Get ready for some spooky fun with these Peanut Butter Spider Cookies! These delightful cookies are not only delicious but also incredibly cute and perfect for Halloween. Featuring a peanut butter base, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, and chocolate “spider legs,” these cookies will be a hit with kids and adults alike. Whether you’re hosting a Halloween party or just want to make a fun treat with the family, these spider cookies are the perfect sweet snack for the occasion!
Why You’ll Love Peanut Butter Spider Cookies
- Adorable and Spooky: These cookies combine the creepy crawly theme of Halloween with a cute and delicious twist!
- Peanut Butter Lovers’ Dream: With both peanut butter cookies and Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, these treats pack a rich, nutty flavor.
- Easy and Fun to Make: This is a great baking project for kids and adults. It’s simple enough to get the whole family involved in decorating the spiders.
- Perfect for Halloween Parties: These cookies make a great addition to any Halloween spread, adding a festive and fun touch.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup butter (softened)
- 1/2 cup peanut butter
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup brown sugar (packed)
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- Mini Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups (about 24, unwrapped)
- Candy eyes (for decoration)
- 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (for spider legs)
- Piping bag or plastic sandwich bag (for decorating)
Equipment Needed
- Mixing bowls
- Electric mixer or hand whisk
- Baking sheet
- Parchment paper
- Cooling rack
- Piping bag or sandwich bag for decorating
Instructions
Step 1: Prepare the Peanut Butter Cookie Dough
- Preheat the Oven:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Mix the Wet Ingredients:
- In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter, peanut butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Add the egg and vanilla extract, and continue to beat until well combined.
- Add the Dry Ingredients:
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing until just combined.
- Form Cookie Dough Balls:
- Roll the dough into small balls (about 1 inch in diameter) and place them onto the prepared baking sheet, leaving about 2 inches of space between each ball.
- Bake the Cookies:
- Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 8–10 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden. Remove from the oven and allow the cookies to cool for 2–3 minutes on the baking sheet.
Step 2: Create the Spider Decorations
- Add the Peanut Butter Cup “Body”:
- While the cookies are still warm but not hot, gently press an unwrapped mini Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup into the center of each cookie. This will be the “body” of the spider.
- Cool Completely:
- Transfer the cookies to a wire rack and allow them to cool completely so that the Reese’s Cups set in place.
Step 3: Decorate the Spider Cookies
- Melt the Chocolate:
- In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the semi-sweet chocolate chips in 20-second increments, stirring between each round, until fully melted and smooth.
- Pipe the Spider Legs:
- Transfer the melted chocolate into a piping bag or sandwich bag with a small corner cut off. Pipe 8 small legs coming out from the sides of the Reese’s Cup on each cookie.
- Attach the Eyes:
- Using a small dab of melted chocolate, attach two candy eyes to the Reese’s Cup to complete the spider’s face. If you want an extra spooky touch, you can use red or colored candy eyes.
- Let the Chocolate Set:
- Allow the cookies to sit at room temperature or place them in the fridge for about 10 minutes to let the chocolate set.
Tips for Perfect Peanut Butter Spider Cookies
- Make Ahead: You can bake the peanut butter cookies a day ahead and store them in an airtight container. Add the spider decorations on the day you plan to serve them.
- Sturdy Legs: For extra-sturdy legs, you can use pretzel sticks dipped in chocolate instead of piping the legs directly onto the cookie.
- Warm Cookies for Easy Reese’s Insertion: Make sure the cookies are warm enough for the Reese’s Cups to stick but not so hot that they melt completely.
- Peanut Allergy Alternative: If you’re baking for someone with a peanut allergy, you can substitute the peanut butter in the cookie dough with sunflower butter and use chocolate cups instead of Reese’s.
Recipe Variations
- Almond Butter Spider Cookies: Replace peanut butter with almond butter for a slightly different flavor.
- Chocolate Spider Cookies: For a double chocolate twist, add 1/4 cup of cocoa powder to the cookie dough for chocolate peanut butter spider cookies.
- Halloween Sugar Cookies: If peanut butter isn’t your favorite, you can make the same design using a basic sugar cookie base instead.
- Spider Brownie Bites: Instead of cookies, you can make small brownie bites and top them with Reese’s Cups and candy eyes for a fudgy, rich spider version.
Nutritional Information (Per Cookie)
Note: These values are approximate.
- Calories: 180 kcal
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fat: 10g
- Sugar: 12g
- Protein: 4g
- Sodium: 120mg
Difficulty Level
Easy: These cookies are simple to make and require minimal baking experience. Perfect for kids and beginners, they’re a great Halloween project that’s fun and festive!
Estimated Prep and Cook Time
- Prep time: 20 minutes
- Cook time: 10 minutes
- Cooling time: 15 minutes
- Total time: 45 minutes
Halloween Fun: Crafting with Cookies
These Peanut Butter Spider Cookies aren’t just about eating—they’re a fun and creative project, perfect for Halloween-themed parties. Let the kids decorate their own spider cookies by piping the legs and adding candy eyes. You can even make this into a fun competition to see who can create the creepiest or cutest spider!
For an extra spooky presentation, serve these cookies on a Halloween platter surrounded by fake spiderwebs and plastic spiders. These cookies also make great party favors—simply wrap each cookie in a clear treat bag and tie it with black and orange ribbon.
Leftover Ideas
If you have any leftover cookies (though it’s unlikely!), here are a few creative ways to repurpose them:
- Ice Cream Sandwiches: Use the peanut butter cookies to make delicious ice cream sandwiches. Simply place a scoop of vanilla or chocolate ice cream between two cookies and press down gently.
- Halloween Sundaes: Crumble leftover spider cookies over a bowl of ice cream and drizzle with chocolate syrup for a spooky sundae.
- Cookie Crumble Topping: Crumble leftover cookies and use as a topping for yogurt or a fun addition to a Halloween-themed milkshake.
Flavor Profile
- Sweet and Nutty: The rich peanut butter flavor of the cookies pairs perfectly with the creamy sweetness of Reese’s Cups, creating a delicious treat with a soft texture and a slight crunch from the chocolate decorations.
Wine and Beverage Pairing
For adults, these Peanut Butter Spider Cookies pair beautifully with a glass of cold milk or a cup of hot chocolate. For a more festive Halloween party, you can also pair them with a fun cocktail like a Peanut Butter Cup Martini or an Irish Coffee for a spooky, cozy treat.
