These Peanut Butter Reese’s Christmas Tree Cookies take classic holiday baking to a whole new level. Featuring soft, chewy peanut butter cookies topped with mini Reese’s Christmas Trees, this festive treat brings together one of the best flavor combinations ever—rich chocolate and creamy peanut butter. These adorable unwrapped mini trees are easy to find at most grocery stores during the Christmas season, making this recipe perfect for quick Christmas cookie baking. So grab a bag of Reese’s trees, preheat the oven, and get ready to bake a cookie that’s guaranteed to shine on any holiday cookie tray!
One bite and you will reach for another and another! If you are looking for another festive cookie try these Santa's Favorite Cookies!
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Shopping List Ingredients
- Reese's Mini Trees Unwrapped
- unsalted butter
- creamy peanut butter
- granulated sugar
- brown sugar
- egg
- vanilla extract
- all-purpose flour
- baking soda
- salt
See exact measurements in recipe card below.
Instructions
This recipe is so easy and comes together quickly, making it a perfect last-minute treat. To begin, cream together the butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Next, add the egg and stir to combine. Then, mix in the peanut butter and vanilla until fully incorporated. In a separate bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients, and then add them to the wet mixture. It is important to mix only until everything is combined at this stage—overmixing can lead to hard, dry cookies.
Using a small cookie scoop (about one tablespoon), scoop the dough onto a parchment-lined baking sheet. Then, bake for 8-9 minutes. Bake just until the edges show slight signs of doneness, with small cracks forming on top. Do not overbake.
Once removed from the oven, immediately press a mini candy into the center of each cookie. After that, let the cookies sit on the pan for about 2 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Top Tips
To keep cookies from becoming dry follow just a few tips:
1.Mix the dry ingredients just until combined.
2. When baking, bake just until done...do not wait for a golden color, one cracks start forming they are done. This takes about 8-9 minutes.
Equipment
Having a well stocked kitchen truly helps your baking experience. I love my XL sheet pan. It can bake 20 regular size cookies at one time! I love a good cookie scoop as well. Be sure and take a look at my favorites in my affiliate store front. You may find a tool you need!
Storage
Simply store in an airtight container. If I am transporting these to a party I will leave them in a single layer on a cooled sheet pan and add this cover. Then when I arrive arrange them on a platter. This way the trees stay fresh!
Why do you need to make these?
If you would like to be the favorite aunt, sister, grandma, uncle, brother...what ever... you MUST MAKE THESE 3 bite cookies!
Candy to Buy
I love these mini trees! And I love that they are unwrapped. This makes it quick and easy when topping the cookies! you can buy these at your local store or HERE.
More Peanut Butter Cookies to Try
- Peanut Butter Christmas Tree Kiss Cookies
- Chewy Peanut Butter Cookies
- Peanut Butter Reindeer Cookies
- Chewy Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
Christmas Recipes
Peanut Butter Reese's Christmas Tree Cookies
Equipment
Ingredients
- 7.6 oz Reese's Mini Trees Unwrapped
- ½ cup unsalted butter room temp
- 1 cup peanut butter creamy
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ¾ cup light brown sugar packed
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ¾ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup sugar for rolling
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F and line cookie sheet with parchment paper. Remove candy wrappers.
- Cream together the butter and sugars in a stand mixer or with a hand held mixer until fluffy. About 2 minutes total. Add the egg and mix in to combine. Add peanut butter and vanilla and mix until smooth and creamy.
- In a bowl whisk together the flour, salt and soda and add to wet mixture. Mix this in JUST until combined. It is important to not over mix.
- Using a small cookie scoop, scoop dough into balls. This is about 1 ½ inches of dough or one Tablespoon. Roll in colorful sugar and place on prepared cookie sheet. Leaving about 2 inches between scoops.Bake at 375℉ for about 8-9 minutes. They should just be starting to crack and appear done on the sides. It is super important not to over bake!
- Immediately press a candy into center of each cookie; cookie will crack around edges. Let cool for 2 minutes then remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. Cool completely.
Savannah says
Hi! Will these cookies still be good about 3 days after freshly made if I am bringing them to a cookie exchange?
Misty Tannery says
Hi! Personally, I don't like them past day 3. They will be soft still...but I find homemade cookies stale tasting at day 3. But that is my personal preference. You could make the dough and freeze. then just bake the day of or night before. If that helps.
Stephanie says
In our house, peanut butter cookies are on a constant rotation, and this was a great twist on the classic peanut butter blossom, but I love the creaminess you get from the mini Christmas trees. It was definitely hit amongst everyone.
Misty Tannery says
I am so glad you all liked them!
Barbi Graham says
Such a fun merry twist on a classic cookie! My husband told me I’m a genius for thinking of it, I told him I wish I could take the credit. The cookies by themselves are so delicious, adding the Reese trees just brings it to another level! Will definitely make again before Christmas I’m sure!
Misty Tannery says
This made my whole day! I am so so glad you all liked them! Merry Christmas!
Eva says
What a fun idea! Bookmarking this for Christmas. Thank you for the great inspiration.
Misty Tannery says
They are such a great little cookie!
Abi says
Huge hit!So addictive I had to hide a few pieces for gifting! Thanks for the beautiful recipe!
Misty Tannery says
I am so happy to hear how much you liked them!
Paula says
Hi,
Is this recipe the cookie in the above picture with the mini tree in the centre?
The cookie in the right hand corner picture does not look like it’s rolled in colourful sugar. Can you please confirm the recipe is for cookie in the picture.
Misty Tannery says
Hi! This recipe if for the mini Reese's unwrapped trees. I did not roll this in colorful sugar. Just regular Sugar. I do have a recipe for a Hershey kiss that is decorated like a Christmas tree and that cookie is rolled in colorful sugar. Here is that link so you can check which you would like to make. 🙂 Hope this helps.