Chocolate star cookies are a classic holiday treat. They combine the rich flavor of peanut butter with a milk chocolate star candy nestled into the center of a soft, chewy cookie.
These peanut butter chocolate star cookies come together fast, which is exactly what I need during Christmas baking, and they are easy to make with kids, who love pressing the chocolate stars on top.
This recipe was inspired by my Peanut Butter Cup Cookies, and both are perfect for peanut butter lovers.
Ingredients
- Peanut Butter: Choose a creamy peanut butter to get a soft, chewy texture. A fresh jar makes the creamiest, most flavorful cookies, though it is not required.
- Sugar: A mix of granulated and brown sugar is used. The granulated sugar gives crisp edges, and the brown sugar keeps the cookies chewy.
- Flour: All-purpose flour is the go-to here. You can swap half of it for white whole wheat flour without changing the taste.
- Butter: Use unsalted butter, softened to room temperature.
- Eggs: Use room-temperature eggs so the ingredients cream together better.
- Chocolate: Brach's Milk Chocolate Stars are what I use, and they make these especially fun for the holidays. Hershey's Kisses work just as well if you cannot find the stars, and you can swap in any other chocolate shape or a peanut butter cup for a different twist.
- Baking Soda: This helps the cookies rise and gives them that classic peanut butter cookie texture.
- Vanilla Extract: A touch of vanilla rounds out the flavor.
- Milk: The milk keeps the cookies from turning crumbly.
See recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350ºF and line cookie sheets with parchment paper.
- Make sure your ingredients are at room temperature for quicker, better mixing.
- In a large bowl, with an electric or stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the softened butter with the granulated and brown sugar until light and fluffy.
- Beat in the creamy peanut butter, then add the egg and vanilla, and mix until well combined. If you are doing this by hand, it takes a little more time.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing between each addition. The dough will look a bit crumbly, and that is when the milk goes in, to bring it together smoothly.
- Roll the dough into 1-inch balls, then roll each one in a shallow dish of granulated sugar to coat.
- Place the dough balls on the prepared cookie sheets, leaving two inches of space between them.
- Bake for 9-11 minutes, until lightly golden around the edges.
- As soon as the cookies come out of the oven, gently press a chocolate star into the center of each one. Press lightly, because the chocolate will melt fast if you disturb it too much.
- Let the cookies cool for at least 10 minutes before moving them to a cooling rack, and let the chocolate harden completely before stacking.
Substitutions
These cookies can be made to be nut free or gluten free!
- Peanut butter - Swap in WowButter or another peanut butter alternative for a nut-free version.
- Flour - Use a gluten-free 1-to-1 baking flour in place of the all-purpose.
- Chocolate - Use a different chocolate shape or flavor depending on your needs.
Equipment
Hand mixer - An electric hand mixer creams the peanut butter into the dough quickly.
Mixing bowls - You will want one bowl for the wet ingredients and one for the dry. I like bowls with a nonslip grip so they do not scoot around.
Cookie Sheets - I prefer light cookie sheets, because the bottoms do not brown as quickly as dark pans.
Parchment Paper - This keeps the dough from sticking, makes cleanup easier, and helps the cookies brown evenly.
Storage
Store the cookies in an airtight container so the chocolate stars stay intact and the cookies stay moist. They keep on the counter for up to 5 days.
Freezing Baked Cookies
You can freeze the baked cookies for up to 3 months, which is handy when you are making a big batch of Christmas cookies ahead of time.
Freezing Cookie Dough
The dough also freezes well for up to 3 months.
Make the dough, shape it into 1-inch balls, and roll them in the sugar. Place the balls in a freezer-safe bag in a single layer, with parchment or wax paper between layers, then set the bag in a freezer-safe container.
When you are ready to bake, take the balls out of the freezer, preheat the oven to 350ºF, and bake as directed.
Top tip
Roll the cookie dough balls into granulated sugar to give an extra crunch to the cookies.
Related
📖 Recipe
Peanut Butter Chocolate Star Cookies
Ingredients
- ½ cup unsalted butter at room temperature
- ½ cup smooth peanut butter
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup light brown sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 tablespoon milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- Brach's milk chocolate stars
- ¼ cup granulated sugar - for rolling
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350ºF and line cookie sheets with parchment paper.
- Cream the unsalted butter until smooth in a large bowl.
- Beat in the creamy peanut butter as well as the granulated and brown sugars and beat until smooth.
- Beat in the egg, tablespoon of milk, and vanilla extract.
- In a medium bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt.
- Combine the dry ingredients with the peanut butter mixture until the dough forms a soft dough.
- Pour ¼ cup of granulated sugar into a shallow bowl.
- Roll the cookie dough into 1-inch balls and then roll each ball into the shallow bowl of sugar.
- Bake the cookies one cookie sheet at a time for 9 to 11 minutes.
- When the cookies are hot out of the oven, gently press a milk chocolate star into the center of each cookie.
- Allow the cookies to cool completely before storing them. This will allow the chocolate to firm back up and keep the chocolate's star shape.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimate based on third-party calculations. Actual values may vary due to ingredients, measurements, and serving sizes.
© Mama Needs Cake
Tried this recipe?
Let us know how it was!Dana is an experienced recipe creator who crafts easy and delicious recipes for all levels of home cooks.
Her recipes range from classic comfort foods to healthy and nutritious meals, and she is always on the lookout for new and exciting ways to bring flavor and variety to the table.
