These red velvet peanut butter blossoms started as a care package cookie for my kids in college. I needed treats that would survive shipping without crumbling, taste great after a few days in transit, and look festive enough to feel like a real gift. These hit all three marks.
The red velvet color and chocolate kiss topping make them perfect for Valentine’s Day, and the peanut butter base keeps them moist during shipping.
Quick Summary: Red velvet peanut butter cookies topped with chocolate kisses. Sturdy enough to ship in care packages. The red color and chocolate make them ideal for Valentine’s Day. Prep: 30 min | Cook: 10 min | Makes: 48 cookies
Jump to: RECIPE | Valentine’s Packages | Shipping | Homemade Treats | Summary Recipe Directions | FAQ
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Why Make Cookies for Care Packages?
I started sending seasonally themed care packages to my kids when they were in college. It ended up being such a delightful memory for them that I am still sending them every holiday, even though my kids have long-since graduated.
They were as much fun for me to make as they were for them to receive. I loved getting the call after they received it and laughing about the items that were a fail and accepting the warm thank-you of the items that were a hit.
Sometimes the fails were pretty hilarious and more of a memory today than the hits. I kept sending my son a swimming suit in his Spring package every year because the first one I sent was so ugly (to him) and unrelated to his college activities that it ended up being a standing joke. He got a swim suit in each Spring package after that.
Pretty sure Goodwill got those suits!
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What Goes in a Valentine’s Day Care Package?
I sent the above care package to my daughter when she started living in an apartment for the first time and began cooking for herself and friends.
She was taking part in office potlucks in her new job and was thinking of making sweet treats to share with new co-workers.
I thought some high quality paper plates, along with fun decorations for cupcakes and bars would be appreciated (they were!).
I added some gel decorations for her windows and some homemade Valentine’s Day treats from mom, and of course, a little cold hard cash.
Care Package Ideas
While my son was in college he was always in need of money, so I turned the heart Valentine care package into a mix of different denominations of money.
I added some useful items for his specific needs, like laundry pods, hot sauce and a coffee filter basket.
And of course I sent some sweet treats, both store-bought and homemade. Red Velvet Peanut Blossom Cookies and Raspberry Cheesecake Swirl Brownies were the homemade treats in this particular year’s care package.
What Homemade Treats Ship Well?
Red fruit, chocolate and hearts are, of course, the must-haves for Valentine’s Day, but they also work for other holidays. It’s always fun to mix it up with some favorite store-bought candies, as well as “heart-felt” homemade treats.
Other treats that were loved by my young adults in different care packages included Strawberry Brownies, Chocolate Pistachio Quick Bread and Red Velvet Crinkle Cookies.
Tips for Shipping
Although my care packages usually include a range of fun or needed “things”, they always have some sort of homemade food.
Cookies, cupcakes and baked goods are well-loved treats around holidays, but they are difficult to ship. Shipping companies, whether USPS or UPS ignore the “fragile” notes you put on the box.
Over the years I learned which homemade goods could withstand shipping and delays without turning into a crumbly or gooey mess. The red velvet peanut butter cookies shipped without a glitch and received the heartfelt thanks a mom always loves to hear.
How to Make Red Velvet Peanut Butter Blossoms
The full instructions are in the recipe card below. In short: beat butter and peanut butter with sugars until fluffy, add egg, milk, vanilla, and red food coloring. Mix in cocoa, flour, baking soda, and salt. Roll into balls, coat in red sanding sugar, bake 8-10 minutes, and press a chocolate kiss into each cookie immediately after removing from oven.
Other Treats that Ship Well
- Red Velvet Crinkle Cookies
- Raspberry Swirl Brownies
- Spicy Peanut Brittle
- Pumpkin Amaretto Bread
- Chocolate Espresso Quick Bread
- Ritz Cracker Chocolate Bark
FAQ
The peanut butter keeps them moist, and the sturdy texture resists crumbling. They hold up for several days without drying out or falling apart.
Use regular creamy peanut butter, not natural. Natural peanut butter has a different oil content and changes the texture.
Layer between parchment paper in a sturdy container. Fill empty space with crumpled paper so cookies don’t shift. Ship early in the week to avoid weekend delays.
Yes, but it adds color and slight crunch. Regular granulated sugar works as a substitute.
5-7 days in an airtight container at room temperature. They stay moist longer than most cookies because of the peanut butter.
Yes. Form balls, freeze on a sheet pan, then transfer to a freezer bag. Bake from frozen, adding 1-2 minutes to bake time.
Want to see recipe ideas for other holidays or just celebrations in general? Check out this category of celebration recipes.
Red Velvet Peanut Butter Cookies
Equipment
- Bowls and measuring spoons
Ingredients
- ½ cup unsalted butter room temperature; 1 stick
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter
- ½ cup light brown sugar
- ⅓ cup sugar
- 1 egg
- 2 tablespoons milk whole or 2%
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 ¼ teaspoons red gel food coloring Food grade natural
- ⅓ cup unsweetened cocoa
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 11 ounces dark chocolate Hershey’s Kisses Enough to make 48 cookies
- ¼ to ½ cup red sanding sugar granulated sugar in red
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°.
- Beat butter and peanut butter together in a stand mixer on medium speed until well blended (about 2 minutes). Add brown sugar and granulated sugar and beat until fluffy (2 min). Turn mixer to low and add in egg, milk, vanilla and red food coloring. Beat over medium high until light and fluffy.1/2 cup unsalted butter, 1 cup creamy peanut butter, 1/2 cup light brown sugar, 1/3 cup sugar, 1 egg, 2 tablespoons milk, 1 teaspoon vanilla, 1 1/4 teaspoons red gel food coloring
- In a separate bowl sift together cocoa, flour, baking soda and salt. With mixer on low, add flour mixture gradually to sugar mixture and beat until just combined (do not overmix).1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa, 1 cup all purpose flour, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1/2 teaspoon salt
- Remove mixer from stand and shape dough into 1 inch balls. Pour red sanding sugar into bowl and roll the balls in the red sugar to coat. Place on ungreased cookie sheet about 2 inches apart.1/4 to 1/2 cup red sanding sugar
- Bake 8 to 10 minutes, or until toothpick inserted comes out clean. While cookies are baking, unwrap the kisses.
- Remove cookies from oven and immediately press kiss into center of each cookie. The cookie will crack around the edges. Remove from cookie sheet to wire rack and cool completely.11 ounces dark chocolate Hershey’s Kisses
I think I’ll make these this holiday season – they look very festive and people will love them. Plus, somehow I have 2 large, opened, jars of peanut butter.
yes, peanut butter is always good to have around isn’t it lol. It’s a nice pairing with these….and they’re easy!