Peanut Butter Spider Cookies

Halloween is just around the corner, and that means it’s time to start baking up some spooky treats! This year, ditch the tricks and treat yourself to these adorable Peanut Butter Spider Cookies. They’re a fun and festive twist on a classic peanut butter cookie, perfect for Halloween parties, classroom treats, or just a sweet afternoon snack.

These Peanut Butter Spider Cookies are soft, chewy, and packed with peanut butter flavor. The combination of peanut butter, melted chocolate, and candy eyes creates a delightful Halloween treat that’s both easy to make and fun to decorate. So gather your little monsters and let’s get baking!

Why You’ll Love It

These Peanut Butter Spider Cookies aren’t just cute; they’re packed with flavor and fun! The soft and chewy peanut butter cookie base provides the perfect canvas for the sweet and salty Reese’s cup center. The chocolate spider legs and candy eyes add a touch of whimsy, making them a delightful treat for all ages. Plus, they’re incredibly easy to make, even for beginner bakers.

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Ingredient Lowdown

Let’s gather our ingredients. This recipe is surprisingly simple, using pantry staples you probably already have on hand.

• Butter: Use unsalted butter, softened to room temperature, for the best texture.
• Sugars: A mix of brown sugar and granulated sugar creates a perfectly balanced sweetness.
• Peanut Butter: Creamy peanut butter is key for that classic peanut butter cookie flavor.
• Egg: Binds the ingredients and adds richness.
• Vanilla Extract: Enhances the overall flavor profile.
• Flour: All-purpose flour forms the base of the cookie dough.
• Baking Soda & Powder: These leavening agents give the cookies their lift and chewiness.
• Salt: Balances the sweetness and brings out the flavors.
• Granulated Sugar: For rolling the cookies, adding a delightful sparkle and crunch.
• Mini Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups: The star of the show, forming the spiders’ bodies.
• Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips: Melted for creating the spider legs.
• Candy Eyeballs: The finishing touch, giving these spiders their spooky stare.

From Start to Finish

Step 1: Prep the Reese’s

Unwrap the mini Reese’s cups and place them in a bowl in the freezer. This will help them maintain their shape when added to the hot cookies.

Step 2: Preheat and Mix

Preheat your oven to 350ºF (175ºC). In a mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.

Step 3: Combine Wet Ingredients

Beat in the peanut butter, egg, and vanilla extract until well combined.

Step 4: Add Dry Ingredients

In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Be careful not to overmix.

Step 5: Roll and Bake

Scoop out tablespoon-sized portions of dough and roll them into balls. Roll each ball in granulated sugar and place them 2-3 inches apart on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Bake for 8-11 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden.

Step 6: Add the Reese’s

Remove the cookies from the oven and immediately press a frozen Reese’s cup into the center of each cookie. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Step 7: Make the Spider Legs

Melt the semi-sweet chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl in 30-second intervals, stirring until smooth. Transfer the melted chocolate to a piping bag or a zip-top bag with a small corner snipped off. Pipe four chocolate legs on each side of the Reese’s cup.

Step 8: Add the Eyes

Attach the candy eyeballs to the Reese’s cups using a dab of melted chocolate. Let the chocolate set completely before serving.

Better-Than-Grandma Tips

• Freeze the Reese’s Cups: Freezing the Reese’s cups helps them hold their shape when pressed into the warm cookies, preventing them from melting too quickly. For more tips on freezing, check out our guide to freezing cookies.
• Don’t Overbake: Overbaking can make the cookies dry and crumbly. Keep an eye on them and remove them from the oven when the edges are just starting to turn golden.
• Cool Completely: Let the cookies cool completely before adding the spider legs and eyes. This prevents the chocolate from melting and ensures the decorations stay put.

Switch-Ups & Swaps

• Chocolate Spiders: Use chocolate cookie dough and white chocolate chips for the spider legs for a different flavor combination. You can also make these as our spiderweb brownies for another fun treat!
• Nutty Spiders: Add chopped peanuts or other nuts to the cookie dough for extra crunch.
• Festive Sprinkles: Roll the cookie dough balls in festive sprinkles before baking for an added touch of color.
• Different Candies: Use different types of candies for the spider bodies, such as Rolos or M&M’s.

Pairs & Plates

These Peanut Butter Spider Cookies are delightful on their own, but you can make them even more special with a few serving suggestions. Serve them with a tall glass of cold milk, a warm cup of hot chocolate, or even a scoop of vanilla ice cream. For more spooky treats, browse our collection of Halloween recipes. They’re also perfect for packing in lunchboxes or taking to Halloween parties.

That’s a Wrap

These Peanut Butter Spider Cookies are a spooky-sweet treat that’s sure to be a hit at your next Halloween gathering. They’re easy to make, fun to decorate, and oh-so-delicious. Trust me, these little spiders will disappear faster than you can say “boo!” Now, share the spooky fun! Share this recipe with your friends on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and X/Twitter. Check out our other delicious dessert recipes for more baking inspiration!