Peanut Butter Spider Cookies Recipe

If you love peanut butter cookies with a fun, spooky twist, then you’re going to flip over this Peanut Butter Spider Cookies Recipe. Picture chewy, rich peanut butter cookies topped with mini Reese’s peanut butter cups, then decorated to look like adorable little spiders with chocolate legs and candy eyes. It’s the perfect sweet treat for Halloween, parties, or anytime you want a cookie that’s as playful as it is delicious. I’m excited to walk you through every step so your cookies come out spectacular every time!

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Ingredients & Why They Work

Let’s chat about the ingredients that bring these Peanut Butter Spider Cookies to life. Each plays a role in nailing the perfect texture, flavor, and appearance—plus, I’ll sprinkle in some tips on picking the best versions to make your cookies shine.

• Unsalted butter: Room temperature butter ensures even creaminess when mixed with sugar, creating that tender crumb we love.
• Brown sugar: Adds moisture and rich molasses flavor, keeping the cookies soft and chewy.
• Granulated sugar: Gives a bit of crunch and helps the cookies crisp up just right around the edges.
• Creamy peanut butter: Opt for creamy, not natural peanut butter to get that perfect smooth texture without too much oil separation.
• Egg: Binds ingredients and adds lift, making the dough easy to handle and the cookies light yet chewy.
• Vanilla extract: Enhances the peanut butter flavor and adds warmth to the cookies.
• All-purpose flour: The foundation that holds everything together without making the cookie tough.
• Baking soda & baking powder: Helps the cookies rise just a bit and develop lovely cracks on top.
• Salt: A must-have for balancing sweetness and highlighting peanut butter’s natural flavor.
• Granulated sugar (for rolling): Adds a fun sugar crust that’s slightly crunchy and beautiful for holding the shape.
• Mini Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups: The star decorations that create the spider’s body while contributing extra peanut butter goodness.
• Semi-sweet chocolate chips: Melted down to craft the spider legs and attach the candy eyes.
• Candy eyeballs: They bring these adorable spiders to life, giving them personality and a touch of whimsy.

Make It Your Way

I always encourage you to play around with recipes like this one. Once you get the hang of making Peanut Butter Spider Cookies, it’s fun to customize them your way —whether it’s tweaking the decorations or playing with flavors. Here’s how you might do that.

• Variation: I’ve swapped the mini Reese’s cups for peanut butter-filled chocolates when I couldn’t find the minis, and it worked great—just give them a quick freeze so they hold up.
• Dietary tweak: Use gluten-free all-purpose flour instead of regular flour for a gluten-friendly recipe without sacrificing taste or texture.
• Seasonal idea: Around Christmas, try red and green candy eyeballs or mini M&Ms for the spider decorations to match the festive vibe.
• Chocolate option: For a richer spider, use dark chocolate chips instead of semi-sweet to create the legs and eyes attachments.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Peanut Butter Spider Cookies Recipe

Step 1: Chill the Mini Reese’s Cups

First things first, unwrap about 24 mini Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups and pop them into a bowl in the freezer. This trick is key! It helps the cups keep their shape when you press them into the warm cookies, so they don’t melt into a puddle. I always remind myself not to skip this—it makes a big difference in how cute the final spider looks.

Step 2: Cream the Butter and Sugars

In a mixing bowl, combine the softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar. Using your electric mixer, beat everything together for about a minute until the mixture is smooth and fluffy. This step is so satisfying because you really see your cookie base coming together. Make sure the butter is softened—not melted—to get that perfect texture.

Step 3: Add Peanut Butter, Egg, and Vanilla

Next, add the creamy peanut butter, egg, and vanilla extract to the bowl. Beat again for less than a minute until everything is fully combined. The dough will start smelling amazing right now, so you’ll know you’re on the right track. Don’t overbeat here—just enough to combine.

Step 4: Mix in the Dry Ingredients

In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Slowly add this to the wet mixture, and stir either on low speed or with a spatula just until combined. It’s important not to overmix, or your cookies can get tough instead of tender, which no one wants!

Step 5: Shape and Bake

Use a small cookie scoop or a tablespoon to grab dough and roll it into uniform balls. Then roll each ball in granulated sugar to give a lightly crunchy coating that makes these cookies extra special. Space the cookies out 2-3 inches on a lined baking sheet, then bake at 350ºF for 8–11 minutes, watching for golden cracks along the edges. That cracking is a hallmark that these cookies are just right.

Step 6: Add the Peanut Butter Cups and Cool

When the cookies come out of the oven, immediately press one mini Reese’s cup into the center of each while the cookie is still warm. Then let the cookies cool for 15–20 minutes before moving them to a cooling rack. Trust me on this—moving them too soon causes the cups to sink, messing up the spider’s body shape. Patience here pays off big time!

Step 7: Melt Chocolate and Decorate

Melt your semi-sweet chocolate chips in the microwave at 50% power, stirring each minute until smooth. Transfer the melted chocolate into a squeeze bottle or a zip-top bag with a corner cut off for easy piping. Draw 4 spider legs on each side of the cookie, extending out from the Reese’s body. Then, using a dab of melted chocolate on the back of your candy eyeballs, attach two eyes onto each peanut butter cup. Let the chocolate set completely—then you’re ready to enjoy your creepy-cute creations!

How to Serve Peanut Butter Spider Cookies Recipe

Garnishes

I like to keep the garnishes simple—those candy eyeballs are enough to give the cookies character. Sometimes, I dust a tiny bit of powdered sugar over the platter for a ‘spooky web’ effect. If you want extra flair, a drizzle of white chocolate over the top can mimic spider silk beautifully.

Side Dishes

These Peanut Butter Spider Cookies pair perfectly with a cold glass of milk or a warm cup of coffee or hot chocolate. I’ve also served them alongside simple sugar cookies or pumpkin muffins for a Halloween-themed dessert spread that everyone loved.

Creative Ways to Present

For parties, try arranging the cookies on a platter lined with plastic spider webs and sprinkle some edible glitter on top for extra sparkle. I once made a spooky dessert tray with these cookies, cupcakes with “spiderweb” icing, and gummy worms crawling around—it was a huge hit with the kids and adults alike!

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I store leftover Peanut Butter Spider Cookies in an airtight container at room temperature. They stay chewy and fresh for about 4-5 days. Keeping the cookies separate from other moist foods avoids any change in texture.

Freezing

If you want to freeze them, I recommend freezing the unbaked cookie dough balls first—rolled in sugar and on a baking sheet—then transfer the frozen dough balls to a freezer bag. When you want cookies, just bake them straight from frozen, adding a minute or two to the baking time. Freezing the decorated cookies is tricky because the peanut butter cups and candy eyes might come off.

Reheating

To warm leftover cookies, I pop them in the microwave for about 10 seconds or place them in a 300ºF oven for 5 minutes wrapped loosely in foil. This softens the cookie without melting the decorations too much, bringing back that fresh-baked feeling.

FAQs

Final Thoughts

This Peanut Butter Spider Cookies Recipe is one of my absolute favorites to make whenever I want something playful and delicious. The balance of peanut butter flavor, chewy texture, and whimsical presentation always brings smiles to the table. Plus, it’s such a fun project if you’re baking with kids or looking to impress guests with something a little out of the ordinary. Really, give it a whirl—I have a feeling this recipe will become one of your go-to favorites too!

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