Chocolate Peanut Butter Christmas Trees Recipe

Introduction

These Chocolate Peanut Butter Christmas Trees are a festive and delicious holiday treat. Combining creamy peanut butter with rich chocolate, they are perfect for sharing or gifting during the season. Easy to make and wonderfully satisfying, they bring a delightful twist to classic holiday sweets.

Ingredients

• 1 cup creamy peanut butter
• ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 10-12 oz. chocolate chips or chopped chocolate (half semi-sweet, half milk chocolate recommended)

Instructions

1. Step 1: Line an 8 x 8 inch dish with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides to lift the mixture out easily later. Set the dish aside.
2. Step 2: In a mixing bowl, stir together the peanut butter, melted butter, brown sugar, vanilla extract, and salt until the sugar has dissolved.
3. Step 3: Gradually mix in the powdered sugar until fully combined.
4. Step 4: Press the mixture firmly into the prepared dish and smooth the top with a spatula or your palms to create about a ½ inch thick layer.
5. Step 5: Place the dish in the freezer until the mixture is firm enough to cut.
6. Step 6: Once firm, remove from the freezer, line a tray with parchment paper, and use a Christmas tree cookie cutter to cut out shapes. Place the trees on the tray and return them to the freezer for 45-60 minutes until completely firm.
7. Step 7: Melt the chocolate in a bowl set over a double boiler or microwave in short bursts, stirring frequently. Line another tray with parchment paper.
8. Step 8: Using a fork, dip each tree into the melted chocolate to fully coat. Gently tap the fork to let excess chocolate drip off. Work with only a few trees at a time to keep the peanut butter mixture firm and easy to handle.
9. Step 9: Place the chocolate-covered trees on the parchment-lined tray and refrigerate until the chocolate sets.
10. Step 10: Store the finished Christmas trees in the refrigerator or freeze for longer keeping. Enjoy your festive treats!

Tips & Variations

• Use a mix of semi-sweet and milk chocolate for a balanced flavor, or try dark chocolate for a richer taste.
• If you don’t have a Christmas tree cookie cutter, any festive shape will work or simply cut into bars.
• Work in small batches when dipping to keep the peanut butter layer firm and prevent melting.
• Leftover mixture scraps can be gathered, kneaded, and re-pressed to cut out extra trees without waste.

Storage

Store these treats in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks or freeze for up to 3 months. Before serving, allow frozen trees to thaw slightly in the fridge to avoid condensation on the chocolate. Reheat or microwave is not recommended as it may soften the peanut butter layer too much.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use crunchy peanut butter instead of creamy?

Yes, you can substitute crunchy peanut butter for a bit of added texture, though the mixture may be slightly less smooth.

How do I prevent the peanut butter mixture from melting while dipping in chocolate?

Keep the mixture well chilled in the freezer and work with just a few trees at a time to ensure they stay firm during dipping.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Christmas Trees Recipe

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4.4 from 137 reviews

Delightful no-bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Christmas Trees, perfect for holiday treats. Creamy peanut butter and buttery sweetness combined with rich chocolate coating create festive, bite-sized treats that are easy to make and irresistibly delicious.

• Author: Isabella
• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 0 minutes
• Total Time: 2 hours
• Yield: Approximately 18 Christmas trees 1x
• Category: Dessert
• Method: No-Cook
• Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Peanut Butter Mixture

• 1 cup creamy peanut butter
• ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 2 cups powdered sugar

Chocolate Coating

• 10–12 oz chocolate chips or chopped chocolate (half semi-sweet, half milk chocolate recommended)

Instructions

1. Prepare the Pan: Line an 8 x 8 inch dish with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides to easily lift out the peanut butter mixture later. Set aside.
2. Make the Peanut Butter Mixture: In a mixing bowl, combine creamy peanut butter, melted unsalted butter, brown sugar, vanilla extract, and salt. Stir until the sugar dissolves. Gradually add powdered sugar, mixing until fully incorporated.
3. Press Mixture into Pan: Transfer the peanut butter mixture into the prepared dish. Flatten and smooth the top with a spatula or press with palms to form an even layer about ½ inch thick.
4. Freeze Until Firm: Place the dish in the freezer until the mixture is firm enough to cut, approximately 45-60 minutes.
5. Cut Out Christmas Trees: Line a tray with parchment paper. Using a Christmas tree cookie cutter, cut out trees from the firm peanut butter mixture and place them on the lined tray. Freeze again until completely firm, about 45-60 minutes.
6. Melt the Chocolate: While trees freeze, melt the chocolate chips or chopped chocolate gently, either in a microwave or using a double boiler, until smooth.
7. Dip Trees in Chocolate: Using a fork, dip each peanut butter tree into the melted chocolate, coating completely. Gently tap the fork to remove excess chocolate. Work in small batches to keep the mixture firm and manageable.
8. Set Chocolate Coating: Place the dipped trees back on the parchment-lined tray. Refrigerate until the chocolate coating is set and firm.
9. Store the Treats: Keep the chocolate-covered Christmas trees refrigerated or freeze them for longer storage.
10. Reuse Leftover Mixture: Gather any leftover peanut butter mixture, knead it, and press it again to cut out additional trees to maximize yield.

Notes

• Use parchment paper with an overhang in the pan to lift out the peanut butter layer easily.
• Work in small batches during chocolate dipping to prevent the peanut butter trees from softening too much.
• You can vary the chocolate types or decorations for additional festive flair.
• The cookie cutter size affects the final yield; the example cutter was about 1 ¾ x 2 ¼ inches, yielding 18 trees.
• Store treats in the refrigerator or freezer to maintain freshness and firmness.

Keywords: chocolate peanut butter, Christmas trees, no-bake dessert, holiday treats, peanut butter chocolate, festive snacks