Irresistible Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Cookies: Your New Go-To Recipe
Peanut butter and chocolate lovers, get ready to celebrate! These Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Cookies are a dream come true, flawlessly blending the iconic Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups into the timeless Toll House Chocolate Chip cookie recipe. The result? A perfectly chewy, utterly delicious, and incredibly satisfying cookie that will undoubtedly make your taste buds sing. There’s simply no better duo than peanut butter and chocolate, especially when baked into a warm, gooey cookie that melts in your mouth.
This delightful recipe for peanut butter cup cookies is designed for simplicity and speed, allowing you to whip up a batch of these sweet treats in no time. Whether you’re planning a festive gathering, need a quick dessert for unexpected guests, or simply craving something sweet, these cookies are a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. They’re exceptionally versatile, making them an excellent addition to your Halloween party spread, a standout at your annual Christmas cookie exchange, or a comforting treat on a cozy evening. Their universally loved flavor profile ensures they disappear quickly from any dessert table.
As an avid cookie enthusiast, I often prepare a double batch of this fantastic recipe. This smart strategy allows me to easily freeze half the dough or even the baked cookies, ensuring I always have a delectable homemade treat on hand for those spontaneous visits from friends or family, or simply for a quick indulgence. Freshly baked and still warm from the oven, these cookies are absolutely divine, offering a soft, melt-in-your-mouth experience with gooey pockets of peanut butter and chocolate. Just be sure to handle them with care to avoid burning your fingers on their tempting warmth!
If your love for cookies rivals mine, I encourage you to explore some of my other cherished recipes next time you’re in the mood for baking. Dive into the rich, nutty flavors and unique texture of Cowboy Cookies With Brown Butter, savor the delicate melt-in-your-mouth goodness of Pecan Butter Cookies, or indulge in the wonderfully chewy texture and sweet notes of these Giant Butterscotch Cookies. Each offers a unique and satisfying baking adventure, perfect for expanding your repertoire of homemade treats.
Why These Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Cookies Are a Must-Try
What makes these Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Cookies truly stand out from the myriad of cookie recipes available? It’s more than just the iconic candy they feature. It’s the perfect harmony of textures and flavors that creates an unforgettable experience. Imagine a classic, buttery cookie base – the kind that’s delightfully chewy in the center and perfectly crisp at the edges – generously studded with delightful morsels of creamy, chocolate-covered peanut butter from the Reese’s cups. Each bite delivers that unmistakable, celebrated combination of sweet chocolate and savory peanut butter, creating an explosion of flavor that’s both wonderfully nostalgic and incredibly satisfying. They’re surprisingly simple to make, yet taste like they came straight from a gourmet bakery, making them perfect for both novice and experienced bakers alike who crave that ultimate peanut butter chocolate fix.
The Sweet Science: Does Peanut Butter Go Into the Cookie Batter?
When you embark on the delicious journey of baking Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup cookies, you’ll often encounter a common question among bakers: do these recipes call for the addition of peanut butter directly into the cookie dough itself? A quick exploration of online recipes will reveal a couple of distinct approaches to crafting these delightful treats. Some variations do indeed incorporate a measure of peanut butter into the cookie dough, aiming to intensify the peanut butter flavor throughout the entire cookie. However, in recipes like my very own Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Cookies, we take a slightly different, yet equally delicious, path.
In this particular recipe, the rich, authentic peanut butter essence primarily comes from the delightful addition of the miniature peanut butter cups themselves. This strategic choice results in a subtly milder and exquisitely balanced taste profile compared to recipes where the batter is also infused with peanut butter. By relying on the peanut butter cups for the core flavor, we allow the unique taste and texture of the Reese’s candy to truly shine, perfectly complemented by the sweet, buttery foundation of the cookie dough. Think of them less as a traditional, dense peanut butter cookie and more as a classic, wonderfully chewy cookie dough, generously enhanced with luscious pockets of melted peanut butter and chocolate from the Reese’s cups. This approach ensures a harmonious blend where neither flavor overpowers the other, creating a truly irresistible and perfectly textured bite every single time.
Essential Ingredients for Your Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Cookies
Crafting these incredible Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Cookies begins with gathering the right ingredients, many of which you likely already have in your pantry. This recipe is wonderfully inspired by the classic Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookies, with one glorious twist: we’re swapping out the traditional chocolate chips for an abundance of delightful miniature Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. You’ll find all the precise measurements and detailed instructions for these mouth-watering cookies in the convenient printable recipe card located at the very end of this post. Here’s a closer look at each key ingredient you’ll need and its vital role in achieving cookie perfection:
- All-Purpose Flour – The essential structural component of our cookies, providing the necessary body and crumb. I always keep a well-stocked supply in my pantry, ensuring I’m ready for any impromptu baking session or cookie craving.
- Baking Soda – This crucial leavening agent is responsible for the slight rise and tender texture of our cookies. It reacts with the acidic brown sugar to create that perfect lift without making them cakey.
- Salt – A touch of salt is more than just a seasoning; it’s a flavor enhancer. It brilliantly balances the sweetness of the sugars and chocolate, making all the delicious flavors in the cookies truly pop and preventing them from tasting flat.
- Butter – You can use either unsalted or salted butter, but it is absolutely crucial that it is softened to room temperature. Butter contributes immensely to the rich flavor, tender crumb, and perfect spread of the cookies. Make sure it’s pliable enough to leave an indentation when pressed, but not melted.
- Granulated Sugar – White granulated sugar provides essential sweetness and helps achieve the desirable crispness around the edges of the cookies, contributing to that perfect chewy-crisp contrast.
- Brown Sugar – This ingredient is a game-changer! Packed brown sugar introduces a wonderful molasses-like flavor, adding depth and a lovely caramel undertone. More importantly, it contributes significantly to the irresistibly chewy texture and moistness of the cookies.
- Vanilla Extract – A splash of vanilla extract elevates all the other flavors, adding a warm, aromatic note. I always recommend using pure vanilla extract for the best, most authentic flavor, which you can often find at a reasonable price at larger stores like Costco. However, if you only have imitation vanilla on hand, don’t worry; it will still work beautifully in these delicious cookies.
- Eggs – Large eggs are my go-to for baking, serving as a vital binder that holds the dough together and adds necessary moisture. They also contribute to the overall richness and chewiness of these Reese’s Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies. Any size egg will generally work, but large is standard for consistency.
- Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Minis – The undeniable star of the show! These miniature peanut butter cups are key to infusing each cookie with that unmistakable, delightful blend of creamy peanut butter and rich chocolate flavor. Look for them in the baking aisle of your grocery store, typically conveniently located near the chocolate chips. Their small size is perfect for easy incorporation, creating delightful pockets of melted goodness throughout the cookie.
A Step-by-Step Guide: How to Make Irresistible Reese’s Cookies
Making these delectable Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Cookies is a remarkably straightforward process, ensuring a rewarding baking experience even for novice bakers. Follow these simple, detailed steps to achieve perfect, chewy, and utterly irresistible cookies every time:
Step 1: Prepare Your Oven and Baking Sheets
Before you begin mixing, preheat your oven to a precise 375 degrees F (approximately 190 degrees C). Proper oven temperature is vital for even baking. While your oven heats up, take a moment to line your baking sheets with parchment paper. This essential step is a baker’s best friend, as it prevents sticking, promotes even browning, and makes for incredibly easy cleanup. Set the prepared baking sheets aside, ready to receive your glorious cookie dough.
Step 2: Cream Butter and Sugars
In a large mixing bowl, preferably using an electric mixer set to medium speed, combine your softened butter with both the granulated sugar and the packed brown sugar. Beat these ingredients together until the mixture is visibly light, fluffy, and thoroughly combined. This creaming process is crucial as it incorporates air into the butter, which contributes significantly to the tender texture and slight puffiness of the baked cookies.
Step 3: Incorporate Eggs and Vanilla
Next, add the large eggs one at a time to the creamed butter and sugar mixture, mixing well after each addition until each egg is fully incorporated and no streaks remain. Then, stir in the pure vanilla extract. Continue mixing until the wet ingredients are thoroughly blended, creating a smooth, cohesive, and wonderfully aromatic base for your cookie dough. Ensure everything is well combined before proceeding.
Step 4: Combine Dry and Wet Ingredients
In a separate, medium-sized bowl, sift together your all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt. Sifting helps to remove any lumps from the flour and ensures an even distribution of the leavening agent throughout the dry mixture. Gradually add these sifted dry ingredients into your wet mixture, mixing on low speed until they are just combined. It is vital to be careful not to overmix at this stage, as over-developing the gluten in the flour can lead to tough, rather than delightfully chewy, cookies.
Step 5: Add the Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups
Now for the moment we’ve all been waiting for! Gently mix in the Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups baking minis. I often use my electric mixer on a very low speed for this final mixing step, as it helps to break the cups apart just slightly and distribute them evenly throughout the dough. If you prefer a more rustic look with larger chunks of candy, or if you don’t have a mixer, you can easily give the minis a bit of a rough chop with a knife before stirring them in by hand with a sturdy wooden spoon or spatula. The goal is to ensure every bite promises that delightful peanut butter and chocolate surprise.
Step 6: Scoop and Prepare for Baking
Using a cookie scoop (I find a 1-tablespoon size measuring spoon works perfectly for uniform cookies and consistent baking), drop rounded scoops of dough onto your prepared baking sheet. Remember to leave ample space between each cookie, typically about 2 inches, to allow for proper spreading during baking without them merging into one giant cookie. For an extra special touch and a more appealing presentation, I also like to gently press half of a miniature peanut butter cup into the very top of each cookie dough ball before it goes into the oven. This ensures a beautiful melt and a prominent Reese’s presence on the surface of your baked cookies, making them even more enticing.
Step 7: Bake to Golden Perfection
Carefully place your baking sheets into the preheated oven and bake for approximately 11 minutes. The key is to watch for the edges of the cookies to turn a beautiful, light golden brown. The centers should still appear slightly soft and set, indicating a perfectly chewy interior. Keep in mind that baking times can vary slightly depending on your specific oven, so it’s always best to keep a close eye on your cookies during the last few minutes.
Step 8: Cool and Enjoy
Once baked, remove the cookie sheet from the oven and, here’s a crucial step: allow the cookies to sit on the hot sheet for a few minutes. This brief cooling period on the warm surface allows them to set up properly and firm up, preventing them from breaking or crumbling when you transfer them. After about 3-5 minutes, carefully move them to a wire cooling rack to cool completely. Or, if you simply can’t resist the temptation, grab one warm, fresh from the oven, and savor that incredible peanut butter and chocolate goodness!
Loved this recipe? Make sure you Pin it for later!
If these Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Cookies have captured your heart and delighted your taste buds, don’t let this amazing recipe slip away into the depths of your browser history! Make it easy to find next time by pinning it to your favorite Pinterest recipe board now. Share the love with fellow cookie enthusiasts!
Frequently Asked Questions About Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Cookies
- Does Reese’s use real peanut butter?
- Yes, absolutely! For those curious about the authenticity of the iconic filling, a quick glance at the ingredient label on any package of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups confirms that they are indeed made with real peanuts to create their signature creamy, delicious peanut butter filling. This commitment to authentic ingredients is a key factor in what makes these candies so beloved and perfect for baking into cookies.
- How do you properly store these Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Cookies?
- Storing these cookies correctly will help them maintain their deliciousness, softness, and chewy texture for days. They will keep beautifully for up to 3-4 days when stored in an airtight container at room temperature on your kitchen counter. For longer enjoyment, these cookies freeze exceptionally well! You can wrap them individually in plastic wrap or place sheets of wax paper between them in a freezer-safe container to prevent sticking. This smart freezer method allows you to grab one or two whenever a craving hits, and they thaw quickly at room temperature, tasting almost as fresh as the day they were baked.
- What should I do if my cookie dough turns out too sticky?
- It’s a common baking challenge that can easily be remedied! If you find your cookie dough is excessively sticky and difficult to scoop off your tablespoon or cookie scoop, it might be a bit too warm from handling or have absorbed slightly too much moisture. The easiest fix is to add a touch more all-purpose flour, starting with one tablespoon at a time, mixing thoroughly after each addition until the dough reaches a more manageable, less sticky consistency. Additionally, chilling the dough for 15-30 minutes in the refrigerator can significantly help firm it up, making it much easier to handle and scoop.
- Can I incorporate chopped nuts into the cookie dough batter?
- Absolutely, this is a fantastic idea for adding extra texture and flavor! If you appreciate an additional layer of crunch and nutty goodness in your cookies, adding chopped nuts would be a wonderful enhancement. Pecans, walnuts, or even additional peanuts would complement the existing peanut butter flavor wonderfully. For the best distribution and texture that blends seamlessly with the cookies, I like to use a food processor to finely chop my nuts, ensuring tiny, evenly sized bits throughout the dough. Add them in at the same time you mix in the Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups for even distribution.
- Is it possible to use only white granulated sugar in this cookie recipe?
- While it’s often technically possible to substitute white granulated sugar for brown sugar in many recipes, it’s very important to understand that doing so will significantly alter the final outcome of these particular cookies. Brown sugar isn’t just a sweetener; its molasses content adds a unique, deeper caramel-like flavor and contributes crucially to the soft, chewy texture and desirable moisture level of the cookie. If you opt to use all white granulated sugar, your cookies will likely be crispier, spread more, and lack the rich, nuanced flavor and tender chewiness that brown sugar provides. So, while you can technically make the substitution, the taste and texture will definitely be different from the intended recipe’s delightful result.
- My cookies are spreading too much. What went wrong?
- If you find your cookies are spreading excessively thin during baking, several common factors could be at play. First, ensure your butter isn’t too soft or melted; it should be softened but still hold its shape, not greasy. Over-creaming the butter and sugar can also incorporate too much air, which can cause cookies to collapse and spread. Additionally, using warm baking sheets or an oven that isn’t preheated properly can affect spread. If your dough feels particularly warm from handling, try chilling it for 20-30 minutes in the refrigerator before scooping and baking. Adding a tablespoon or two of extra flour can also sometimes help with excessively sticky or spread-prone dough.
Creative Substitutions for Your REESE’S PEANUT BUTTER CUP COOKIES
One of the greatest joys of home baking is the freedom to experiment and customize recipes to suit your preferences or what you have on hand. If you’re looking to put your own unique spin on these Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Cookies, or if you simply can’t find the exact ingredients, here are some fantastic and delicious substitution ideas to inspire you:
- Finding Miniature Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups: These convenient minis are usually located in the baking aisle of most major grocery stores, typically placed near the chocolate chips. However, if they prove elusive, don’t hesitate to use regular-sized Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. Just be sure to chop them into smaller, bite-sized pieces so they distribute evenly throughout the dough and melt beautifully into delightful pockets of flavor.
- Alternative Peanut Butter Cup Flavors: The wonderful world of Reese’s offers exciting variations beyond the classic! You could easily try their white chocolate peanut butter cups for a different visual appeal and a sweeter, creamier flavor profile. For an intriguing salty-sweet crunch that really excites the palate, experiment with the versions that incorporate pretzels or potato chips into the peanut butter cups. These add an unexpected and delightful textural element.
- Beyond the Brand: While Reese’s is undeniably iconic, any other brand of peanut butter cups will work wonderfully in this recipe. Don’t feel limited to a single brand; explore what your local store offers! If you’re looking to accommodate different dietary needs or simply want to try something new, consider using almond butter cups if you can find them. Just remember the golden rule: cut any larger cups into small, manageable pieces for even distribution and optimal melting.
- Homemade Peanut Butter Cups: For the truly ambitious and dedicated baker, making your own peanut butter cups from scratch can be an incredibly fun and rewarding project! There are many excellent recipes available online that guide you through the process, such as this one if you’re feeling inspired: make your own peanut butter cups. Using homemade cups will add a unique, artisanal, and deeply personalized touch to your cookies, sure to impress anyone who tries them.
Expert Tips & Tricks for Baking the BEST Reese’s Cookies
Achieving bakery-quality cookies at home is all about paying attention to the finer details and mastering a few key techniques. Here are some essential tips and tricks to ensure your Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Cookies turn out perfectly chewy, delicious, and utterly irresistible every single time you bake them:
- Soften Your Butter: The Golden Rule: This is arguably the most crucial tip for almost all cookie recipes! Ensure your butter is properly softened to room temperature before you begin mixing. Softened butter creams beautifully and uniformly with sugar, creating a light, airy, and emulsified base for your dough. This foundational step is absolutely crucial for the final texture, spread, and overall success of your cookies. It should be pliable enough to leave an indentation when gently pressed, but never melted or greasy.
- Room Temperature Eggs for Smoothness: Just like butter, bringing your eggs to room temperature before incorporating them into the dough is a key step. Room temperature eggs emulsify more easily and thoroughly with the other ingredients, leading to a smoother, more uniform dough consistency. This, in turn, contributes to a more even bake and a better-textured cookie overall.
- The Importance of Cooling: Patience Pays Off: Patience is indeed a virtue, especially in the world of baking! Allow your freshly baked cookies to cool on the baking sheet for several minutes (typically 5-10 minutes) after removing them from the oven. This crucial brief cooling period allows them to set up and firm up gently, preventing them from crumbling or breaking when you transfer them to a wire cooling rack. Moving them too soon can result in misshapen or broken cookies.
- Don’t Overmix the Dough: Once you’ve added the dry ingredients (flour, baking soda, salt) to the wet mixture, mix only until they are just combined. Overmixing at this stage will over-develop the gluten in the flour, which can lead to tough, dense, and less tender cookies instead of the desirable soft and chewy ones. A few streaks of flour are better than an overmixed dough.
- Portioning for Uniformity: Use a Cookie Scoop: For professional-looking cookies that bake evenly, using a cookie scoop is highly recommended. It not only makes the process of portioning the dough much faster and less messy but also ensures all your cookies are roughly the same size. This consistency in size leads to consistent baking, meaning no burnt edges while others are still raw in the middle.
- A Touch of Salt: The Flavor Enhancer: While listed as a simple ingredient, never underestimate the powerful role of salt in baking. It doesn’t just make things salty; it expertly enhances and balances the sweetness, bringing out the deeper, more complex flavors of both the chocolate and creamy peanut butter in these cookies. It’s the secret ingredient that makes everything “pop.”
More Peanut Butter & Chocolate Recipes to Indulge In
Do you share my profound adoration for everything peanut butter and chocolate? This classic flavor combination is simply irresistible and has a way of comforting the soul and delighting the senses! If you’re eager to explore more delicious ways to indulge in this perfect pairing, here are some additional recipes that are sure to satisfy your sweet tooth and become new favorites:
- No Bake Peanut Butter Pie (pictured above) – A creamy, dreamy, and refreshingly cool dessert that requires absolutely no oven time, perfect for a quick yet impressive treat.
- Peanut Butter Blossoms – The timeless holiday favorite, featuring a soft peanut butter cookie crowned with a delightful chocolate kiss right in the center.
- Chewy Peanut Butter Cookies – A simple yet utterly delicious classic peanut butter cookie, known for its perfect chewiness and rich, authentic peanut flavor.
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies – For those who can’t get enough chocolate, these cookies offer a deep chocolate base generously studded with peanut butter goodness.
- Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Ice Cream Cake – The ultimate frozen dessert experience for Reese’s enthusiasts, combining ice cream with the beloved candy.
- Peanut Butter Chocolate Chunk Cookies – Hearty, satisfying cookies packed with both creamy peanut butter flavor and generous chunks of rich chocolate.
- No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookie Bars – Quick, easy, and incredibly satisfying bars that bring together the best of both worlds without turning on the oven.
- Peanut M&M Peanut Butter Pie – A fun and colorful twist on a classic peanut butter pie, enhanced with crunchy Peanut M&M’s.
LIKE THIS RECIPE?
Don’t forget to give it a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ star rating and
leave a comment below the recipe!
Print Recipe
Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Cookies
Equipment
-
REESE’S Peanut Butter Cups Minis (8-Ounce)
-
Reynolds Kitchens Non-Stick Parchment Paper
-
OXO 3- Piece Wooden Spoon Set
-
Kitchenaid Stand Mixer
-
KitchenAid Hand Mixer
-
13×18 Half Sheet Pan
Ingredients
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup 2 sticks butter, softened
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs
- 2 cups Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Minis
Instructions
-
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
-
With an electric mixer, cream together butter, sugar and brown sugar.
-
Add in eggs and vanilla, mix.
-
Sift together flour, baking soda and salt and slowly incorporate into the wet mixture.
-
Mix in the Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups baking minis.
-
Scoop with a cookie scoop (I use a 1 Tablespoon size) onto the cookie sheet. I pressed a half of a mini PB cup into the top of each cookie before baking them.
-
Bake for about 11 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown. Remove from the oven and let sit on the hot cookie sheet for a few minutes before transferring to a cooling rack.
-
Store in an airtight container. These freeze really well, too!
Notes
Nutrition