Introduction

These Melted Snowman Peanut Butter Cookies combine the rich flavor of peanut butter with fun snowman decorations that make them perfect for winter treats. Soft, chewy, and topped with melted white chocolate and colorful candy melts, they’re sure to delight both kids and adults alike.

A close-up view of three stacked round cookies with a light brown color and slightly cracked texture, each topped with white icing shaped like a snowman's head and upper body. The icing is smooth and thick, decorated with two small black dots for eyes, a small orange line for the nose, and black lines for the mouth and buttons, creating a cute snowman face. The cookies sit on a piece of white fabric on a white marbled surface, with two more similar cookies blurred in the background. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

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
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

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
Step 2: Cream together the softened butter, peanut butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until smooth. Add the egg and vanilla extract, mixing until fully combined.
Step 3: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, corn starch, and salt. Gradually add this dry mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing just until the flour disappears.
Step 4: Using a large cookie scoop, portion out 9 equal balls of dough onto the prepared baking sheet. Gently flatten each to about 3/4 inch thick. Bake for 9 minutes.
Step 5: Remove the cookies from the oven. While still warm, unwrap one white chocolate peanut butter cup and place it upside down on each cookie, pressing gently to embed it.
Step 6: Melt the white chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl in 30-second increments, stirring between each until smooth. Spoon 1–2 tablespoons onto each cookie.
Step 7: Carefully tap the baking sheet up and down on the counter to spread the melted white chocolate evenly, creating the melted snowman effect.
Step 8: Melt the black candy melts and orange candy melts in short microwave bursts. Transfer melted chocolate to a piping or ziplock bag, snip the tip, and pipe eyes, smile, buttons, and a nose onto each cookie.
Step 9: Allow the decorations to set before serving and enjoying your festive cookies!

Tips & Variations

Use a silicone baking mat instead of parchment paper for easier cleanup.
Substitute almond butter for peanut butter if you have allergies or want a different flavor.
Try colored candy melts in different shades to customize your snowman’s features.
For a crunchier cookie, bake for an additional 1-2 minutes but watch carefully to avoid overbaking.

Storage

Store cooled cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days. If decorated with melted chocolate, keep them in a cool place to prevent melting. For longer storage, freeze the baked cookies (undecorated) in a sealed container for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature before decorating.

How to Serve

The image shows a close-up of a cookie cut in half stacked on top of each other on a white wooden board with white parchment paper. The bottom layer is a thick, soft-looking brown cookie base, and above it is a thick white icing layer with small black and orange decorations on top. The background is blurred and shows green foliage and red berries on a white marbled texture surface. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use crunchy peanut butter instead of smooth?

Yes, crunchy peanut butter can be used, but it will add texture to the cookies. Smooth peanut butter creates a softer, more uniform dough.

What if I don’t have candy melts for decorating?

You can substitute semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips for the black features, and use orange-colored frosting or mini candies for the nose. Melted white chocolate mixed with food coloring also works well.