Last Updated on May 20, 2024
These Peanut Butter Cup Chocolate Cookies are like two desserts in one!
You get an amazing chocolate cookie PLUS a yummy peanut butter cup.
This fun treat would make a great surprise for your kids. You could also make these delicious cookies for a holiday cookie exchange or for any party.
Peanut butter and chocolate go so well together and these peanut butter stuffed cookies are another example of that.
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Why do People Like Peanut Butter and Chocolate?
Peanut butter and chocolate go so well together because our tastebuds like the contrasting tastes. Scientists refer to this as dynamic contrast.
As you chew on a peanut butter and chocolate cookie, you experience sweet and salty flavors, and even different textures. We like this experience because it stimulates different senses at the same time, and that satisfies our different food cravings.
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❤️ Why You’ll Love This Recipe
These multi-flavor cookies are going to become a family favorite because:
- Fills the house with a delicious aroma: The whole house always smells so delicious when cookies are baking in the oven.
- Easy to make: These cookies look fancy, but they’re really easy to make.
- Kids can help: Your kids can help by adding the peanut butter cups on top of the dough.
If you want to try a healthier cookie with these same flavors, try these peanut butter protein cookies.
🥘 Ingredients
You might already have all of the ingredients you need to make this recipe.
- Unsweetened cocoa powder: This is usually found in the baking aisle. It helps add chocolate flavor and color to the cookies.
- Unsalted butter: It’s best to use unsalted butter in recipes because the amount of salt varies in different brands of salted butter, and you could end up with pretty salty tasting cookies.
- Reese’s peanut butter cups: The candy will add the delicious peanut butter flavor and creamy texture to the cookies.
See recipe card for complete list of ingredients and quantities
🔀 Substitutions
Unsweetened cocoa powder: Carob powder can be used as a substitute for cocoa powder. It has a slightly different flavor but works well in most recipes.
Vanilla extract: If you’ve run out of this ingredient, you can use almond extract or another flavored extract instead.
🌈 Variations / Options / Add-Ins
If you want to enhance the flavor of the cookies, try these options.
- Sea salt: Sprinkle a pinch of coarse sea salt on top of each cookie before baking to enhance the sweetness and add even more of that dynamic contrast.
- Spices: Add spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, or espresso powder to enhance the flavor of the chocolate cookies. Start with 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of the spice and adjust to your preferences.
If you like the peanut butter and chocolate flavors, but want to try it in a different form of dessert, try this Reese’s peanut butter fudge.
🥄 Equipment Needed / Helpful Tools
Here is what you’ll need to make these delicious cookies.
- Mixing bowls: You’ll need a couple of bowls to mix the dry ingredients and the wet ingredients.
- Mixer: You can use a hand mixer or stand mixer to make these cookies — it just depends on which one you prefer.
- Muffin pan: Using a muffin pan will help the cookies maintain their shape, rather than spread out.
🔪 How to Make Peanut Butter Cup Chocolate Cookies
It’s surprisingly easy to make these peanut butter cup chocolate cookies.
Step 1: Preheat the Oven
Preheat the oven to 300 F.
Step 2: Mix Dry Ingredients
Add flour, baking soda, salt, and cocoa powder to a medium bowl. Whisk together with a fork or whisk to combine.
Step 3: Mix Wet Ingredients
Next, beat together the sugars and butter.
Once they are well combined, add eggs and vanilla extract.
Beat until light and fluffy.
Step 4: Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients
Add the flour mixture and chocolate chips to the butter and egg mixture.
Stir or mix on low to combine. Be careful not to over mix.
Step 5: Form Cookies
Add one tablespoon of dough to each cup in a muffin pan. Then, set a peanut butter cup on top of the dough and push it down into the dough.
Top each peanut butter cup with more cookie dough.
Step 6: Bake the Cookies
Bake at 300 degrees for 16 to 18 minutes. When the cookies are ready, they should look like this:
Let them cool in the muffin pan for just a minute or two, then transfer them to a cooling rack to cool completely. If you run a butter knife around the edge of each cookie, you should be able to release them easily from the muffin pan.
Step 7: Serve and Enjoy
Your peanut butter cup chocolate cookies are ready to serve and enjoy.
❓ Recipe FAQs
Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
Yes, you can use a hand mixer instead of a stand mixer. Just ensure all ingredients are well incorporated.
Yes, you can freeze the cookie dough by shaping it into balls and freezing them on a baking sheet. Once frozen, transfer the dough balls to a freezer bag. They can be frozen for up to 3 months.
🙏 Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with Peanut Butter Cup Chocolate Cookies:
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📋 Recipe
Peanut Butter Cup Chocolate Cookies
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Equipment
- Mixing bowls
- Mixer
- muffin pan
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup unsalted butter (2 sticks)
- 3 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 6 ounces semisweet chocolate chips
- 24 Reese’s peanut butter cups
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 300 F.
- In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking soda, salt, and cocoa powder. Mix well with a whisk or fork and set aside.2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- In a large bowl, beat sugars and butter until well blended. Add eggs and vanilla and beat until light and fluffy.1 cup brown sugar, 1/2 cup granulated sugar, 1 cup unsalted butter, 3 large eggs, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Add the flour mixture and chocolate chips. Mix on low just until combined. Do not overmix.6 ounces semisweet chocolate chips
- Add 1 tablespoon of dough to each cup in a muffin pan. Place one peanut butter cup in each muffin cup, pushing down cookie dough. Top each peanut butter cup with an additional tablespoon of dough.24 Reese’s peanut butter cups
- Bake for 16-18 minutes. Let cool for 1-2 minutes in muffin pan, then gently run a butter knife along the edge of each cookie to loosen. Remove to cooling rack.
This recipe is confusing. Says it makes 12 but calls for 24 peanut butter cups?? Which is correct? There are so many ads and other junk coming up on my screen it makes it hard to follow the recipe, so maybe I’m missing something?
You’re right! That is confusing! It should be 24 servings because the dough does make 24. I was thinking of two cookies as a serving, but I can see why that would be confusing when you’re reading the recipe. I’ve changed it thanks to your feedback.
Which size peanut butter cups?
Full-sized peanut butter cups. Great question, thanks for asking.
Oh, my goodness, these look good. I LOVE your tip about baking them in muffin tins- such a great idea! Thanks for sharing the recipe and tip at Treasure Box Tuesday! ♥
These are going to be popular in my house! Thank you for linking up at Tasty Tuesdays! Your post has been pinned to my Recipes from Tasty Tuesday board. I can’t wait to see what you link up next week!
Have a terrific weekend!
Cathy
APeekIntoMyParadise.com
#TastyTuesdays
Cathy, thanks for pinning my peanut butter cup chocolate cookie recipe! I love the Tasty Tuesday linkup. See you next week.
These make me want to break my diet!
These look delicious!!! Guess what I’m making this weekend? I’m sure your kids are suggesting more practice cookie recipes. Looking forward to the next creation.
Hi Corinne – I would eat this entire batch. My college internship was at the Hershey Reeses Plant and I’ve always had a thing for Reeses Peanut Butter Cups. Put them in a chocolate cookie and I’m melted over! Hugs, Holly
Now I am really craving cookies and it is not even lunch time yet! These cookies would be an instant hit in my house! Love the peanut butter cup in the center!