It’s that time of year again! The holiday season is upon us and what better way to get into the festive spirit than with some delicious treats? If you’re a peanut butter lover (and who isn’t?), then you’re going to absolutely adore these salted peanut butter Christmas trees. They’re a fun and easy way to add some holiday cheer to your dessert table and they taste absolutely divine. So, let’s get started!
Recipe 1: Salted Peanut Butter Christmas Trees with Pretzels
Ingredients:
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Green food coloring
- Pretzel sticks
- Sea salt flakes
Instructions:
- In a large bowl, cream together the peanut butter, butter, and salt until smooth.
- Add the powdered sugar and vanilla extract and mix until well combined.
- Add a few drops of green food coloring and mix until you achieve your desired shade of green.
- Place the mixture into a piping bag fitted with a star tip.
- On a lined baking sheet, pipe out Christmas tree shapes.
- Stick a pretzel into the bottom of each tree to create the trunk.
- Sprinkle sea salt flakes over the top of each tree.
- Place the baking sheet into the refrigerator to chill for at least 30 minutes.
- Once chilled, remove from the refrigerator and serve.
Nutritional Information:
Serving size: 1 tree
Calories per serving: 142
Fat: 10g
Carbohydrates: 12g
Protein: 3g
Sugar: 10g
Sodium: 95mg
Cooking Time:
Prep time: 20 minutes
Chill time: 30 minutes
Equipment:
- Large mixing bowl
- Hand mixer or stand mixer
- Piping bag with star tip
- Lined baking sheet
Serving Suggestions:
These salted peanut butter Christmas trees are the perfect addition to any holiday dessert table. Serve them alongside other festive treats like sugar cookies, gingerbread men, and candy canes.
Variations:
If you’re not a fan of pretzels, you can use other items to create the tree trunks. Try using small pieces of candy canes or chocolate-covered pretzels instead.
Substitutions:
If you don’t have green food coloring, you can use other holiday colors like red or white. You can also skip the food coloring altogether and leave the trees plain.
Storage:
Store these salted peanut butter Christmas trees in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
Tips:
- Make sure to chill the trees in the refrigerator before serving. This will help them hold their shape.
- If you don’t have a piping bag and star tip, you can use a plastic bag with the corner cut off instead.
- For a sweeter treat, you can sprinkle some powdered sugar over the top of the trees instead of sea salt flakes.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: Can I use crunchy peanut butter instead of creamy?
A: Yes, you can use crunchy peanut butter if you prefer.
Q: Can I freeze these salted peanut butter Christmas trees?
A: Yes, you can freeze them for up to 1 month. Make sure to store them in an airtight container and let them come to room temperature before serving.
Recipe 2: Salted Peanut Butter Christmas Trees with Chocolate
Ingredients:
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Green food coloring
- Dark chocolate chips
- Sea salt flakes
Instructions:
- In a large bowl, cream together the peanut butter, butter, and salt until smooth.
- Add the powdered sugar and vanilla extract and mix until well combined.
- Add a few drops of green food coloring and mix until you achieve your desired shade of green.
- Place the mixture into a piping bag fitted with a star tip.
- On a lined baking sheet, pipe out Christmas tree shapes.
- Melt the dark chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl in 30-second intervals, stirring in between, until smooth.
- Using a spoon, drizzle the melted chocolate over the top of each tree.
- Sprinkle sea salt flakes over the top of each tree.
- Place the baking sheet into the refrigerator to chill for at least 30 minutes.
- Once chilled, remove from the refrigerator and serve.
Nutritional Information:
Serving size: 1 tree
Calories per serving: 172
Fat: 11g
Carbohydrates: 17g
Protein: 3g
Sugar: 14g
Sodium: 95mg
Cooking Time:
Prep time: 20 minutes
Chill time: 30 minutes
Equipment:
- Large mixing bowl
- Hand mixer or stand mixer
- Piping bag with star tip
- Lined baking sheet
- Microwave-safe bowl
- Spoon
Serving Suggestions:
These salted peanut butter Christmas trees with chocolate are the perfect addition to any holiday dessert table. Serve them alongside other festive treats like peppermint bark, fudge, and hot cocoa.
Variations:
If you’re not a fan of dark chocolate, you can use milk or white chocolate instead. You can also skip the chocolate drizzle altogether and just sprinkle sea salt flakes over the top of the trees.
Substitutions:
If you don’t have green food coloring, you can use other holiday colors like red or white. You can also skip the food coloring altogether and leave the trees plain.
Storage:
Store these salted peanut butter Christmas trees with chocolate in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
Tips:
- Make sure to chill the trees in the refrigerator before serving. This will help them hold their shape.
- If you don’t have a piping bag and star tip, you can use a plastic bag with the corner cut off instead.
- For a sweeter treat, you can use milk or white chocolate instead of dark chocolate.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: Can I use crunchy peanut butter instead of creamy?
A: Yes, you can use crunchy peanut butter if you prefer.
Q: Can I freeze these salted peanut butter Christmas trees with chocolate?
A: Yes, you can freeze them for up to 1 month. Make sure to store them in an airtight container and let them come to room temperature before serving.
Final Thoughts
These salted peanut butter Christmas trees are the perfect holiday treat. They’re easy to make, delicious, and sure to put a smile on everyone’s face. Whether you prefer the version with pretzels or the one with chocolate, you can’t go wrong with either. So, grab your piping bag and get ready to spread some holiday cheer!