Peanut Butter Spider Cookies are a delightful Halloween dessert that combines the creamy goodness of peanut butter with the sweetness of chocolate, creating an irresistible treat. These adorable cookies are easy to make, fun to decorate, and the perfect addition to any Halloween party. Whether you’re a fan of spooky treats or simply love the classic peanut butter and chocolate combination, these cookies are sure to impress your guests.
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Why Peanut Butter Spider Cookies Are the Perfect Halloween Dessert
Peanut Butter Spider Cookies are an ideal choice for Halloween because they are:
- Quick and Easy: This recipe takes only about 30 minutes from start to finish, with no dough chilling required.
- Family-Friendly: Kids and adults alike will love rolling the dough, decorating with candy eyes, and drawing spider legs with melted chocolate.
- Festive: The addition of Reese’s cups as the body of the spiders and chocolate “legs” creates a fun and visually appealing dessert for any Halloween gathering.
Ingredients for Peanut Butter Spider Cookies
Making these Spider Cookies requires just a few pantry staples and some fun decorations. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Unsalted Butter: Adds richness and helps create a soft, chewy texture.
- Brown Sugar & Granulated Sugar: The combination of these sugars gives the cookies a perfect balance of sweetness.
- Creamy Peanut Butter: This is the key ingredient for that signature peanut butter flavor.
- Egg: Helps bind the dough together.
- Vanilla Extract: Adds a classic cookie flavor.
- All-purpose Flour: Forms the base of the cookie dough.
- Baking Soda & Baking Powder: These leavening agents help the cookies rise and become light and fluffy.
- Salt: Enhances the overall flavor.
- Granulated Sugar: Used for rolling the dough balls, adding a slight crunch to the exterior.
- Mini Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups: The star of these cookies, creating the “spider body” in the center.
- Semi-sweet Chocolate Chips: Melted to form the spider legs.
- Candy Eyeballs: Add the final creepy touch to the spider cookies.
Alternative Ingredient Suggestions
If you have dietary preferences or specific ingredient needs, here are some alternatives:
- Gluten-Free Flour: Swap all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend if you need a gluten-free version.
- Peanut Butter Alternatives: You can use almond butter or sunbutter if you’re allergic to peanuts.
- Dairy-Free Option: For a dairy-free version, use plant-based butter and dairy-free chocolate chips.
How to Make Peanut Butter Spider Cookies: Step-by-Step Instructions
Follow these simple steps to create your own batch of Peanut Butter Spider Cookies:
- Preheat the Oven and Prep the Reese’s: Unwrap about 24 mini Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups and place them in the freezer to keep their shape during baking. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Make the Cookie Dough: In a mixing bowl, beat the butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until smooth and fluffy. Add peanut butter, egg, and vanilla extract, beating until combined.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: Mix the all-purpose flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Stir until just combined.
- Shape the Cookies: Use a tablespoon to form dough balls. Roll each ball in granulated sugar, then place them about 2-3 inches apart on a silicone-lined baking sheet.
- Bake: Bake for 8-11 minutes, or until the edges of the cookies begin to crack and turn golden.
- Press the Reese’s into the Cookies: Once the cookies are out of the oven, gently press a frozen mini Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup into the center of each cookie. Allow them to cool for 15-20 minutes on the baking sheet before transferring them to a cooling rack.
- Decorate with Spider Legs and Eyes: Melt the semi-sweet chocolate chips in the microwave, stirring every minute until smooth. Transfer the melted chocolate to a squeeze bottle and draw four legs on each side of the cookie. Attach candy eyeballs to the center of the Reese’s using a small dab of melted chocolate. Let the cookies set completely before serving.
Tips & Tricks for Perfect Peanut Butter Spider Cookies
To make sure your Peanut Butter Spider Cookies turn out perfectly, here are a few tips:
- Uniform Cookie Size: Ensure that all dough balls are the same size for even baking. Use a cookie scoop for consistency.
- Chill the Reese’s: Freezing the Reese’s helps them maintain their shape when pressed into the warm cookies.
- Check for Doneness: The cookies should be slightly underbaked. They will continue to cook on the baking sheet once removed from the oven, so don’t overbake them.
- Let the Cookies Cool: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for at least 15-20 minutes to avoid the Reese’s melting too much.
Pairing Ideas and Variations for Peanut Butter Spider Cookies
If you’re looking to add some variety or pairing ideas to your Halloween spread, here are a few options:
- Serve with Milk: Peanut Butter Spider Cookies are perfect with a glass of milk, making them a hit with both kids and adults.
- Halloween-Themed Ice Cream: Pair these cookies with a scoop of pumpkin or vanilla ice cream for a delicious dessert combo.
- Gluten-Free Version: Substitute the regular flour with a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend to cater to guests with dietary restrictions.
For those who enjoy different variations of spider-themed treats, you can also try using white chocolate for the spider legs or adding a dash of cinnamon to the dough for extra flavor.
Storing and Freezing Peanut Butter Spider Cookies
You can store your Peanut Butter Spider Cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. If you’re planning to make them ahead of time or have leftovers, here’s how to freeze them:
- Freezing Dough: Shape the cookie dough balls and freeze them on a baking sheet before transferring them to a freezer-safe bag. Bake from frozen, adding a few extra minutes to the baking time.
- Freezing Baked Cookies: Allow the cookies to cool completely, then place them in an airtight container or freezer bag. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature before serving.
Peanut Butter Spider Cookies are not only a fun way to celebrate Halloween but also a delicious and easy treat that everyone will enjoy. Whether you’re hosting a party or just craving a sweet snack, these cookies are sure to become a favorite!
Conclusion
Peanut Butter Spider Cookies are an irresistible Halloween treat that combines the classic peanut butter and chocolate duo with a spooky twist. These cookies are not only delicious but also quick and fun to make, making them the perfect addition to your Halloween celebration. With simple ingredients and easy steps, anyone can create these adorable spider cookies that are sure to impress friends and family. Whether you’re hosting a party or just looking for a seasonal treat, these Peanut Butter Spider Cookies are sure to be a crowd-pleaser!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use other types of candy for the spider’s body?
Yes! While mini Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups are the star of this recipe, you can swap them for other candies, such as chocolate truffles or caramel-filled chocolates, to create a different look or taste. However, Reese’s cups give the best balance of sweetness and texture for these spider cookies.
How can I make Peanut Butter Spider Cookies gluten-free?
To make these cookies gluten-free, simply replace the all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend. Ensure you check the other ingredients to verify they are gluten-free, especially the chocolate and candy eyeballs.
Can I store these cookies for later?
Yes, you can store these Peanut Butter Spider Cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. If you’d like to keep them longer, they can be frozen for up to 3 months. Just make sure to let them cool completely before storing or freezing.
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Peanut Butter Spider Cookies
- Total Time: 26 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Peanut Butter Spider Cookies are a fun and easy Halloween treat, combining the creamy flavor of peanut butter with the sweetness of chocolate. These soft, chewy cookies are decorated with Reese’s cups as the spider’s body, chocolate legs, and candy eyeballs for a spooky and delicious dessert.
Ingredients
- ½ cup unsalted butter, room temperature
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar
- ¾ cup creamy peanut butter (not natural)
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- Granulated sugar for rolling
- Mini Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups (24 pieces)
- ½ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- Candy eyeballs
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and prepare a baking sheet with parchment or a silicone mat.
- Unwrap 24 mini Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups and place them in the freezer.
- In a mixing bowl, beat the butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar together until smooth and fluffy.
- Add the peanut butter, egg, and vanilla extract to the bowl and mix until fully combined.
- In a separate bowl, mix the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, stirring until just combined.
- Shape the dough into tablespoon-sized balls and roll them in granulated sugar.
- Place the cookie dough balls on the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 2-3 inches apart.
- Bake for 8-11 minutes, or until the edges of the cookies begin to crack and turn golden.
- Remove from the oven and gently press a frozen Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup into the center of each cookie.
- Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 15-20 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack.
- To make the spider legs, melt the semi-sweet chocolate chips in the microwave, stirring every 30 seconds until fully melted.
- Use a squeeze bottle or a sandwich bag with the tip cut off to draw 4 chocolate legs on each side of the cookie.
- Attach candy eyeballs to the Reese’s cups using a small amount of melted chocolate. Let the cookies set completely before serving.
Notes
- Ensure that the Reese’s cups are frozen before adding them to the cookies to help them maintain their shape.
- Use a cookie scoop to ensure uniform size for even baking.
- Chill the cookies on the baking sheet to prevent the Reese’s from sinking too much.
- You can freeze the dough or the baked cookies for up to 3 months.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 11 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 18g
- Sodium: 85mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 21g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 15mg
