Homemade peanut butter chocolate star cookies are soft peanut butter cookies topped with a milk chocolate star that melts in your mouth. This recipe is a twist on the classic peanut butter blossoms, yet made with a soft, chewy peanut butter cookie and a chocolate star in place of a kiss for a festive, fun look!
Hands-down, is there anything better than peanut butter and chocolate paired together? I mean just look at Molly Beth Bars, or Peanut Butter Brownie Skillet, or Peanut Butter Fudge Ice Cream Cake… and of course these Peanut Butter Chocolate Star Cookies.
These cookies are unreal… with the soft, slightly chewy peanut butter cookie base and the melted milk chocolate star on top…the combination is out of this world! They are easy to make, and while chilling the dough is recommended, they still come together quickly and you can’t beat that!
Are these cookies Peanut Butter Blossoms?
Short answer: no, they’re not.
Long(er) answer: they’re similar. But they are not the same, and if you’re a tried and true peanut butter blossom lover and you don’t think you even need a similar recipe, I urge you to reconsider. These are basically soft and chewy peanut butter blossoms.
This version is made with my (ok, I give full credit to my mom) classic peanut butter cookie recipe. That means it’s a soft and chewy and super peanut-buttery cookie…they are simply irresistible.
Instead of rolling the dough in sugar, baking the cookies, and then placing the chocolate kiss in at the end like the typical peanut butter blossoms, these beauties bake with the chocolate stars already on them, which results in a soft, warm peanut butter cookie with a beautiful melted chocolate center.
We’ve discussed the warm melted chocolate in cookies already and it’s HEAVEN. Needless to say, I highly recommend eating them warm for this reason.
Ingredients for Peanut Butter Star Cookies
These cookies are made with the usual cookie ingredients, with the exception of those wonderful chocolate stars. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Unsalted Butter
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Creamy Peanut Butter
- Egg
- All-Purpose Flour
- Baking Soda
- Baking Powder
- Salt
- Chocolate Stars
What are Chocolate Stars?
And the chocolate stars.
Are you familiar with Brach’s Chocolate Stars? They’re fun star-shaped “dollops” of chocolate that are a little flatter than kisses, which, in my opinion, makes them perfect for these cookies because the warm melty chocolate covers more ground AND the center melts more evenly.
Where to Find Chocolate Stars
It’s easiest to find chocolate stars in the bulk candy section of a general grocery store. You’re guaranteed to find them there, and then you can get exactly what you need.
I’ve found it’s harder to find the specific bags of Brach’s chocolate stars, but I have seen them in higher-end grocery stores (if you’re in MN – Lunds & Byerly’s has the actual Brach’s bags). Whole Foods does not have them in their little bulk candy section or in bags.
Before you count your store out, don’t forget to check the bulk candy area!
How to Make Peanut Butter Chocolate Cookies
These cookies are so easy to make, all you need is a mixer – stand or hand, it doesn’t matter. It’s easiest to mix with a mixer to make sure the butter and sugars are properly creamed together. Speaking of…
First, cream together room temperature butter and sugars until light in color and completely combined. Then, add in the egg until combined.
Next, mix in the dry ingredients. It’s best if you mix them beforehand to make sure they’re properly combined, but you know… I totally get just adding the dry ingredients and going along your merry way.
Once the dough is combined, I do recommend chilling the dough. It helps the dough set up a little. If you’re in a hurry, you can skip the chill.
Form the dough into about 1 inch balls, which is a little smaller than a #40 cookie scoop. Roll the dough between your hands to create a smooth cookie if you desire, but it’s not necessary. Space them about 2 inches apart on a parchment paper-lined cookie sheet.
Press a chocolate star on top of each peanut butter cookie dough ball, pressing gently down about halfway.
Bake the cookies until the edges are just starting to turn golden brown. It’s important to not overbake the cookies so they stay nice and soft. The cookie is soft with crisp edges and it’s just a wonderful texture combination!
Transfer them to a wire cooling rack to cool completely before storage…and by that, I mean for easy consumption. Trust me, you’re not going to want to pass on these cookies while they’re warm (something I may have mentioned already?!).
Storing The Cookies
Store these cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4-5 days. I am a sucker for warm cookies, and because the melted chocolate and peanut butter combo are one of my favs, I’m known to reheat them in the microwave for a few seconds before enjoying them again.
If you are reheating them, take care to do so in small intervals in the microwave – about 5 seconds or so – because the chocolate does have a tendency to burn if microwaved for too long.
Freezing the Cookies
Can you freeze peanut butter cookies? Yes! You can freeze the dough balls with the chocolate stars in them before baking, or you can bake the cookies and then freeze.
If baking the cookies and then freezing, let them cool completely before wrapping them carefully in plastic wrap and placing them in an airtight container. They will last in the freezer for about 3 months. Thaw at room temperature to enjoy!
More Peanut Butter Dessert Recipes to Love
- Molly Beth Bars
- Triple Fudge Peanut Butter Cup Ice Cream Cake
- Milk Chocolate Scotcheroos
- No-Fail Peanut Butter Brittle
- No-Bake Cookies
Peanut Butter Chocolate Star Cookies
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
- 1 egg, room temperature
- 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 34 chocolate stars, approximately
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F. Using an electric stand or hand mixer, cream together butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar. Add peanut butter and egg, beating until combined. Gently mix in flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt just until combined.
- Recommended, but not required: chill the dough in the fridge for at least 30 minutes.
- Form 1-inch balls of dough, spacing about 2-inches evenly apart on a cookie baking sheet. Press 1 chocolate star gently into the center of each dough ball (pushing about halfway down).
- Bake cookies for 9-11 minutes, until just turning golden brown along edges. Let cool on baking sheet for 1-2 minutes until able to transfer to a cooling rack. Store in an airtight container once completely cooled (but be sure to eat some warm!).
Notes
Nutrition
Disclaimer: The nutritional information provided for this recipe is only an estimate. The accuracy of the facts listed is not and cannot be guaranteed.
This post was originally published in November of 2018. The text and photos were updated for clarity in November of 2020. No changes were made to the recipe.
Ruby
Okay how did I miss this recipe?! These are pretty much the perfect cookies. Ever. Definitely need to add them to my cookie plate this year! Also love the photos! x
Becca
Thanks, love! The stars might be a midwest thing, but I cannot do without them!!
Erin Parker
These cookies combine two of my favorite flavors… and I love the use of a chocolate star instead of a kiss! They look SO festive and all kinds of perfect, and I have no doubt I’d be standing by the oven, waiting for them to come out so I can immediately have a taste.
Thank you so much for participating in this year’s exchange and joining us in sharing some cookies and spreading the love!
Becca
My pleasure, Erin! So much fun – thanks for putting it together! And you’re right, standing by the oven indeed! 🙂
Marisa
So soft!! I made these for a cookie exchange and they were a hit 😃