve tried, and honestly, it changes the texture. Natural peanut butter tends to be oilier and can make the cookies crumbly or dry. Stick to creamy, processed brands for the best results with this recipe.

→ My Hershey’s Kisses keep melting too much, what am I doing wrong?

Make sure to press them into the cookies right after they come out of the oven, but then let the cookies cool completely on the baking sheet before moving them. Sometimes chilling the kisses beforehand helps too, I’ve found!

→ How long do Soft & Chewy Peanut Butter Blossoms last?

When stored in an airtight container at room temperature, these Soft & Chewy Peanut Butter Blossoms usually stay fresh and delicious for about 3-5 days. They rarely last that long in my house, though!

→ Can I add other mix-ins to the Soft & Chewy Peanut Butter Blossoms dough?

Absolutely! I’ve experimented with mini chocolate chips or even a sprinkle of chopped peanuts for extra crunch. Just don’t go overboard, or it might affect the cookie’s structure, but a little bit is great!