Nostalgia alert! When was the last time you made these favorite childhood cookies? Don't know? Let's remedy that. Chocolate and peanut butter belong together, and these easy cookies prove it.

Photography Credit: Aaron Hutcherson

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A soft peanut butter cookie with a gooey chocolate kiss in the middle. What more could you ask for from a cookie?

Video! How to Make Peanut Butter Blossoms

WHAT IS A PEANUT BUTTER BLOSSOM?

The peanut butter blossom is a fairly straightforward cookie that has been beloved for decades. It was invented by Freda Smith of Gibsonburg, Ohio for the 1957 Pillsbury Bake-Off. It didn’t win the competition, but it won the hearts of America and has been a national favorite ever since.

The ideal version of this treat starts with a thick, soft peanut butter cookie. I don’t have the fond memories of peanut butter blossoms from my childhood that some of you might have—I wasn’t introduced to these beloved treats until later in life—but I do have a longstanding love for peanut butter cookies. They’re my dad’s favorite, so I’ve definitely made a few different versions of the nutty treat over the years.

The addition of the chocolate kiss provides a salty-sweet flavor combo (a perennial favorite!) and really takes this cookie over the top.

BUTTER OR SHORTENING TO MAKE PEANUT BUTTER BLOSSOMS?

Many recipes for this cookie call for vegetable shortening, but I prefer to use butter for a better flavor.

Shortening yields a thicker cookie with less spreading, but my recipe does just that without sacrificing the rich depth of butter. However, this recipe will still work with shortening if that’s all you have on hand.

WHAT KIND OF PEANUT BUTTER TO USE?

When it comes to the peanut butter, feel free to use your favorite. I’m a smooth and creamy guy, but chunky peanut butter is fine, too.

I even tested this recipe with an all-natural spread and the cookies turned out great—just be sure to mix the peanut butter thoroughly before adding it to the batter to get rid of any separation.

Want to find out which natural creamy peanut butter the Simply Recipes team likes the best? Check this out!

STORING AND FREEZING PEANUT BUTTER BLOSSOMS

The peanut butter blossom is a classic for cookie platters, cookie swaps, and bake sales. They are best stored in an airtight container at room temperature, which will help keep the chocolate kiss nice and soft. They will keep for several days before they start to dry out.

Planning ahead? You can freeze the cookie dough after it’s been rolled in sugar, or you can freeze the finished cookies after baking and cooling. The cookies can be baked from frozen; just add an extra minute or two to the baking time.

They hold up well in shipping, too! Just chill them for a bit in the fridge first so the chocolate can harden and retain its shape in transport.

MORE IDEAS FOR PEANUT BUTTER AND CHOCOLATE!