These Peanut Butter Cup Cookies are a must for any cookie lover. Each soft peanut butter cookie hides a Reese's cup in the center, creating a gooey surprise in every bite. They're easy to make and even easier to fall in love with.
Looking for more Reese's treats? You will love this mini peanut butter cheesecake and these Reese's rice krispie treats.
The post for Peanut Butter Cup Cookies was first published in December 2017. The post and photos were updated and republished in November 2019.
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This fun little cookie cup is one that we make every single Christmas. It's just a basic peanut butter blossom cookie turned into a cute little cookie cup.
I love that these have a peanut butter cup candy in the center. These Reese's cookies and our chocolate blossom cookies are probably two of my top 5 cookies. They never last very long when we make them.
So, I'd better plan to make a few batches of these peanut butter Christmas cookies for the holidays. I also want to make these white chocolate peanut butter balls and stack them into little snowmen. It's going to be all about the peanut butter treats on Christmas Day.
Why You'll Love This Reese's Cookies Recipe
These cookies are a delicious combination of two classic treats. They are perfect for any occasion, although they are so good you may want to keep them all to yourself.
You can enjoy these sweet treats anytime or anywhere because they travel well and stay fresh at room temperature for a while. So, whether it's lunchtime or midnight, these peanut butter cup cookies will satisfy your craving whenever it strikes.
This is also a great cookie to ship or mail to loved ones around the world. They package easily, hold their shape, and taste great when they get there.
Main Ingredients
These peanut butter cookies come together quickly with just a few simple pantry ingredients. Scroll down to the printable recipe card for the full ingredient amounts and step-by-step instructions.
- Peanut Butter: Use your favorite brand of creamy peanut butter. If you like a crunch in your cookie, feel free to substitute crunchy peanut butter.
- Vegetable Shortening: Helps the cookies hold their shape better. It also gives the cookies a softer texture.
- Sugars: A mixture of granulated and brown sugar sweetens these peanut butter cookies.
- Egg - Binds the ingredients together.
- Flour: Provides structure to the cookie dough. See how to measure flour correctly when baking.
- Baking Soda: Provides the lift as the dough bakes.
- Peanut Butter Cups: You will need 20 miniatures for this recipe. Please remove all wrappers before adding them to the cookies!
How To Make Peanut Butter Cup Cookies
This easy peanut butter cup cookie recipe comes together in minutes. Just make sure to press the peanut butter cup into the warm cookie, so it holds the mini muffin shape.
- Beat the peanut butter, shortening, and sugars in a large bowl until creamy.
- Add the egg and vanilla and beat again. Slowly mix in the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- Roll the peanut butter cookie dough into 20 even balls. Roll each one in the extra sugar and then place in a greased mini muffin tin.
- When baking the cookies, let them cool in the pan for 2 minutes. Then press a chilled peanut butter cup into the top of each.
- Run a butter knife around the edge of the cookies and lift them out gently before the chocolate starts to melt. Place them on a wire rack to cool and set completely.
- If you want to customize the cookies for a party or holiday, add sprinkles to the tops of the melted peanut butter cups before the chocolate sets.
Decorating Peanut Butter Cup Cookies
Use any sprinkle color to add some fun to the tops of the peanut butter cookies. Chocolate jimmies are a great choice for most of the year, but I like to change them up during the holidays.
They are so easy to customize for every holiday during the year.
- Pink, red, and white sprinkles for Valentine's Day
- Green and white for St. Patrick's Day
- Pink, white, and yellow for Easter
- Red, white, and blue for Memorial Day and Fourth of July
- Orange and black for Halloween
- Brown and orange for Thanksgiving
- Red, white, and green for Christmas
BruCrew Tip: You can also use white chocolate peanut butter cups and add small snowman faces to the tops for winter parties.
More Easy Cookie Recipes
- Sea Salt Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Crispy Banana Cookies
- Peppermint Oreo Cookies
- Cherry Chip Cake Mix Cookies
- Salted Caramel Thumbprint Cookies
- Nutella No Bake Cookies
- Rolo Cookies
- Peppermint Meltaways
- More Cookie recipes
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Recipe
Peanut Butter Cup Cookies
The little candy bar center in these Peanut Butter Cup Cookies makes these a family favorite treat. Change out the sprinkles and they are perfect for every holiday.
Ingredients
- ¼ cup creamy peanut butter
- ¼ cup vegetable shortening
- ¼ cup granulated sugar + 2-3 tablespoons (to roll dough in)
- ¼ cup packed brown sugar
- 1 large egg
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon table salt
- 20 miniature peanut butter cups, unwrapped and refrigerated
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray a mini muffin tin with a nonstick spray like Baker's Joy.
- Beat the peanut butter, shortening, ¼ cup sugar, and brown sugar until creamy. Add the egg and vanilla and beat again.
- Stir together the cornstarch, flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Slowly mix into the peanut butter mixture.
- Use a 1-tbsp scoop to make 20 even balls. Roll each dough ball in the remaining granulated sugar.
- Place in the prepared muffin tin. Bake for 8 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool in the pan for 2 minutes.
- Press a peanut butter cup into the top of each cookie. Use a knife to gently remove the cookies from the pan and place them on a wire rack.
- Once the chocolate on the candy has melted, sprinkle the tops with sprinkles. Let them set completely before moving. Store in a tightly sealed container.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 20 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 139Total Fat: 6gSaturated Fat: 2gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 11mgSodium: 121mgCarbohydrates: 19gFiber: 1gSugar: 8gProtein: 3g
Nutrition facts are an estimate and are not guaranteed to be accurate. If you need special diet advice, please see a registered dietician.
Steph says
I made this exactly as directed, yet it only made 14-15 ?
Jocelyn says
The only thing I can think of is that you rolled the dough balls too big. The recipe does say to make 24 even balls before baking. It doesn't really affect anything other than you have less bigger cookies!
Deb says
Hi, how do you press the peanut butter cups into the cookies after you've baked them ? I would assume the cookies have become hard after baking ? Thanks so much.
Jocelyn says
The cookies are still soft when they come out of the oven, so the peanut butter cup sinks in very easily when you press it in.
Sarah says
Oh, I need to make these. I love peanut butter cups so putting them in cookies sounds like a perfect treat.
Angela Harding says
Can you use the red and and green sugar to roll the balls in before baking?
Jocelyn says
Yes, that would work too. I hope you enjoy the cookies!
Lindsay says
How long will these stay good for? Just wondering how early before Christmas I can have them ready. Thanks.
Jocelyn says
They will keep for a few days if you keep them tightly sealed. I have mailed them to my son in college and he says they are still good after 5-6 days too. I hope you enjoy the cookies!
ColleenB.-Tx. says
In step 4 you have sugar, sugar. Does that mean you roll in both the brown & white sugar?
Thanks
Jocelyn says
Sorry about that. I appreciate you letting me know I had a mistake. It should say granulated sugar. You use the extra sugar to roll the dough in before baking them. I fixed the recipe. Hope you enjoy the cookies!
ColleenB.-Tx. says
Thought maybe you had the song, 'Sugar, Sugar' on your mind. :}
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9nE2spOw_o
Enjoy, and have a Wonderful Thanksgiving
Jocelyn says
Hahaha! It's more likely that I was in a hurry and didn't proofread everything. Happy Thanksgiving to you too!