Ingredients
Scale
- 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 half milk, half semi-sweet chocolate chips)
- 2 tablespoons shortening
- ½ cup milk chocolate chips or small pieces (for drizzle)
- ½ cup white chocolate chips or small pieces (for drizzle)
- 1 teaspoon shortening (divided, for drizzle)
Instructions
- Line a jelly roll or half sheet pan with parchment paper and set aside.
- Using a hand mixer, beat together melted butter, peanut butter, granulated sugar, and vanilla extract until smooth and creamy.
- Add powdered sugar and beat until fully incorporated.
- Press the peanut butter mixture evenly into the prepared sheet pan to about ½-inch thickness.
- Freeze the pan for 15 minutes to firm up the mixture.
- Lift the peanut butter layer out using the parchment paper and place it on a fresh parchment-lined pan.
- Use a Christmas tree cookie cutter to cut ½-inch thick tree shapes. Place the cutouts on the parchment, then freeze for 25-30 minutes.
- Gather the remaining peanut butter mixture, repress to ½-inch thickness, and cut out additional trees.
- Melt the semi-sweet chocolate chips and 2 tablespoons shortening in a microwave-safe bowl in 30-second increments, stirring until smooth.
- Dip or coat each peanut butter tree in the melted chocolate, then return to parchment paper.
- Melt the milk and white chocolate chips separately with half a teaspoon shortening each; drizzle over the coated trees in zigzag patterns.
- Allow the chocolate to set for about 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
1. Use creamy peanut butter for best texture; avoid natural peanut butter which can be oily. 2. Chilling between steps keeps the shapes firm and easier to handle. 3. For an even chocolate coating, let excess drip before placing on parchment.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Method: Dessert/Snack
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 15g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 15mg