If you’re looking for a cookie that’s as charming as it is delicious, then you are going to fall head over heels for this Melted Snowman Peanut Butter Cookies Recipe. I absolutely love how these cookies come together — not only are they packed with rich, creamy peanut butter flavor, but the whimsical melted snowman decoration makes them perfect for sharing during the holidays or any fun occasion. Trust me, once you try these, they’ll become your go-to recipe for peanut butter cookies with a playful twist.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Fun, Festive Appearance: The melted snowman decoration makes these cookies irresistible and a perfect conversation starter.
- Rich Peanut Butter Flavor: The cookie base is perfectly balanced for that creamy, nutty taste you crave in every bite.
- Simple Ingredients: You probably already have most of these pantry staples, making it super easy to whip up anytime.
- Quick to Make: Prep and bake time add up to under 30 minutes—ideal for last-minute baking sessions.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Each ingredient in this Melted Snowman Peanut Butter Cookies Recipe plays a key role — from the creamy peanut butter creating that signature base to the special candies that bring the snowman to life. When shopping, aim for good-quality peanut butter and fresh baking essentials to help your cookies turn out just right.
- Smooth peanut butter: Makes the cookies creamy and moist; avoid natural peanut butter that separates.
- Butter, softened: Adds richness and helps with the soft texture I love.
- Brown sugar: Provides a subtle molasses note for depth of flavor.
- Granulated sugar: Balances sweetness and helps with cookie crispness.
- Egg, at room temperature: Binds ingredients and improves texture; room temp eggs mix better.
- Vanilla extract: Enhances overall flavor.
- All-purpose flour: Forms the structure of the cookie.
- Baking powder: Gives a gentle lift that makes the cookies tender.
- Baking soda: Helps cookies spread just right and brown beautifully.
- Corn starch: Keeps cookies soft and adds a delicate crumb.
- Salt: Balances the sweetness and highlights the peanut butter.
- White chocolate peanut butter cups: The star decoration piece; they melt perfectly on top.
- White chocolate chips: Melted for coating and creating that snow-covered effect.
- Black candy melts or semi-sweet chocolate chips: For eyes, smile, and buttons — get creative!
- Orange candy melts: Makes the adorable carrot nose on the snowman.
Variations
I’m all for making recipes your own, and this Melted Snowman Peanut Butter Cookies Recipe is no exception. I like to tweak it sometimes depending on mood or dietary needs—don’t hesitate to experiment!
- Variation: For a gluten-free version, I swap the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free baking blend—worked great and everyone loved it.
- Variation: I’ve also tried swapping black candy melts for melted dark chocolate for a richer look that’s a little less sweet.
- Variation: Sometimes I like adding a handful of chopped peanuts into the dough to add crunch and amplify that peanut butter vibe.
How to Make Melted Snowman Peanut Butter Cookies Recipe
Step 1: Preparing Your Cookie Dough
Start by preheating your oven to 350°F and lining a baking sheet with parchment paper—trust me, this makes cleanup a breeze. Next, cream together the softened butter, smooth peanut butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy; this usually takes about 2 to 3 minutes with an electric mixer. Add in your egg and vanilla extract, mixing just until everything’s combined. Now, toss in the flour, baking powder, baking soda, corn starch, and salt, then mix until the dry ingredients just disappear into the dough. Be careful not to overmix here; you want tender cookies, not tough ones.
Step 2: Shaping and Baking the Cookies
I like to use a large cookie scoop to portion the dough evenly—you’ll get nine perfectly sized cookies out of this batch. Place each ball on your prepared baking sheet and gently flatten them to about ¾ inch thick. Bake the cookies for 9 minutes, keeping a close eye—they should be soft and just turning golden on the edges. I’ve found that baking them a bit less than usual keeps them soft once the peanut butter cup goes on top.
Step 3: Adding the Melted Snowman Decoration
Once you pull the cookies from the oven, immediately unwrap nine white chocolate peanut butter cups and place one upside down on top of each warm cookie. Gently press it down to embed it just a little. Then, melt your white chocolate chips by microwaving in 30-second bursts and stirring until silky-smooth. Spoon 1-2 tablespoons of this melted white chocolate over each cup. Here’s a little trick I discovered—carefully hold the baking sheet with oven mitts and tap it gently on the counter. This helps evenly spread the white chocolate and gives the cookie its signature “melted snowman” look.
Finally, melt the black and orange candy melts (or use semi-sweet chocolate chips for black) in short bursts too. I like placing the melted chocolate in a piping or ziplock bag with just a tiny tip snipped off—this way, I can draw the eyes, smile, buttons, and carrot nose with precision. Once your snowman faces are complete, let everything set at room temperature. If you’re in a hurry, a quick chill in the fridge helps too.
Pro Tips for Making Melted Snowman Peanut Butter Cookies Recipe
- Don’t Overbake: Slightly underbaking keeps the cookies soft and helps the peanut butter cups meld beautifully on top.
- Room Temperature Egg: Using an egg straight from the fridge can result in uneven mixing—bring it to room temp for smoother dough.
- Tapping the Cookie Sheet: This little trick ensures the melted white chocolate has that perfect “melted snowman” spread without fuss.
- Piping Bags for Details: Using a piping or ziplock bag for candy melts makes decorating easier and keeps your hands cleaner.
How to Serve Melted Snowman Peanut Butter Cookies Recipe
Garnishes
I like to sprinkle a few extra white chocolate chips or crushed peanuts around my serving tray to add texture and to tie the peanut butter theme throughout. Sometimes, a light dusting of powdered sugar gives the cookies an extra snowy, festive look—especially during winter gatherings.
Side Dishes
These cookies pair perfectly with a cold glass of milk or a warm mug of hot cocoa. For adults, I sometimes serve them alongside a rich coffee or a creamy peanut butter-flavored latte, turning snack time into a cozy coffee break.
Creative Ways to Present
For holiday parties, I love arranging these cookies on a decorative platter with festive napkins and miniature marshmallows scattered around to mimic “snow.” Wrapping each cookie in clear cellophane bags tied with orange and black ribbons makes for adorable party favors that guests rave about.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
I store leftover cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days. I’ve noticed that letting them sit out helps the peanut butter cup topping stay soft and melty—refrigerating can sometimes make the chocolate rigid and less enjoyable.
Freezing
Freezing works beautifully if you want to make a batch ahead. I freeze the plain cookie dough balls on a tray first, then transfer to a freezer bag. When you’re ready, bake from frozen by adding a couple minutes to the baking time. For decorated cookies, I wrap them individually in plastic wrap and freeze in an airtight container. Thaw at room temperature before serving.
Reheating
To refresh leftovers, pop your cookies in a warm (not hot) oven at 275°F for about 5 minutes. This warms the peanut butter cup just enough to regain that glorious melty softness without over-baking the cookie base again.
FAQs
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Can I use natural peanut butter in this Melted Snowman Peanut Butter Cookies Recipe?
While you can use natural peanut butter, I don’t recommend it here because it tends to separate and has more oil, which can change the cookie’s texture and make the dough too oily. Smooth, processed peanut butter works best for consistent results.
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What if I don’t have candy melts? Can I use regular chocolate?
Absolutely! Semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips work well for the black details, but orange candy melts add that iconic carrot nose color that’s hard to replicate with regular chocolate. If you don’t have orange melts, you could try colored icing or edible markers as alternatives.
- How do I keep the cookies from spreading too thin?
Make sure your dough isn’t too warm when scooping and flattening, and use the recommended amount of flour and corn starch. Also, avoid adding extra butter or oil, and be gentle when flattening—aim for about ¾ inch thickness before baking.
- Can this recipe be doubled easily?
Yes, definitely! I usually double the recipe for parties. Just mix the dough in two batches if your mixer is small, and bake cookies in batches to keep even baking.
- How long can I keep decorated Melted Snowman Peanut Butter Cookies at room temperature?
If stored in an airtight container, they’re best eaten within three days to keep the peanut butter cups nice and soft, and the decorations fresh.
Final Thoughts
This Melted Snowman Peanut Butter Cookies Recipe holds a special place in my kitchen arsenal—there’s just something magical about biting into a soft peanut butter cookie topped with that melting white chocolate peanut butter cup, all dressed up like a little snowman. It’s fun to make, even more fun to decorate, and a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. So grab your ingredients, roll up your sleeves, and whip up a batch—you’ll enjoy every sweet, melty bite as much as I do, I promise!
Print
Melted Snowman Peanut Butter Cookies Recipe
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 9 minutes
- Total Time: 24 minutes
- Yield: 9 cookies
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
These Melted Snowman Peanut Butter Cookies are festive treats perfect for the holiday season. Soft peanut butter cookies topped with white chocolate peanut butter cups, melted white chocolate, and decorated with colorful candy melts to resemble a melted snowman. Easy to make and irresistibly delicious.
Ingredients
Peanut Butter Cookie Base
- 1/2 cup smooth peanut butter
- 1/2 cup butter, softened
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 1 egg, at room temperature
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 & 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1 tbsp corn starch
- 1/4 tsp salt
Decoration
- 9 white chocolate peanut butter cups
- 2/3 cup white chocolate chips, melted
- 3 tablespoons black candy melts or semi-sweet chocolate chips, melted
- 1 tablespoon orange candy melts, melted
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheet: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside for baking the cookies.
- Cream the Butter and Sugars: In a bowl, cream together the softened butter, smooth peanut butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. Then add in the egg and vanilla extract and mix until fully combined.
- Add Dry Ingredients: Gradually mix in the flour, baking powder, baking soda, corn starch, and salt just until the flour mixture is fully incorporated and disappears into the dough.
- Scoop and Bake Cookies: Using a large cookie scooper, portion out 9 equal-sized dough balls onto the prepared baking sheet. Gently flatten each dough ball to about 3/4 inch thickness. Bake in the preheated oven for 9 minutes.
- Add Peanut Butter Cups: Remove the cookies from the oven and quickly press one white chocolate peanut butter cup upside down into the top of each cookie, gently pressing it into the warm dough.
- Melt White Chocolate: In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the white chocolate chips in 30-second intervals stirring in between until smooth. Spoon 1-2 tablespoons of melted white chocolate over each cookie to cover the peanut butter cup.
- Spread Melted Chocolate: Carefully tap the sides of the baking sheet up and down on the countertop to help the melted white chocolate spread evenly over the cookie surface, creating a smooth ‘melted snowman’ effect.
- Decorate with Candy Melts: Melt the black candy melts or semi-sweet chocolate chips in short microwave bursts until fully melted. Transfer to a piping bag or a plastic bag with a snipped tip, and pipe eyes, a smile, and buttons onto the white chocolate. Repeat with melted orange candy melts to pipe a carrot-shaped nose. Let the decorations set before serving.
Notes
- For best results, allow butter and egg to come to room temperature before mixing.
- If you don’t have candy melts, you can substitute with colored icing or melted chocolate colored with food coloring.
- Be careful not to overbake the cookies to keep them soft and chewy.
- If melted white chocolate thickens before use, microwave briefly and stir to return to a pourable consistency.
- Allow decorated cookies to cool completely so the chocolate sets before moving or packaging.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 18g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 16g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 22g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 35mg