Irresistible Sweet Peanut Butter Cup Cookies Recipe

Chocolate and peanut butter create an irresistible dance of flavors in these sweet peanut butter cup cookies that melt in your mouth.

The combination of rich, creamy peanut butter and decadent chocolate chunks brings pure dessert magic to your kitchen.

Every bite promises a delightful surprise with chunks of smooth peanut butter cups nestled throughout the dough.

Soft, chewy, and perfectly balanced, these cookies deliver a nostalgic comfort that connects you to childhood memories.

The simple recipe requires minimal ingredients but produces maximum satisfaction.

Baking these cookies fills your home with an intoxicating aroma that beckons everyone to the kitchen.

Get ready to become the neighborhood’s most beloved baker with this irresistible treat.

What You’ll Need for Peanut Butter Cup Cookies

• Smooth Peanut Butter: Creamy foundation that adds rich, nutty flavor and helps bind the cookie dough together.
• Butter: Provides moisture and creates a tender, melt-in-your-mouth texture with a golden richness.
• Brown Sugar: Introduces deep caramel notes and helps keep cookies soft and chewy.
• Granulated Sugar: Adds sweetness and helps create a crisp cookie exterior.
• Egg: Acts as a binding agent and contributes to the cookie's structure and richness.
• Vanilla Extract: Enhances overall flavor with its warm, sweet aromatics.
• All-Purpose Flour: Creates the fundamental structure of the cookie with perfect texture.
• Baking Powder, Baking Soda: Essential leavening agents that help cookies rise and become light.
• Corn Starch: Ensures extra tenderness and prevents tough cookie texture.
• Salt: Balances sweetness and amplifies all other flavors in the cookie.

• Reese's Peanut Butter Cups: Adds delightful chocolate-peanut butter chunks with irresistible texture and flavor.

• Reese's Peanut Butter Chips: Melts beautifully to create a luxurious drizzle with intense peanut butter flavor.
• Vegetable or Canola Oil: Helps thin the peanut butter chips for smooth, perfect drizzling.

Cookie Tools That Make Baking a Breeze

• Large mixing bowl: Perfect for creaming butter and mixing ingredients smoothly.
• Cookie scoop: Helps create uniform, perfectly sized cookie dough balls.
• Baking sheet: Essential for baking cookies evenly.
• Parchment paper: Prevents cookies from sticking and makes cleanup a breeze.
• Whisk: Great for combining dry ingredients without lumps.
• Microwave-safe bowl: Needed for melting peanut butter chips.
• Measuring cups and spoons: Ensures precise ingredient measurements.
• Spatula: Helps fold in peanut butter cups and spread melted topping.

How to Bake Sweet Peanut Butter Cup Cookies

• Oven Warmup

Get your oven cozy and ready by heating it to a toasty 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper for cookie magic.

• Creamy Base

In a big mixing bowl, blend butter, peanut butter, and sugars until they become a smooth, dreamy mixture. Splash in egg and vanilla, stirring until everything looks happy together.

• Flour Power

Grab another bowl and whisk together flour and other dry ingredients. Slowly fold this into your creamy base, mixing gently until just combined.

• Peanut Butter Cup Love

Sprinkle chopped Reese’s pieces into the dough, giving it a delightful candy surprise in every bite.

• Cookie Shaping

Scoop out round balls of dough, rolling them between your palms. Press them down softly into sweet little discs. Pop the tray into the freezer for a quick 15-minute chill.

• Baking Moment

Slide the tray into the warm oven. Watch as cookies turn golden around the edges in about 12-13 minutes.

• Decadent Drizzle

While cookies are hot, melt peanut butter chips with a touch of oil. Drizzle this liquid gold over each cookie, then sprinkle extra candy bits on top.

• Cooling Finale

Let cookies rest and cool completely before diving into their chocolatey, peanut buttery goodness.

Tweak This Cookie Recipe to Fit Your Cravings

• Baking Brilliance: Swap regular peanut butter cups with dark chocolate or white chocolate varieties for a unique flavor twist.
• Cookie Texture Magic: Refrigerate dough for 30 minutes before baking to prevent spreading and create thicker, chewier cookies.
• Make-Ahead Masterplan: Prepare cookie dough balls and freeze up to 3 months. Bake directly from frozen state, adding 2-3 extra minutes to cooking time.
• Dairy-Free Delight: Replace butter with coconut oil and use dairy-free chocolate peanut butter cups for a vegan-friendly version of these decadent treats.
• Storage Secrets: Keep cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. Layer between parchment paper to prevent sticking and maintain softness.

Serve These Cookies at Any Time of Day

• Decadent Dessert Companions: Serve these cookies alongside a cold glass of milk for the ultimate indulgent experience.
• Gourmet Gift Idea: Package these cookies in a cute mason jar or decorative box for a personalized sweet treat that's perfect for birthdays or holiday gifts.
• Ice Cream Sandwich Twist: Create an epic dessert by sandwiching a scoop of vanilla or chocolate ice cream between two of these cookies for a mind-blowing summer treat.
• Coffee Shop Pairing: Enjoy these cookies with a rich espresso or creamy latte to balance the sweet peanut butter flavor and elevate your snack time.

Store Peanut Butter Cup Cookies Without the Crumble

• Fridge-Friendly Storage: Keep cookies in an airtight container inside the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Place parchment paper between layers to prevent sticking and maintain their delicious texture.
• Freezer Magic: Wrap individual cookies tightly in plastic wrap, then store in a freezer-safe container. These sweet treats will stay fresh for 3 months, ready to enjoy whenever a craving hits.
• Make-Ahead Magic: Prepare cookie dough balls in advance and freeze them uncooked. When ready to bake, simply transfer directly from freezer to baking sheet, adding 2-3 extra minutes to baking time.
• Room Temperature Love: For optimal taste and texture, remove cookies from refrigerator 15-20 minutes before serving. This allows them to soften slightly and enhances their rich, buttery flavor.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 12-13 minutes

Total Time: 35-33 minutes

Calories: 150 kcal

Servings: 25

Irresistible Peanut Butter Cup Cookies Recipe

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• Total Time: 35-33 minutes
• Yield: 25 1x

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Description

Irresistible homemade sweet peanut butter cup cookies blend classic American dessert flavors with rich chocolate and creamy peanut butter. Cookie lovers will savor these delectable treats that promise pure indulgence in every delightful bite.

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Ingredients

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• 1 cup Reese’s peanut butter cups, roughly chopped (about 10 Reese’s)
• ⅔ cup Reese’s peanut butter chips
• ½ cup smooth peanut butter
• ½ cup butter, softened
• 1 ⅓ cups all-purpose flour
• ½ cup brown sugar
• ⅓ cup granulated sugar
• 1 egg, at room temperature
• 1 ½ tsps vegetable or canola oil
• ½ tsp vanilla extract
• ½ tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp baking soda
• 1 tbsp corn starch
• ¼ tsp salt

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Instructions

1. Preheat Station: Configure oven to 350°F and layer a baking sheet with parchment paper for optimal baking conditions.
2. Creamy Foundation: Whip butter, peanut butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar into a silky, homogeneous mixture using an electric mixer until completely blended.
3. Liquid Integration: Fold egg and vanilla extract into the creamy base, stirring until the mixture achieves a glossy, consistent texture.
4. Dry Ingredient Preparation: Sift flour, baking powder, baking soda, corn starch, and salt together, eliminating potential clumping and ensuring smooth incorporation.
5. Dough Formation: Gently fold dry ingredients into the wet mixture, mixing until just combined to preserve a tender cookie consistency, then carefully fold in chopped Reese’s peanut butter cups.
6. Cookie Shaping: Craft nine uniform dough balls, rolling between palms and gently flattening to one-inch thickness, then briefly chill in the freezer for 15 minutes to stabilize structure.
7. Baking Process: Transfer cookies to preheated oven and bake for 12-13 minutes, monitoring for golden-brown edges as an indicator of perfect doneness.
8. Topping Creation: Simultaneously melt peanut butter chips with oil in short microwave bursts, stirring between intervals to achieve a smooth, pourable consistency.
9. Final Embellishment: Immediately after removing from oven, drizzle and spread melted peanut butter chip mixture across cookies, then sprinkle with additional chopped Reese’s peanut butter cups for enhanced flavor and visual appeal.
10. Cooling and Setting: Allow cookies to cool completely on the baking sheet, permitting the topping to solidify and flavors to fully develop before serving.

Notes

• Chill Dough Strategically: Freezing cookie dough for 15 minutes helps prevent spreading and maintains compact, thick cookie shape during baking.
• Prevent Overmixing: Gently fold dry ingredients into wet mixture just until combined to ensure tender, soft cookie texture without developing tough gluten.
• Monitor Baking Carefully: Watch for golden-brown edges as the critical indicator of perfectly baked cookies, avoiding over-browning which can create dry, hard results.
• Topping Temperature Matters: Melt peanut butter chips in short microwave intervals, stirring between each to achieve smooth drizzle without burning or separating.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 12-13 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 25
• Calories: 150
• Sugar: 8 g
• Sodium: 90 mg
• Fat: 8 g
• Saturated Fat: 4 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 18 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 3 g
• Cholesterol: 15 mg