Easy Cake Mix Peanut Butter Blossoms: Your Go-To Recipe for Quick & Perfect Kiss Cookies
There’s something truly magical about the combination of peanut butter and chocolate, isn’t there? It’s a classic pairing that has captured hearts and taste buds for generations. Among the pantheon of beloved cookie recipes, Peanut Butter Blossoms stand out with their chewy peanut butter base and iconic Hershey’s Kiss nestled perfectly in the center. These delightful cookies are a staple for holidays, bake sales, and everyday sweet cravings. What if we told you there’s an even easier way to achieve this timeless treat? Prepare yourself for the ultimate shortcut: Cake Mix Peanut Butter Blossoms! This recipe simplifies the baking process without sacrificing any of the delicious flavor or irresistible texture you expect from a homemade cookie. Made with a simple box of cake mix, creamy peanut butter, and those unmistakable chocolate kisses, these cookies are a game-changer for busy bakers and anyone who loves a quick and satisfying dessert.
For years, traditional Peanut Butter Blossom recipes involved a fair amount of measuring and mixing, but discovering the cake mix hack transformed my baking experience. This method allows you to whip up a batch of these craveable cookies in a fraction of the time, proving that you don’t need a lengthy ingredient list to create something truly special. The beauty of using a cake mix is that it provides a fantastic base, ensuring a consistent texture and flavor every single time. It’s truly the easiest way to make classic Peanut Butter Blossom Cookies, and trust us, no one will ever suspect your little baking secret. Get ready to impress your family and friends with these effortlessly delicious treats!
Why Use a Cake Mix for Peanut Butter Blossom Cookies?
You might be wondering, “Why a cake mix?” The answer is simple: convenience and consistency. A yellow cake mix comes pre-portioned with many dry ingredients like flour, sugar, leavening agents, and flavorings already perfectly balanced. This significantly reduces the number of ingredients you need to measure and mix, making the baking process faster and less prone to errors. It also ensures a wonderfully soft, tender cookie texture that is incredibly satisfying. For those moments when a sudden cookie craving strikes, or when you need a quick dessert for an unexpected gathering, a cake mix is your best friend. It’s a brilliant shortcut that delivers homemade taste with minimal effort, allowing you to spend less time in the kitchen and more time enjoying your delicious creations.
Essential Ingredients for Your Cake Mix Peanut Butter Blossoms
One of the best aspects of this recipe is its simplicity. You only need a handful of pantry staples to create these delightful cookies. Each ingredient plays a crucial role in achieving that perfect peanut butter and chocolate harmony.
- 1 pkg yellow cake mix: This is the foundation of our easy cookies. A standard yellow cake mix (usually around 15.25 ounces or 432g) works beautifully, providing a sweet and tender base. You can experiment with other cake mix flavors too, like chocolate or even vanilla, for fun variations!
- 1 cup peanut butter: Creamy peanut butter is preferred for its smooth texture and rich flavor that blends seamlessly into the dough. Avoid natural peanut butter that separates, as it can make the dough oily or crumbly.
- ⅓ cup butter, softened to room temperature: Softened butter is key for proper creaming and dough consistency. It helps distribute the fats evenly, resulting in a tender cookie.
- 1 egg: The egg acts as a binder, holding the ingredients together and adding moisture to the dough, contributing to the cookie’s structure and chewiness.
- ¼ cup sugar: Used for rolling the cookie dough balls, this sugar creates a delightful sparkly crust and adds a touch of sweetness to the exterior of the cookie.
- 24 Hershey’s Kisses, unwrapped: The iconic chocolate kiss is what makes a Blossom a Blossom! Make sure to unwrap them before you start baking, as you’ll need to press them into the hot cookies right out of the oven.
How to Make Effortless Cake Mix Peanut Butter Blossoms
Making these cookies is incredibly straightforward. Follow these simple steps for perfect results every time:
- Prepare Your Oven and Baking Sheets: Begin by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). While the oven heats up, prepare your cookie sheets. Line them with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure easy removal of the cookies. If you don’t have these, a light greasing with non-stick cooking spray will also work. This crucial first step ensures your cookies bake evenly and don’t stick.
- Set Up for Success: Pour the ¼ cup of granulated sugar into a small, shallow bowl and set it aside. This will be used to roll the cookie dough balls, adding a lovely sparkle and a hint of extra sweetness to the finished cookies.
- Mix the Dough: In a large mixing bowl, combine the yellow cake mix, creamy peanut butter, softened butter, and the egg. Using an electric mixer, beat these ingredients together for 1-2 minutes. Continue mixing until all ingredients are thoroughly blended and a cohesive, thick cookie dough forms. The dough should be firm enough to roll.
- Form and Sugar-Coat the Cookies: Using a cookie scoop (about 1-inch in diameter is ideal), portion out the dough. Roll each scoop into a smooth 1-inch ball between your palms. Gently roll each dough ball in the prepared bowl of sugar, ensuring it’s evenly coated. Place the sugar-coated dough balls onto your prepared cookie sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart to allow for spreading during baking.
- Add the Hershey’s Kiss: This is where the “blossom” part comes in! Take an unwrapped Hershey’s Kiss and lightly press it into the center of each dough ball. You’re aiming to just slightly flatten the dough around the base of the chocolate. This creates the signature cracked appearance around the kiss.
- Bake to Perfection: Transfer the cookie sheets to the preheated oven and bake for 10 minutes. The cookies are ready when their edges just begin to show a slight golden brown hue. They might still look a little soft in the center, but this is exactly what you want!
- Cool and Enjoy: Once baked, remove the cookie sheets from the oven. Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes. This brief cooling period helps them set up and prevents them from breaking when you move them. After a few minutes, carefully transfer the cookies to wire racks to cool completely. The Hershey’s Kisses will firm up as they cool, giving you that delightful chocolate bite.
Cake Mix Peanut Butter Blossoms
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Ingredients
- ¼ cup sugar
- 1 pkg yellow cake mix
- 1 cup peanut butter
- ⅓ cup butter softened to room temperature
- 1 egg
- 24 Hershey kisses unwrapped
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Prepare a cookie sheet by lining with a silicone mat or parchment paper or lightly greasing it with non-stick cooking spray.
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Place the ¼ cup of sugar in a small bowl and set aside for rolling.
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In a large mixing bowl, combine the cake mix, peanut butter, softened butter, and egg. Mix with an electric mixer for 1-2 minutes until all ingredients are well blended and a cohesive dough forms. Scoop the dough with a cookie scoop (approximately 1-inch) and roll into smooth balls. Roll each dough ball in the sugar and place on the prepared cookie sheet about 2 inches apart. Gently press one unwrapped Hershey’s Kiss into the center of each ball, slightly flattening the dough.
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Bake for 10 minutes or until the edges barely begin to brown and the cookies are set. They may still look slightly soft in the center. Cool on the cookie sheet for a few minutes before transferring to wire racks to cool completely.
Nutrition
Expert Tips for Making Perfect Cake Mix Peanut Butter Blossoms
Achieving bakery-quality Peanut Butter Blossom cookies is easier than you think, especially with a cake mix base! Here are some crucial tips to ensure your cookies turn out perfectly soft, chewy, and absolutely irresistible every single time:
- The Importance of Softened Butter: This is arguably the most critical tip for any cookie recipe. DO NOT use cold, hard butter, and certainly DON’T use melted butter. Softened butter should be pliable but still cool to the touch. If you press your finger into it, it should leave an indentation without your finger sinking all the way through. Ideally, leave butter out on your counter for 1-2 hours. If you’re short on time (like most of us when a cookie craving hits!), you can quickly soften it in the microwave using 5-second bursts. Be extremely careful and pull it out just before it starts to melt. I’ve found that using the defrost setting on my microwave works wonders, as it softens the butter more evenly without the risk of melting.
- Always Preheat Your Oven: Don’t skip this step! A properly preheated oven ensures a consistent baking temperature from the moment your cookies enter, leading to even baking and proper cookie spread. Cold ovens can cause cookies to spread too much or not enough, resulting in an undesirable texture.
- Invest in a Cookie Scoop: For beautifully uniform cookies, a cookie scoop is a fantastic tool. It ensures all your cookie dough balls are the same size, which means they’ll bake evenly. Plus, it makes the rolling process much quicker and less messy.
- Use Parchment Paper or a Silicone Baking Mat: These are lifesavers for cookie baking! Lining your cookie sheets with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat prevents sticking, promotes even browning, and makes it incredibly easy to remove your delicate cookies from the pan. They’ll slide right off in perfect shape, leaving no sticky residue.
- Do Not Overbake: This is a common mistake that leads to dry, crumbly cookies. Peanut Butter Blossoms should be removed from the oven when their edges are just barely set and starting to turn golden brown, even if the centers still look slightly soft or underbaked. The cookies will continue to cook and set up on the hot baking sheet for a few minutes after you pull them out. This residual heat, known as carryover cooking, is key to achieving that perfectly soft and chewy interior.
- Unwrap Your Kisses in Advance: Trust us on this one! The moment your cookies come out of the oven, you’ll want to quickly press the Hershey’s Kisses into them. Having all your kisses unwrapped and ready to go beforehand will save you from frantic unwrapping and ensures that the chocolate melts perfectly into the warm cookie, creating that signature “blossom” effect.
Storage, Freezing, and Fun Variations
These Cake Mix Peanut Butter Blossoms are so delicious, you’ll want to make them often! Here’s how to keep them fresh and get creative with the recipe:
Storage Tips:
- Room Temperature: Store cooled cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3-5 days. Layer them with parchment paper if stacking to prevent sticking, especially if the chocolate kisses are still slightly soft.
- Refrigeration: While not necessary for freshness, if your kitchen is very warm, you can refrigerate them. Just be aware that refrigeration can slightly alter the texture of the cookies, making them a bit firmer.
Freezing Instructions:
- Baked Cookies: Once completely cooled, place the cookies in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze for about an hour until solid. Transfer the frozen cookies to an airtight freezer-safe container or bag. They will keep well for up to 2-3 months. Thaw at room temperature before serving.
- Cookie Dough: You can also freeze the cookie dough balls before baking! Roll the dough into balls, coat in sugar, and then freeze them on a baking sheet until solid. Transfer to a freezer bag and bake from frozen, adding a minute or two to the baking time. This is perfect for fresh-baked cookies whenever the craving strikes!
Creative Variations:
- Different Cake Mix Flavors: While yellow cake mix is classic, try chocolate fudge cake mix for a double chocolate blossom, or even vanilla or red velvet for a unique twist.
- Alternative Kisses: Don’t limit yourself to milk chocolate Hershey’s Kisses! Experiment with dark chocolate Kisses, Hugs (white chocolate swirled with milk chocolate), caramel-filled Kisses, or even mini peanut butter cups for an extra layer of peanut butter goodness.
- Add Sprinkles: For a festive touch, roll the sugar-coated dough balls in sprinkles before baking. This is especially fun for holidays!
- Mix-Ins: Consider adding a half cup of mini chocolate chips or chopped nuts (like peanuts or walnuts) to the dough for added texture and flavor.
If You Enjoyed These Easy Cake Mix Peanut Butter Blossom Cookies, Here Are a Few More Peanut Butter Cookie Recipes You’ll Love:
If you’re a fan of the irresistible combination of peanut butter and chocolate, or just love a good peanut butter cookie, you’re in luck! We have a whole collection of recipes that celebrate this amazing flavor. Dive into these other delightful cookie creations:
- Best Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Cookies
- Peanut Butter Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Peanut Butter Chip Chocolate Cookies
- Easy Peanut Butter Cookies
- Fudge Peanut Butter Cookie Cups
- Reese’s Peanut Butter Cookies
- Best Monster Cookies
- Peanut Butter No Bake Cookies
- Reese’s Peanut Butter Pudding Cookies
- Tagalong Cookie Bars
There you have it – the secret to making unbelievably easy and utterly delicious Cake Mix Peanut Butter Blossoms! With just a few simple ingredients and minimal effort, you can create a batch of these classic cookies that are perfect for any occasion. The combination of the soft, peanut buttery cookie and the melted chocolate kiss is pure bliss. We hope you enjoy making and sharing these delightful treats as much as we do!
Baking with Love: Creating Memories in the Kitchen
Baking is more than just following a recipe; it’s about creating warmth, joy, and lasting memories. For many of us, the kitchen is the heart of the home, a place where delicious aromas fill the air and laughter often echoes. Whether you’re a seasoned baker or just starting, there’s a unique satisfaction that comes from sharing homemade treats with loved ones. I often find myself reflecting on the simple joys, especially now with my own growing family. With five kids, life is wonderfully chaotic, and our youngest, at two and a half, brings an energy that rivals all four of her older siblings combined! It’s a challenging yet incredibly fun age, watching her discover the world, repeat the funniest phrases, and develop a vocabulary that grows by leaps and bounds daily. She adores her older siblings, and with school out for the summer, our home is filled with even more lively chatter and playful moments.
Watching her sing, spin in circles, “help” with the dishes (mostly splashing!), get lost in a book, or play with blocks, her imagination is boundless. And, of course, she loves a good treat, especially when it involves chocolate and peanut butter! These easy cake mix cookies are perfect for those busy days when you want something special but don’t have hours to spend in the kitchen. They embody the spirit of quick, satisfying baking that still feels like a hug in cookie form. While I often wish I could bottle up her endless energy to keep up with her (and the delightful messes she creates!), I cherish these moments of baking together, making simple recipes that bring so much happiness. Recipes like these Cake Mix Peanut Butter Blossoms aren’t just about the food; they’re about the joy of sharing, the comfort of tradition, and the sweet, simple pleasures of family life.
