Star of Bethlehem Cookies AKA Peanut Blossoms
My Star of Bethlehem Cookies, more commonly known as Peanut Blossoms, are topped with chocolate stars instead of kisses! These are perfect for Christmas!
Star of Bethlehem Cookies
My version of peanut blossoms has been dubbed Star of Bethlehem cookies and are always on my Christmas baking list. I adore Dorie Greenspan’s classic peanut butter cookie or those always popular old-fashioned 3 ingredient peanut butter cookies, but those doughs don’t translate well when making these treats!
When December arrives, I hunt down some Brach’s Chocolate Stars to use instead of the traditional Hershey’s Kisses, just to make these cookies more festive for Christmas. These Star of Bethlehem Cookies would be irresistible topped with a Rolo, too, if you’re game to mix peanut butter with gooey caramel! Or how about mini-Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups?
Best Peanut Blossoms
I’ve tried a few peanut blossom recipes and this is my favorite. Cook’s Illustrated also has a terrific version, but it involves grinding peanuts which is an extra step that I’d rather avoid during the busy holidays. There are a couple that have you pull out the cookies a minute or two before they’re finished baking to add the chocolate star, but I haven’t had any trouble with the chocolate not sticking so I nixed that idea, too. Simplicity is the name of the game this time of year!!
This star of Bethlehem cookie recipe made it into my holiday recipe binder, where only the best of the best candy and cookie recipes are stored. My two oldest wouldn’t complain if the cookie jar had a never ending supply! I hope it will become one of your favorites, too.
Tips for Making These Star of Bethlehem Cookies:
- If you know you will be baking these Star of Bethlehem Cookies on a certain day, pull your butter out of the refrigerator first thing in the morning or even the night before. Room temperature butter will be much easier to cream.
- Spray your measuring cup with Pam before measuring the peanut butter. It will release like a charm.
- If you’re short on bowls or time, instead of sifting or whisking all the dry ingredients, sprinkle the baking soda and salt over the wet ingredients and mix well. Then add the flour. Nothing worse than biting into a bit of undissolved baking soda!
- Always check your cookies a minute or so before the baking time in the recipe. All ovens bake a little differently.
- If you’re worried about your chocolates not sticking, you can pull the cookies out of the over 1-2 minutes before they are fully baked, add the chocolates and place back in the oven to finish baking.
More “Blossom” Cookies You’ll Love:
- Macaroon Blossom Cookies from Crazy for Crust
- Caramel Biscoff Blossoms
- Eggnog Blossoms from Back for Seconds
- Rolo Peanut Blossoms
- Christmas Sugar Cookie Blossoms from Princess Pinky Girl
- Candy Cane Blossoms
- Chocolate Heart Blossoms from Baking A Moment
You may need these supplies to make this Star of Bethlehem Cookies recipe:
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Star of Bethlehem Cookies (Peanut Blossoms)
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 32 minutes
- Yield: 5-6 dozen cookies
- Cuisine: Dessert, Cookies, Holiday
Ingredients
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 cup butter, at room temperature
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter
- 2 eggs
- 1/4 cup milk
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 3 1/2 cups flour
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 package Brach’s Milk Chocolate Stars (9.2 ounces)
- Sugar, to coat dough balls
Instructions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line [easyazon_link identifier="B076736W8H" locale="US" tag="thskchcaba-20"]baking sheets[/easyazon_link] with parchment and set aside.
[easyazon_link identifier="B00C0QJY40" locale="US" tag="thskchcaba-20"]Cream[/easyazon_link] sugar, brown sugar, butter and peanut butter. Beat in egg, milk, and vanilla.
In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda and salt. Stir into egg mixture until incorporated.
Shape tablespoons of dough into balls and roll in additional granulated sugar. Place onto prepared baking sheets, about 2 inches apart.
Bake for 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from oven and immediately press a [easyazon_link identifier="B00A3FN12Q" locale="US" tag="thskchcaba-20"]chocolate star[/easyazon_link] into the center of each cookie.
Allow to cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes, then remove to a [easyazon_link identifier="B00Z8GNJNQ" locale="US" tag="thskchcaba-20"]cooling rack[/easyazon_link] to allow the chocolate to solidify.
Notes
Feel free to substitute Hershey’s Kisses, Rolos, or mini Reeses Peanut Butter Cups for the chocolate stars if desired.
I spray my measuring cup with non-stick cooking spray before measuring the peanut butter, for easier release and clean up.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 1549kcal
- Sugar: 106g
- Sodium: 797mg
- Fat: 82g
- Saturated Fat: 39g
- Trans Fat: 2g
- Carbohydrates: 183g
- Fiber: 7g
- Protein: 27g
- Cholesterol: 175mg
I love blossom cookies and would happily eat them year round! 🙂
Ahah! Another cookie to add to the Chinese New Year baking list! Thank you, Lizzy 🙂
I get the same feeling of things not turning up quite as they should when I buy my 12-pound block of butter, which is not as good as the cute little packs from the market. But I don´t see how these cookies can puff up more, they´re wonderful! And since January is the wise men´s month, you still have a day left… jaja
Oh Lizzy – these look perfect and I love the name. We are having an Israel tour group get-together next week and I think I just might have to make and take some of these……just printed the recipe! I love that you have a holiday recipe binder – such a great idea!
They look fantastic. I can tell that they’d be Dudette’s favorite just from your description. I like the idea of using the stars instead of normal kisses….classes things up a lot.
they looks perfect and yummy in any season 🙂
Yummy looking cookies:). A perfect cookie year round.
Oooh I love the addition of the ground peanuts!!! That sounds delicious! And the little star chocolates are super festive!
Dear friend Liz.
I loved this recipe because it was looking for to use some Hershey’s Kisses left over. They were very cute and the way I like it. Thank you for your suggestion that will be copied already.
kisses
Liz, these look like wonderful cookies – certainly a recipe that can be baked any month of the year. The ingredients sound wonderful – we too love peanut butter, ground peanuts and chocolate in our cookies but they do not look nearly as elegant as your Star of Jerusalem Cookies.
Wow that’s a lot of peanuts and pb, intense. they look great and glad they passed the in-house test.
Isn’t if funny when you find a recipe you forgot to share? I did that recently with some cookies myself. 🙂 I guess we cook and bake so much… we can’t even remember everything we have going on. I would eat this any time of the year… I do love those star chocolates… I have never seen them before. 🙂
Beautiful cookies, Lizz. It is easy Hershey’s Kisses make it awesome.
No shortening, extra peanuts plus a cute chocolate star. Yum, a cookie full of love.
Very educational and yummy post, Liz.
A. I had no idea PB cookies were only for Christmas. Love PB and Almond Butter.
B. Interesting factoid re: PB having more water thereby producing less puffiness
C. You’ve got my mind and stomach musing over baking up a batch with almonds and almond butter =)
I’d eat these at any time of the year! Although you’re right: they do look like they make a terrific Christmas cookie. My wife (the cookie baker; my specialty is eating) eschews shortening whenever she can – butter has so much more flavor. Anyway, good stuff – thanks.
These cookies are so good that I wish that I can eat them everyday… Wait a minute, Is Christmas over? – Just kidding :p
I could eat a whole batch no no no problem 😀
Cheers
CCU
Yup.. its never late for these cookies. I am love with these little cookies:)
I haven’t heard of these cookies before and they have a beautiful name. They really do look like stars. They’re gorgeous and I’d like to make these xx
You always make the best things Lizzy , these look so delish!!!! I have to try this 🙂
I love Cook’s Illustrated, they come up with the best ideas! And you come up with the best of everything Lizzie! I love your star substitution, it makes the name far more intriguing and interesting than “Peanut Butter Kisses”! 🙂
I was actually reading an article today about the star of Bethlehem and now I ran over your cookies. These are looking lovely.
You can never go wrong with Cook’s Illustrated recipe 😀 …. Those cookies look pretty yummy ! Perfectly-baked as well ;D
Lizzy these look amazing and tempting of course!!
I see so many cookie recipes on different blogs but you present and decorate them so well. I am saving this in my recipe book as well 🙂
This cookie combines a real favourite for our house, PB and Chocolate. I tend to shy away from Shortening too, although I have one in my fridge, though I use about 1/8th of it and then after a year or so, in the trash it goes.
I will always associate these with childhood in the Midwest–where I recall their being served year round. They look wonderful!
I love, love, love the ground up peanuts. And, unfortunately, I can think of an excuse to eat “Christmas” cookies any time of the year. 🙂
What pretty cookies! And I think you could serve those any time of the year.
By the way, I made and LOVED your Heath Bar blondies. Amazing!!!
Anything with peanut butter, works any time for me! I love these and would love to have a few right now!
I can see why this recipe made into your holiday recipe folder, they really sound and look yummy!
your cookies look fantastic!! those star shaped candies were such an inspired touch!
Whether it’s for Christmas or not, it’s good to have more cookie recipes on your site, especially when they look this delicious! Beautiful shapes and I could eat several with hot tea…Hmmm I’m about to go to bed. 🙂
Who could ever resist these blossom cookies!
Such beautiful cookies! They sound delicious too.
They are just gorgeous looking…I used to make a peanut butter cookie that was similar…yum!
They look perfect! I am going to try these. The extra salted peanuts sound delicious.
Ah, Amy makes these. These are one of my favorite cookies at Christmas time.
Amy told me the same thing! I think they are a specialty of the Midwest 🙂
Love the name. They are lovely.
I had no idea these are called Star of Bethlehem also. Hubby would munch on peanut butter blossoms year round, will have to try this version next time. Thanks Liz
What a delightful cookie! I even love the name of it! That is my all time favorite chocolate those stars were the best childhood memory!
When I wad a little girl this is how peanut butter blossoms were made. No Hershey kisses back then just chocolate stars. So this isn’t a new thing. But thanks for letting people know about them.
Great to know, Julie. Thanks!