August 21, 2023
Review RecipeChocolate Peanut Butter Christmas Trees
Bring a little bit of extra holiday cheer with these rich and decadent chocolate peanut butter Christmas trees.
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Table of Contents
Chocolate and peanut butter are the perfect couple, and what better way to celebrate this love than with chocolate peanut butter Christmas trees? These rich and decadent confections are easy to make and oh-so-delicious!
Chocolate Peanut Butter Christmas Trees Ingredients
You’ll need:
- ½ cup of salted butter, melted and cooled
- 2 cups of creamy peanut butter
- ¼ cup of granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon of vanilla extract
- 4 cups of powdered sugar
- 3 cups of semi-sweet chocolate chips (or a combination of semi and milk chocolate chips)
- 2 tablespoons of shortening
For The Drizzle:
- ½ cup of milk chocolate chips or pieces
- ½ cup of white chocolate chips or pieces
- 1 teaspoon of shortening, divided in half
Substitutions And Additions
CHOCOLATE COATING: You can change up the chocolate coating and/or the drizzle in this sweet treat.
Try different colors for the drizzle by adding a few drops of food coloring to make them extra festive for the holiday season. Instead of chocolate chips, you could also opt to use colored candy melts for your trees.
How To Make This Chocolate Peanut Butter Christmas Trees Recipe
STEP ONE: Line a jelly roll or half sheet pan with parchment paper and set it aside.
STEP TWO: Using a hand mixer and medium mixing bowl, beat together melted butter, peanut butter, granulated sugar, and vanilla extract until smooth and creamy.
Beat in the powdered sugar.
STEP THREE: Press the peanut butter mixture into a sheet pan, spreading to about ½-inch thickness.
STEP FOUR: Place the sheet pan in the freezer for 15 minutes.
STEP FIVE: Lift the parchment paper to remove the chilled peanut butter layer from the pan. Place a new sheet of parchment paper on the pan.
STEP SIX: Use a Christmas tree cookie cutter to cut out ½-inch thick Christmas tree shapes from the chilled peanut butter layer.
PRO TIP:
The number of finished trees that you end up with will vary depending on the size of the cookie cutter.
STEP SEVEN: Place cutouts on a parchment-lined sheet pan. Freeze for 30 minutes.
STEP EIGHT: Scoop up the remnant peanut butter mixture, repress to ½-inch thickness, and cut out additional shapes.
STEP NINE: After the cutouts have chilled for 25 minutes, prepare the chocolate coating.
STEP TEN: Combine semi-sweet chocolate chips and 2 tablespoons of shortening in a heatproof bowl.
Heat and stir in 30-second increments in the microwave until the chocolate is smooth and melted completely.
PRO TIP:
The shortening added to the melted chocolate makes it easier for coating and prevents “bloom” on the chocolate (or the discoloration of the chocolate surface). It also makes it soft and will melt or imprint easily if touched.
STEP ELEVEN: Using a fork, lift one peanut butter cutout at a time and coat it completely with the melted chocolate.
Tap excess chocolate off the cutout and place it back onto the cookie sheet.
PRO TIP:
You can reheat chocolate in short bursts to keep it smooth and easy to use for coating the trees.
STEP TWELVE: Work in batches if the peanut butter cutout becomes soft quickly.
PRO TIP:
To keep the peanut butter trees from softening too quickly, keep the pan in the freezer and only take out a few at a time for coating.
STEP THIRTEEN: Allow chocolate to harden.
STEP FOURTEEN: For the optional drizzle, microwave chocolate chips or chopped pieces and shortening (½ teaspoon per ½ cup) in 30-second increments until melted and smooth.
STEP FIFTEEN: Scoop melted chocolate into a plastic ziplock bag or piping bag.
Snip a tiny corner off the bag and drizzle in a zigzag motion over chocolate-coated trees. Allow the chocolate to set (about 5 minutes).
How To Serve
These peanut butter candy treats would be a great addition to a treat platter along with our M&M pretzel hugs or as party favors at this year’s holiday party.
They would also be a cute stocking stuffer wrapped in cellophane and a festive ribbon.
We’ve got plenty of easy recipes for holiday candy dishes. Have a look at our snowmen truffles and reindeer pretzels for two whimsical choices.
MORE CHRISTMAS TREATS RECIPES
Storage
ON THE COUNTER: Cover these chocolate peanut butter treats and store them on the countertop at room temperature.
IN THE FRIDGE: You can also store them in the refrigerator for up to 7 days.
IN THE FREEZER: Freeze candy trees for up to 3 months for longer storage, but note that discoloration of the chocolate may occur.
Defrost in the refrigerator before serving.
This recipe for homemade chocolate peanut butter Christmas trees will have your loved one beaming with delight. These little trees will make the perfect holiday gift or treat and feature that fantastic combo of peanut butter and chocolate.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Can I make these treats using silicone molds?
While we haven’t tried it, if you have experience using silicone molds, you could certainly try making them that way instead.
What is a jelly roll pan?
A jelly roll pan is a rimmed baking sheet that measures about 15 inches by 10 inches.
Can I freeze these treats?
Freeze candy trees for up to 3 months for longer storage, but note that discoloration of the chocolate may occur. Defrost in the refrigerator before serving.
More Recipes You’ll Love
- Peppermint Bark
- Grinch Cookies
- Candy Cane Pie
- Christmas Sugar Cookies
- Gingerbread Kiss Cookies
- M&M Christmas Cookies
- Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Pie
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie
- Gingerbread Truffles
- Reindeer Food
- Strawberry Christmas Trees
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies
- Buckeyes
- Candy Cane Kiss Cookies
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Crazy Cake
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Brownies
- Peanut Butter Chocolate Dessert
Chocolate Peanut Butter Christmas Trees
Bring a little bit of extra holiday cheer with these rich and decadent chocolate peanut butter Christmas trees.
Prep Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 45 minutes
Servings 24
Ingredients
- ½ cup salted butter melted and cooled
- 2 cups creamy peanut butter
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 3 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips or a combination of semi and milk chocolate chips
- 2 tablespoons shortening
Drizzle
- ½ cup milk chocolate chips or pieces
- ½ cup white chocolate chips or pieces
- 1 teaspoon shortening, divided in half
Instructions
- Line a jelly roll or half sheet pan with parchment paper and set it aside.
- Using a hand mixer, beat together melted butter, peanut butter, granulated sugar, and vanilla extract until smooth and creamy. Beat in powdered sugar.
- Press peanut butter mixture into a sheet pan, spreading to about ½-inch thickness.
- Place sheet pan in the freezer for 15 minutes.
- Lift the parchment paper to remove the chilled peanut butter layer from the pan. Place a new sheet of parchment paper on the pan.
- Use a cookie cutter to cut out ½” thick Christmas tree shapes from the chilled peanut butter layer.
- Place cutouts on a parchment-lined sheet pan. Freeze for 30 minutes.
- Scoop up the remnant peanut butter mixture, repress to ½-inch thickness, and cut out additional shapes.
- After cutouts have chilled for 25 minutes, prepare the chocolate coating.
- Combine milk chocolate chips and 2 tablespoons of shortening in a heatproof bowl. Heat and stir in 30-second increments in the microwave until the chocolate is smooth and melted completely.
- Using a fork, lift one peanut butter cutout at a time and coat it completely with the melted chocolate. Tap excess chocolate off the cutout and place it back onto the cookie sheet.
- Work in batches if the peanut butter cutout becomes soft quickly.
- Allow chocolate to harden.
- For optional drizzle, microwave chocolate chips or chopped pieces and shortening (½ teaspoon per ½ cup) in 30-second increments until melted and smooth.
- Scoop melted chocolate into a plastic baggy or piping bag. Snip a tiny corner off the baggy and drizzle in a zigzag motion over chocolate-coated trees. Allow chocolate to set, about 5 minutes.
Video
Notes
- The number of finished trees that you end up with will vary depending on the size of the cookie cutter.
- The shortening added to the melted chocolate makes it easier for coating and prevents “bloom” on the chocolate (or the discoloration of the chocolate surface). It also makes it soft and will melt or imprint easily if touched.
- You can reheat chocolate in short bursts to keep it smooth and easy to use for coating the trees.
Nutrition
Calories: 428kcal | Carbohydrates: 43g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 27g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 13mg | Sodium: 141mg | Potassium: 280mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 37g | Vitamin A: 139IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 36mg | Iron: 2mg
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Comments
Sarah says
These are a fun treat!
Victoria says
These are adorable! Definitely can’t wait to make this and try it out. I think as a festive idea I would use red and/or Green Drizzle.
Kathleen says
The recipe isn’t clear – do you layer the trees and chocolate, as in tree, chocolate, another tree on top then dip to coat? Or just one 1/2 inch tree dipped in chocolate? Cannot wait to make them, looks fun and they are so cute!
Layne Kangas says
Hi, Katheleen – you’ll dip each tree in the chocolate. You do not stack any of the trees. Each one is individually dipped. Enjoy!
Arianna says
So cute! I want to make these as a gift instead of store bought reeces. You say the chocolate imprints/melts easily? Will they hold up okay on the counter? Does it matter what kind of peanut butter?
James Rice says
These were super easy to make & yummy! In addition to dark chocolate coating, I am going to make a white chocolate coating, as that is a fav of the kids.
Janey says
These chocolate peanut butter trees would be a great recipe to make with kids.
Anne says
I hope to add to my holiday favorites
Stephanie says
These look delicious! I think they would be an excellent addition to a cookie tray (if I don’t eat all of them first!)
Cheyenne W says
These look so fun and sound tasty. I definitely think my kiddo would enjoy helping with these. And I can see her wanting to do pink, red and orange colors.
Beth says
The peanut butter trees look delicious! I think they would look adorable drizzled with red & green!
Judy Denison says
I would do green yellow and red
Janice says
These are amazing! Almost like them better than Reese’s!
Teresa Gerber says
I would drizzle some caramel sauce also!! Sounds delish!!
Cheryl Flothe says
These are amazing! I willadd these to my Christmas baking.
Joey Rawlinson says
These look so yummy! I’m going to make these with my 2 year old granddaughter and I think we’ll drizzle them with a little hot pink or bright turquoise frosting! 💕
Tracy Goff says
Would use red and green colored chocolate to decorate the trees
Nicole says
I think these would look great using red tinted chocolate to drizzle on them.
Stacey Bowman says
The color that I would drizzle on the peanut butter Christmas trees would be a mauve with a little shine to it.
Stacey Bowman says
The color that I would drizzle on the peanut butter Christmas trees would be a teal with a little shine.
Karen says
I would drizzle these with green and red icing!
Maureen says
I would use green chocolate to drizzle over the cookies
Bobbie says
I can’t wait to try this recipe! I would drizzle red or green on the trees to look like colored garland.
Kathy Maxwell says
I would love to add some color to the trees. Some green drizzle topped with colorful sprinkles to resemble Christmas lights. These would be delicious on any treat tray
Tess says
I love ALL your recipes, but this one really rocks!!
I like to use all white chips and then add red color to some and green color to some for Christmas!
Also – YES to your other two questions! lol
Sandy Huepenbecker says
What other colours would you use to drizzle on the Chocolate Peanut Butter Christmas Trees?
Brandon says
I would definitely add these Chocolate Peanut butter Trees to my Holiday table platter. Does it matter if we use creamy or crunchy peanut butter?
Debra Jenkins says
I would use white chocolate with green food coloring to dip the trees in and drizzle with red. Maybe Sprinkle a little red and green Christmas Sprinkles for ornaments.
Gabriela B. says
Would you add these Chocolate Peanut Butter Christmas Trees to your holiday treat platters?
– Definitely
Sable says
These are so cute! I’d use red to drizzle over them or red & white!
Susan Ballain says
I would try using some food coloring in the drizzle and making it red and green drizzle on the Christmas trees! My grandkids all 8 of them would love to make these and eat these also 😁
Susan Ballain says
I would add red and green food coloring to the drizzle so it’s more festive! I would make these with all 8 of my grandkids, they’d love making these right along with eating them 😃
Don King says
I would drizzle with red and green colors
Maureen says
Kids would probably make a big mess with these but what the heck, it’s Christmas. I would drizzle red and green colors on the trees. Everybody loves Reeses peanut butter cups so this is just the same idea in a tree form so why not have it on your cookie tray. These look so cute and I’m sure the taste is awesome.
Barbara says
These Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Christmas trees are amazing. I would definitely add them to my holiday treats.
Emma J. McConnell says
A really fun to make if time, Didn’t matter. I love peanut butter.
But it would still be great for guest at Christmas Time
Kathryn H says
I would add these Chocolate Peanut Butter Christmas Trees to my holiday treat platter. They look very delicious.
Tony says
Red would look good. Yes I would make for kids.