Google Trends revealed that Peanut Butter Blossoms are the top-trending Christmas cookies in the U.S. this holiday season.The classic recipe, featuring a thumbprint peanut butter cookie topped with a Hershey’s Kiss, dates back to 1957.Spritz Cookies and Peanut Butter Balls are also top-trending holiday treats right now.
The verdict is in. There’s a new top Christmas cookie in town, and it’s an oldie but a goodie. Google Trends has announced that Peanut Butter Blossoms are the top-trending Christmas cookies in the U.S. right now, according to search data from the last month.
This old-school recipe features a thumbprint-style peanut butter cookie topped with a Hershey’s Kiss that’s pressed into its center just after baking. The recipe was invented by an amateur baker named Freda Smith, who entered the cookie in a national bake-off in 1957, according to Hershey’s. She didn’t win, but her recipe was a runner-up—and given its enduring popularity through the decades, it’s safe to say her recipe is a true winner after all. (Peanut butter and chocolate? Come on, it’s a shoo-in!)
The news that Peanut Butter Blossoms are trending this Christmas has me in a nostalgic mood. Growing up, my family usually celebrated the holiday at home in Georgia. My mom’s side of the family would join us for a small and cozy gathering. But some years we drove to St. Louis to celebrate with my dad’s side of the family. The likelihood of a white Christmas in the Show-Me State made these trips exciting, but being away during the festive season also made me feel a little homesick.
Peanut Butter Blossoms had a way of making me feel at home on these trips—and not just because they were delicious.
My dad’s Uncle Kenny had a tradition of making a huge batch of these cookies every year for the annual family Christmas party. These parties were massive and a little overwhelming. But then my cousins would take me under their wing and usher me into the kitchen to get a Peanut Butter Blossom. My great-uncle would be holding court in the kitchen, positively basking in the glow of how much everyone loved his signature dish. Suddenly, I would feel completely at home.
In Country Living’s take on the recipe by Tori Cox, you can use any bite-size miniature candy bar you like. But for me, at Christmastime, there’s no substitute for the original Hershey’s Kiss. Try it below!
Also check out our recipe for old-fashioned Spritz Cookies. They’re a top-trending holiday treat this year, too, as are Peanut Butter Balls (which I know as Buckeye Candy). For something a touch more sophisticated and adult, mix up this year’s top-trending tipple—a Poinsettia Cocktail!
Dining and Cooking