Peanut Butter Ritz Cookies ~ Our FAVORITE treats for the holidays! Easy Christmas Cookies! Chocolate Dipped Ritz Crackers Stuffed with Peanut Butter, So Easy And Delicious!
These are a staple in our house at Christmas time. I always remember mom making a batch of these right before Christmas. Before that my grandma always made them. Sometimes you just have to embrace the good old recipes that are a tradition in life.
I’m all about trying new things as you can tell from my Red Velvet Cookies and White Chocolate Molasses Cookies that I tried this year, but sometimes I just gravitate towards the trustworthy recipes. Nothing is worse than trying thirteen different recipes and have none of them come out the way you envisioned!
When my mom and I planned a baking weekend up at the lake I made sure these were on our list. Oh our weekend was a good time. We quickly loaded things up (a little to quickly because I forgot the cooler! Oh well, hubby ran to the grocery store when we got there..) and went up Friday after work and of course true to MN standards, there was a snowstorm brewing. The roads were crap. Literally crap, but we hopped in my trusty truck and slowly headed up there. Nothing was getting in the way of my baking weekend. Nothing.
Ingredients Needed for Peanut Butter Ritz Cookies
- Buttery Salted Crackers, such as Ritz
- Creamy peanut butter
- Chocolate almond bark
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When we arrived we were treated to Cheesy Wild Rice Soup. Soup for supper with it snowing outside. Life is good. After that we watched a movie and tucked ourselves in for the night. The next morning we got to baking bright and early. We were on a mission! We had a successful day with Goof Balls, Sweet Cherry Cookies, Oreo Truffles and many more being made. That night we watched another sappy Christmas movie and hunkered down. The snowfall amounts were supposed to be 8-12 inches.
Tips for Making Peanut Butter Ritz Cookies
- Make sure you use Chocolate Almond Bark and not melted Chocolate Chips! Chocolate Chips seize and are harder work with. Almond Bark melts perfectly and makes this super easy!
- Using a double boiler to melt your almond bark keeps it warm so you can take your time making these. Microwaving the almond bark works too, you just have to work quicker as it cools and hardens.
- Add a little shortening to the almond bark when you melt it to make it a little thinner. This will get you a nice, smooth cookie!
The next morning we were awake bright and early with Miss K. Looked out to see all the snow and decided it was time to make the trek home. I had envisioned a lazy Sunday at the cabin relaxing but the wind hadn’t came up yet and we were in a Blizzard Warning so we decided to call it safe and head home. Good thing we did as it got nasty, but we go our cookies made and are set for Christmas now!
Our FAVORITE treats for the holidays! Easy Christmas Cookies! Chocolate Dipped Ritz Crackers Stuffed with Peanut Butter, So Easy And Delicious!
- 100 round buttery salted crackers such as Ritz
- 1-1/2 c. creamy peanut butter
- 24 oz. chocolate/white almond bark
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Lay out wax paper to put finished cookies on. If you are in a hurry you can do this on cookie sheets so you can stick the cookies in the fridge/freezer to set up. Otherwise just lay the wax paper on your counter. It will only take about 20 minutes to set up on the counter.
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Place about a 1/2 tablespoon of peanut butter on a cracker and spread out. Top with another cracker. Do this until all crackers are gone.
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Melt almond bark in a double boiler until all lumps are out. If you don't have a doubler boiler you can do this in the microwave, making sure to stir frequently so it doesn't scorch. It just doesn't harden up if you use the double boiler.
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Drop a sandwich cookie into the chocolate. Make sure it's covered, then remove with a fork. Drag fork along the edge of the double boiler to scrape of excess almond bark. Place cookie on wax paper. Repeat until all cookies have been dipped.
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Place in container and store in air tight container. These also freeze great! Place wax paper between the layers of cookies.
More Easy Holiday Treats!
Microwave Peanut Brittle Recipe ~ Quick and Easy Christmas Treat that’s Made in your Microwave! This Sweet is perfect for Goodie Trays!
Biscoff Fudge ~ Only TWO Ingredients! It doesn’t get much easier or quicker than this!
White Chocolate Puff Corn ~ Melt in your mouth puff corn coated in white chocolate! Perfect sweet and salty combo!
Tammy Wilson says
These cookies are my absolute favorite. I started making them 34 years ago when I was 12 years old. My daughter helps me make them now.
Julie Evink says
I remember making them at my Grandma’s when I was growing up! It’s been a staple in our family forever too!
Tammy Wilson says
BTW Julie, I loved your story about going up to your cabin to make cookies. We live in SE Michigan and have a cabin up north. It got me thinking about starting a yearly tradition to have a girl’s weekend up there to make cookies!!
Julie Evink says
It would be an awesome tradition to start! We had to skip this year because I had a newborn but next year I hope to do it again!
Elizabeth says
Hi Julie….thank you for this recipe. I don’t have the energy to fuss this year as I prepare my packages for my 4 sisters….so I am making this today. I hope your family and little one are good with time to bake this year. Btw I am originally from Duluth but have been in Maine now for 43 years.
Elizabeth
Julie Evink says
Your welcome! Enjoy! I LOVE Duluth!!!!
Michealeen says
We have had these since I was a small child back in 1970’s. Always a great treat!!!
Julie Evink says
Yes! Grandma used to make them and now we carry on the tradition!
janet schaffner says
I have a friend who makes these for St. Patrick’s Day, covered with butterscotch (chips) instead of chocolate – she calls them gold coins. Equally yummy with butterscotch instead of chocolate!
Julie Evink says
This is a fabulous idea!
Sara Olson says
Can I make these with natural creamy peanut butter?
Julie Evink says
Hey Sara! I think so, the only thing is it might separate? Let me know if you try it and how it goes!
Sara Olson says
Hi Julie. I’m thinking about draining the oil off the top of new jar of natural peanut butter so it isn’t so “soupy,” if you know what I mean. I hope the works. I plan on making the for Christmas with a sprinkle/pinch of red course sea salt (love salty sweet). How far in advance can I make these? Do the crackers get soft/soggy with time? I planned on storing them in the refrigerator. Thought?
Julie Evink says
I think that would work! Sea salt is a great addition! They keep a long time. I actually freeze mine ahead of time!
Sara says
Thanks for your response. I’m definitely freezing them because I’m up to my eyeballs in baked goods.
I’m going to attempt them now but realize I don’t have two compatible pots for double boiler. Any suggestions? I’m not against microwaving the bark coating, but nervous about it seizing up. (I’m in the process of moving from Montana to New Jersey and most of my bakeware is M.I.A. ).
Julie Evink says
The Almond Bark is really easy to work with and shouldn’t seize if you microwave it like regular chocolate tends to do. The only thing is it will get “hard” as you dip instead of staying warm in a double boiler. If this happens just nuk it again the microwave!
Pauline says
I like to put a thin coat of marshmallow cream on 1 cracker and peanut butter on the other cracker make it a sandwich then dip it in chocolate.
Julie Evink says
What a delicious twist!
Elaine says
Julie, these look fantastic! They are so cute and small and will be perfect for any party I am going to host for my friends! Thank you for sharing this recipe 🙂