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Peanut Butter Cup Cookies

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Kids and adults alike will love these classic Peanut Butter Cup Cookies. Miniature Reese’s cups are nestled into peanut butter cookie cups for an easy cookie that will be a hit at holiday cookie exchanges.

Close up of half of a peanut butter cup cookie showing the gooey peanut butter and chocolate center. The cookie is on top of a stack of peanut butter cup cookies

INTRO

Peanut butter cup cookies scattered on a counter with unwrapped chocolate peanut butter cup candies

PEANUT BUTTER CUP COOKIES IN A MINI MUFFIN TIN

Have you had Peanut Butter Cup Cookies before?

I feel like they are a classic at holiday parties and cookie exchanges, along with Peanut Butter Blossoms and Rum Balls.

And honestly, it makes sense why. Peanut butter and chocolate were made to be together, and these cookies are quick and easy to make.

Peanut butter cookie dough scooped into a mini muffin tin to make Peanut Butter Cup Cookies

Instead of baking the cookies on a cookie sheet, like you would with Peanut Butter Blossoms or Mint Chocolate Cookies, the dough balls are baked in a mini muffin pan.

The muffin pan mimics the shape of the mini Reese’s peanut butter cups that get pushed into the center of each freshly baked cookie.

Peanut Butter Cup Cookies scattered on a white surface with mini peanut butter cups

The whole thing makes for an adorable cookie cup that can be devoured in one or two bites.

Even better, they’re a great use for any leftover Halloween candy you might still have laying around. Or even bags of holiday candy leftover from parties.

Peanut butter cup cookies cooling on a cooling rack

HOW TO MAKE REESE’S CUP COOKIES

The base for Peanut Butter Cup Cookies is a simple peanut butter cookie dough. The dough is very similar to the one used to make my Peanut Butter Sandwich Cookies.

Cream together the butter, peanut butter, and both the granulated and brown sugars. Both types of sugar play a role in the texture of these cookies, so don’t skip either of them!

Overhead view of peanut butter cup cookies arranged on a circular cooling rack

(Psst! Did you forget to soften your butter ahead of time? Try my tricks for how to soften butter quickly!)

After the sugars and butters are fluffy, in goes 1 egg, vanilla and a bit of milk. Then add the dry ingredients and mix well.

5 stacked peanut butter cup cookies with the top cookie cut in half to show the peanut butter center

To shape the cookies, grab a small cookie scoop and scoop the dough into the wells of a mini muffin pan. Kids love helping to scoop the dough, so it’s a great way to get them involved in the process.

After the cookies are baked, immediately press an unwrapped mini peanut butter cup into each cookie while they are still in the pan. Allow the cookies to cool before removing them from the pan so they maintain their cute cup shape.

These cookies are fun and easy and will be a hit with everyone at your holiday gatherings or cookie exchanges. Or freeze a batch to sneak bites of even after the holidays are over – I know I will.

Close-up overhead view of Peanut Butter Cup Cookies on a cooling rack

Peanut butter cup cookies cooling on a cooling rack

Peanut Butter Cup Cookies

Kids and adults alike will love these classic Peanut Butter Cup Cookies. Miniature Reese’s cups are nestled into peanut butter cookie cups for an easy cookie that will be a hit at holiday cookie exchanges.
4.55 from 20 votes
Print Pin
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Servings: 40 cookies

Ingredients 

  • 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ cup butter softened
  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • ½ cup peanut butter
  • ½ cup packed brown sugar
  • 1 egg beaten
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 2 tablespoons milk
  • 40 miniature chocolate-covered peanut butter cups unwrapped

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
  • Sift together the flour, salt and baking soda; set aside.
  • Cream together the butter, sugar, peanut butter and brown sugar until fluffy.
  • Beat in the egg, vanilla and milk. Add the flour mixture; mix well.
  • Use a small cookie scoop to scoop equal portions of dough into 40 wells in an ungreased mini muffin pan.
  • Bake for 8-10 minutes until just set. Remove from oven and immediately press a mini peanut butter cup into each ball. Cool and carefully remove from pan.

Notes

I like to use a 1 1/4-inch scoop (#60) for portioning these cookies.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cookie | Calories: 118kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 11mg | Sodium: 116mg | Potassium: 55mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 82IU | Vitamin C: 0.02mg | Calcium: 12mg | Iron: 0.4mg
The default measuring system on My Baking Addiction is US Customary. Unit conversions are provided as a courtesy; please be aware that there may be some discrepancies.
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Recipe Rating




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Jamie

Monday 18th of September 2023

This was a super easy recipe to make and it turned out so good! I will definitely make them more often. Great for bake sales!

Jamie

Tuesday 19th of September 2023

So glad you enjoyed these, Jamie! Thanks for stopping by and sharing your feedback. Happy baking! Jamie

cheryl naughton

Saturday 19th of September 2020

I tried this recipe and I was surprised by how easy it was and how fast I was able to create awesome treats.

I'm a big fan and I appreciate your recipes and expertise!

Jamie

Monday 28th of September 2020

So happy to hear you enjoyed the cookies, Cheryl! Thanks so much for stopping by and leaving your feedback! -Jamie

Deb Carmicheal

Friday 13th of December 2019

I have been making these for years and you are so right they are super delicious. I've never added milk but will try it next time I make these cookies. Which will be very soon for Christmas gifts

Jamie

Saturday 14th of December 2019

Thanks so much for stopping by, Deb! I appreciate you taking the time to comment. Happy Baking! -Jamie

Carol

Friday 13th of December 2019

I have a recipe like this from an 1974 church cookbook. Those are made in a regular muffin pan and use full-size peanut butter cups.

Jamie

Saturday 14th of December 2019

Thanks so much for stopping by, Carol! I appreciate you taking the time to comment. Happy Baking! -Jamie

Amelia

Tuesday 6th of January 2009

What a great idea! I must make these for my peanut-buttercup-loving family! Thanks for sharing /=]

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