Line a baking sheet with wax paper and set aside.

Melt butter and brown sugar together. Once melted add peanut butter and salt and mix. Add the powdered sugar a little at a time, stirring until completely combined with the peanut butter mixture. Transfer to a parchment lined baking sheet or pan.

In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine the peanut butter, butter, and brown sugar and salt and heat until thoroughly melted stirring constantly until just melted together. Add the powdered sugar a little at a time, stirring until completely combined with the peanut butter mixture. Transfer to a parchment lined baking sheet or pan.

Press or roll out your peanut butter dough about ½ inch thick and use a Christmas tree cookie cutter and cut out your trees. Place trees on the baking sheet and refrigerate the peanut butter trees to allow them to set for about 30 minutes. Continue making trees with leftover dough until you've used it all up. If you're in a hurry, you could place them in the freeze for 5-10 minutes or longer.

Once the trees are set and firmed up enough to dip, melt the chocolate chips and shortening together in the microwave in 30-second increments, stirring after each, until completely melted, approximately 2 minutes or so.

Use a long-tined fork to dip/flip each peanut butter tree when dipping it in melted chocolate to cover, letting excess chocolate drip off and place on waxed paper. Add an extra spoonful of chocolate to the top to give it some extra chocolate on top, but don't go overboard. Decorate the trees however you like. Sprinkles are always good!

Return the chocolate-covered peanut butter trees to the refrigerator to allow the chocolate to set, about 30 minutes.

Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container until ready to serve.