Spooky Spider PB Cup Cookies

Spooky Spider PB Cup Cookies

I hope you find these cookies cute rather than gross. See, Kenny’s petrified of spiders, so these aren’t doing good things for him.

I’m totally down with spiders. For one thing, they eat mosquitoes. That makes them awesome. And I took care of a tarantula named Pinky back in high school, and he was a real sweetheart. So I have very positive associations and all.

This is my favorite peanut butter cookie recipe all dressed up for Halloween. Is it me, or are creepy treats mainly just adorable? Must be the candy eyes.

Spooky Spider PB Cup Cookies

In the midst of all this creepiness, I have to admit that Halloween scares me. It really does. I do not like opening the door to people dressed in costumes that are intended to be terrifying. I don’t care how old they are. It’s just not cool.

One year, instead of candy, my mom gave out crayons. I will never forget the humiliation. I was 100% sure that some unruly trick-or-treaters would bust into the house and steal all our food. I mean, I’d be pretty mad if I got crayons instead of candy. The only thing worse would be toothbrushes.

Spooky Spider PB Cup Cookies

Let’s face it: Halloween is a scary time of year. The sky is often eerily cloudy, and with people moving around at night like ghosts, it’s not exactly reassuring.

Plus, I teach high school, which means that kids come in costume on the closest day to Halloween and we have to figure out which costumes are crossing the line. I really have no desire to see students dressed in short, tight costumes, or in a worst-case scenario from a couple of years back, like a giant condom. It’s so tacky.

The opposite of tacky is cute Halloween treats. And these little guys just make me happy.

Spooky Spider PB Cup Cookies

This cookie recipe is so good that my oldest son loves it. That might not mean much to you, but the boy eats about two things in life, and I’m not really exaggerating. The fact that he begged me to bake these again after the first time I made them means a lot. Just believe me on that one.

Spooky Spider PB Cup Cookies

Once the cookie is baked, you press a frozen Reese’s miniature peanut butter cup into the center. Wait for it to harden, and then pipe on legs using chocolate melts. I also used those melts to stick the candy eyes to the spider’s body, i.e., the peanut butter cup. It’s cute, right? Not gross?

Spooky Spider PB Cup Cookies

I might not like Halloween, but I do love the treats and all the fun you can have with making scary into cute. Spiders might not be as happy an association for you as they are for me, but how about giving them a try? Just this once!

 

Spooky Spider PB Cup Cookies

Ingredients

1 egg
3/4 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 and 1/3 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 bag Reese's miniatures, unwrapped and frozen
1 cup chocolate candy melts
1 package small candy eyes

Instructions

  1. In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the eggs, butter, peanut butter, vanilla, brown sugar and sugar until creamy.
  2. Add the dry ingredients and mix until just combined.
  3. Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. Roll the peanut butter cookie dough into balls that are about one inch in diameter. Place the cookies on the prepared cookie sheets about two inches apart.
  4. Cover the cookies with plastic wrap and chill for at least three hours.
  5. When you're ready to bake, preheat the oven to 350. Bake the cookies for 9-10 minutes, no longer. They will not look done.
  6. Immediately press a frozen peanut butter cup into the center of the cookie. Cool completely until the peanut butter cups are hardened.
  7. Heat the chocolate melts according to package directions. Using a piping bag with a small round tip, pipe four legs onto each side of the cookie. The chocolate will be very drippy, so be careful. Allow the chocolate to harden.
  8. Pipe a dot of chocolate onto the back of each candy eye and affix it immediately to the peanut butter cup as eyes, two for each cookie.
  9. Allow to set. Enjoy!
http://justaboutbaked.com/spooky-spider-pb-cup-cookies/

 

Mir

I fulfill many roles in life: wife, mother, teacher, everlasting learner. This site is dedicated to one role that expresses my creativity in ways that I find consistently challenging and rewarding: baker. Inventing new ways to enhance food, especially if that food involves chocolate or peanut butter (or both!), is a passion of mine. I look forward to sharing my ideas with you.

This Post Has 34 Comments

  1. Michele @ Alwayzbakin

    These cookies are adorable! I have to admit, I don’t like spiders, but these guys are acceptable for sure. I Love Halloween! If costumes weren’t so expensive, I would dress up too. After buying my son’s, I’m all cleaned out! Have a wonderful week Mir. 🙂
    Michele @ Alwayzbakin recently posted…Halloween Peanut Butter BlondiesMy Profile

    1. Mir

      Costumes are expensive. I try to get cheap ones on Amazon, but yep. It’s a pain!

  2. Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice

    These cookies are definitely cute, Mir! Such a fun treat for Halloween, especially since pb cups are involved, Yum!
    Gayle @ Pumpkin ‘N Spice recently posted…No-Bake Pumpkin Cheesecake TrifleMy Profile

    1. Mir

      Anything that has PB cups and you know I’m there!

  3. Linda @ Today She Loves

    Such cute peanut butter cookies! My friend’s daughter LOOOVESS peanut butter. I gotta check if she thinks these cookies are cute, but I sure do.
    Linda @ Today She Loves recently posted…Italian Macarons 101My Profile

    1. Mir

      Ooh, I wonder what she’ll think. I hope she finds them cute, Linda!

  4. Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy

    Those faces are so cute, not scary, but then I guess it might be to a little kid 🙂
    I wish we went all out with Halloween over here like you guys do in the U.S. We don’t really do anything for it.
    Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy recently posted…Comment on Vegan Chocolate Cherry Truffles by DanniiMy Profile

    1. Mir

      Nah, my kids weren’t scared at all. In fact, they really wanted them! We definitely do up the holiday here. You all should, too!

  5. Wendy

    As a card carrying arachnophobe, I can assure you that your spiders are on the cute side of scary. However, I will have to opt for the cookies without eyes and legs. The cookies truly are cute, I just can’t eat a spider! 🙂 A delicious peanut butter cup peanut cookie (endorsed by your son, no less) I CAN and will eat! I am totally with you on the scary part of halloween. Why can’t everyone stick to Disney princesses, Ninja Turtles, or Winnie the Pooh?!
    Wendy recently posted…Chocolaty Chip MuffinsMy Profile

    1. Mir

      Seriously. I love Winnie the Pooh! Every kid should be that. But you know, I appreciate that these are not too scary. And trust me, my son eats nothing, so this meant a lot!

  6. Amanda

    I remember one house on the block used to give away full size candy bars and cans of pop. And as kids we always thought that they must have been the coolest people in the world. Haha. These are the cutest cookies. It’s hard to be afraid of spiders when there just so darn cute!
    Amanda recently posted…Peanut Butter TorteMy Profile

    1. Mir

      That must have been the best house to go to. I will never be that cool!

  7. Rachelle @ Beer Girl Cooks

    I think I’ve been pretty clear about my dislike of spiders, but yours are totally cute and NOT creepy. It’s definitely the eyes! And someone dressed up like a condom? Seriously?
    Rachelle @ Beer Girl Cooks recently posted…Chicken, Kale, and White Bean ChiliMy Profile

    1. Mir

      Seriously, they did. I work in a high school, so it wasn’t exactly a shock. But yep, it was the most unpleasant costume to look at while you’re working!

  8. Rachel @ Bakerita

    These are seriously too cute! Definitely not too scary 🙂 I can never get enough PB cups on Halloween!
    Rachel @ Bakerita recently posted…3-Ingredient Cookie Butter CookiesMy Profile

    1. Mir

      Me neither, Rachel! Or all year round, for that matter!

  9. Jen | Baked by an Introvert

    Adorable! I am terrified of spiders, but these cute little guys are not scary at all!

    1. Mir

      I’m so glad, Jen! They want to be tasty, not scary!

  10. Manali @ CookWithManali

    I find spiders very creepy but these are cute plus with the PB cup, how can anyone resist them! so perfect for Halloween Mir!
    Manali @ CookWithManali recently posted…No Bake Oreo Cheesecake ParfaitMy Profile

    1. Mir

      Thanks, Manali! Spiders aren’t that creepy when they’re chocolate!

  11. Jocelyn (Grandbaby cakes)

    Absolutely darling!!
    Jocelyn (Grandbaby cakes) recently posted…Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle SoupMy Profile

    1. Mir

      Thanks so much, Jocelyn!

  12. Alice @ Hip Foodie Mom

    Mir, these are the cutest cookies ever!!!! I love them! Your mom gave out crayons?! 🙂 She would have actually been loved and adored in my old neighborhood!! 🙂 now, we live in the “neighborhood that gives out the big snickers bars . . the good candy” . . this is literally what neighbors told me! People apparently come from other neighborhoods, like drive in their cars to our neighborhood, just to get the good candy! Priorities!! 😛 Wishing you and your family a safe Halloween!!!! I’m more into the cute scary stuff too!
    Alice @ Hip Foodie Mom recently posted…Korean Kimchi Scallion PancakesMy Profile

    1. Mir

      Honestly, Alice, I just found the crayons humiliating in my 11 year-old mind. I still remember these teenagers at the door basically asking my mom if she was serious. Now it’s pretty funny, though. And I think Snickers is totally the good candy, especially full-sized! I would drive to your hood. Heck, I’d almost fly for a perk like that!

  13. Medha @ Whisk & Shout

    These cookies are adorable! Love the way you decorated and who can get enough of chocolate and PB, especially when reese’s is involved?
    Medha @ Whisk & Shout recently posted…Mini Vegan Pumpkin Cheesecakes with Chocolate GanacheMy Profile

    1. Mir

      Thanks, Medha! I will never stop loving the Reese’s!

  14. Dorothy @ Crazy for Crust

    My thought on Halloween is this: we tell our kids all year long don’t talk to strangers!! And then we let them talk to them and take candy and eat it. And then you see all these things for getting rid of the candy after (like turning it in or donating it or throwing it away). What a waste!

    These cookies are GORG!
    Dorothy @ Crazy for Crust recently posted…Chocolate Chess Pie with graham cracker crustMy Profile

    1. Mir

      Exactly. THANK YOU! I mean, we live in a terrifying world. Why make it worse? And then people bring in their candy to work like they have to purge it, and I have no problem eating it all. 🙂

  15. Danielle

    I definitely don’t like spiders, but I would in the form of these cookies! These are so creative and perfect for Halloween too, Mir.
    Danielle recently posted…Candy Corn Peanut BarkMy Profile

    1. Mir

      Thanks, Danielle! These are my favorite spiders ever.

  16. Aimee @ ShugarySweets

    I’m TERRIFIED of spiders, however the candy eyes on this one keeps them from being creepy. You KNOW how I feel about those cute eyes. These cookies are happening soon 🙂
    Aimee @ ShugarySweets recently posted…Cinnamon Apple Coffee CakeMy Profile

    1. Mir

      It’s true, you love the candy eyes. I do, too! So much easier than piping the eyes on. I’m all about avoiding that!

  17. Vicky & Ruth- May I Have That Recipe

    These cookies are almost too cute to eat! They are thefts combo ever…chocolate chip peanut butter cookies and Reese’s…. perfect for this time of year!

    1. Mir

      Thanks so much! This is one of my favorite combos, too!

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