Peanut Butter Spider Cookies Recipe
Peanut Butter Spider Cookies are a fun and spooky treat perfect for Halloween or any festive occasion. These soft, peanut butter-flavored cookies are topped with melted chocolate, mini Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, and candy eyeballs, creating an adorable spider design that’s sure to delight both kids and adults. With a perfect balance of sweet and salty, these cookies combine creamy peanut butter and chocolate for a deliciously addictive snack.
- Author: Nora
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
For the Cookie Dough
- ½ cup (113g) unsalted butter, room temperature (1 stick)
- ½ cup (107g) brown sugar
- ⅓ cup (66g) granulated sugar
- ¾ cup (201g) creamy peanut butter (not natural)
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 ½ cups (180g) all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
For Decoration
- Granulated sugar (for rolling the cookies)
- Mini Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups
- ½ cup (85g) semi-sweet chocolate chips (for melting)
- Candy eyeballs
- Prepare the Dough: In a large bowl, cream together the unsalted butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. Add the creamy peanut butter, beating well. Mix in the egg and vanilla extract until fully combined.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined to form a soft dough.
- Preheat and Shape: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Roll the dough into 1-inch balls, then roll each ball in granulated sugar to coat.
- Bake the Cookies: Place the sugar-coated dough balls on the prepared baking sheet about 2 inches apart. Bake for 8–10 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden but centers remain soft.
- Prepare Spider Legs: While the cookies bake, melt the semi-sweet chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl in 20-second intervals, stirring between each, until smooth and melted.
- Decorate the Cookies: When the cookies are slightly cooled but still warm, press a mini Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup in the center of each cookie. Use a spoon or piping bag to drizzle melted chocolate around the Reese’s to create spider legs. Attach candy eyeballs onto the Reese’s cups using a small dab of melted chocolate as glue.
- Set and Serve: Allow the chocolate to set completely at room temperature or in the refrigerator before serving. Enjoy your festive and delicious Peanut Butter Spider Cookies!
Notes
- Use creamy peanut butter for the best texture; natural peanut butter may result in a drier dough.
- Roll the dough balls in granulated sugar for a slightly crunchy exterior and pretty shine.
- Make sure not to overbake to keep the cookies soft and chewy.
- Substitute candy eyeballs with chocolate chips for a simpler decoration.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
- These cookies can be frozen before baking; freeze the dough balls on a tray, then transfer to a freezer bag. Bake from frozen, adding a couple extra minutes to baking time.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 13g
- Sodium: 110mg
- Fat: 11g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 25mg
Keywords: peanut butter cookies, Halloween cookies, spider cookies, Reese’s peanut butter cups, festive cookies, candy eyeballs, peanut butter spider cookies