This post may contain affiliate links. Read our disclosure policy.

These chewy Reese’s peanut butter cup cookies feature a perfectly tender peanut butter cookie surrounding your favorite chocolate peanut butter candy. They’re exactly like classic peanut butter blossoms, but with a peanut butter cup!

​Peanut butter lovers, try flourless oatmeal peanut butter cookies, peanut butter cookies bars, and peanut butter Ritz cookies next.

a bite taken out of a peanut butter cup cookie next to more on a countertop
Save this Recipe!
Enter your email & I’ll send it straight to your inbox.
Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.

Who could say no to chewy peanut butter cookies with more peanut butter and chocolate inside? This recipe could take down even the most intense pb craving.

Peanut butter cookies are some of my favorites. I love the chewy texture of flourless oatmeal peanut butter cookies and peanut butter cookie bars. If you love Crumble cookies peanut butter cup cookies, you’ll love these mini cookies—they have all the same flavors!

​Why You’ll Love these Peanut Butter Cup Cookies

  • Ultra soft and chewy
  • Perfect amount of peanut butter flavor.
  • Easy and versatile dough.
  • No chilling required.
  • Makes a lot of cookies in one batch!
  • Such a crowd pleaser.
  • Classic Christmas cookie for cookie boxes.
peanut butter cup cookies in a mini muffin tin

How to Make Peanut Butter Cup Cookies

Here are the basic steps, with images, for these Reese’s peanut butter cookie cups recipe. Skip down to the recipe card below for the full printable recipe.

butter, peanut butter, and sugar beaten in a mixing bowl

Step 1. Combine Wet Ingredients. Beat the butter and sugar. Add the sugar and cream until fluffy. Add the egg, milk, and vanilla and beat well.

peanut butter cookie dough in a stand mixer

Step 2. Add Dry Ingredients. Combine the dry ingredients in a separate bowl and mix until the dough forms.

peanut butter cookie dough rolled in sugar and inside mini muffin tins.

Step 3. Roll in Sugar. Use a heaping teaspoon to scoop the peanut butter cookie dough and roll them in sugar.

baked peanut butter cookies in mini muffin tins.

Step 4. Bake. Place the cookie dough balls in a greased mini muffin tin. Bake for 7-9 minutes, until puffed and golden.

pressing a reese's peanut butter cup into a peanut butter cookie.

Step 3. Press Reese’s Into Center. Press a miniature Reese’s into the center of each cookie right out of the oven.

reese's peanut butter cookie cups cooling in a mini muffin tin.

Step 4. Cool. Allow the cookies to cool for 10 minutes in the muffin tin then transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely.

Expert Tips

  • Don’t overbake them! They’re small cookies so they bake fast. They’ll be dry and slightly crumbly if overbaked.
  • Don’t overfill the muffin tins. A little goes a long way.
  • These cookies bake fast— remove the wrappers from the Reese’s before baking so you’re ready to press them into the cookies.
  • Cool them completely before serving. The warm cookies will melt the candy and it needs to set again before serving. Pop them in the fridge or freezer to speed this up.

If you don’t have a mini muffin pan on hand, you can make them on a baking sheet just like peanut butter blossoms. We’ll also be making them a little larger!

How to make them on a cookie sheet: Follow the instructions to make the dough. Use a small cookie scoop (about 1 heaping Tablespoon) to scoop and roll them in sugar. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat and bake for 8-10 minutes. Place the miniature reeses in the baked cookies right out of the oven.

How to Store and Freeze

Store baked cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week. You can chill the cookie dough covered in the fridge for up to 4 days.

To freeze baked cookies, allow them to cool completely until the pb cups are set. Store in a freezer bag or airtight container for up to three months. 

To freeze the cookie dough, follow the steps to make the dough and scoop into balls, without rolling in sugar. You can bake the cookie dough directly from frozen. Roll the frozen dough in sugar and bake as directed, adding an extra minute to the bake time.

More Holiday Cookies

Looking for more? Subscribe to my newsletter and follow along on Instagram or TikTok.

Tap stars to rate!
5 from 4 votes

Peanut Butter Cup Cookies

Prep: 20 minutes
Cook: 9 minutes
Total: 29 minutes
These thick and chewy peanut butter cup cookies surround a chocolate peanut butter Reese's cup for the ultimate peanut butter cookies. They're exactly like classic peanut butter blossoms, but with a peanut butter cup!

Save this Recipe!

Enter your email and we’ll send it directly to you.
Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.
Servings: 24 cookies

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour gluten-free if needed (Note 1)
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter softened to room temperature
  • 3/4 cup creamy peanut butter (Note 2)
  • 1/3 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 1 egg at room temperature
  • 1 Tablespoon milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup extra sugar for rolling
  • 24 Reese's miniature peanut butter cups unwrapped

Instructions 

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F degrees. Spray a 24-count (or 2 12-count) mini muffin tin with nonstick spray and set aside.
  • Unwrap all of the Reese’s peanut butter cups.
    24 Reese's miniature peanut butter cups
  • Whisk the flour, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl.
    1 1/2 cups all purpose flour, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • In a large bowl using a electric mixer or a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter and peanut butter together until well combined, 1-2 minutes. Add the white sugar and brown sugar and beat until light and fluffy, at least 2-3 minutes.
    1/2 cup unsalted butter, 3/4 cup creamy peanut butter, 1/3 cup granulated sugar, 1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
  • With the mixer on medium low speed, add the egg, milk and vanilla and beat until combined.
    1 egg, 1 Tablespoon milk, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Turn the mixer on low and gradually add the dry ingredients, scraping down the bottom and sides of the bowl as needed. Continue to mix until full incorporated.
  • Place the extra cup of granulated sugar in a small bowl. Use a heaping teaspoon to scoop the dough and roll them into 1-inch balls. Roll each ball in the sugar and place them in the prepared muffin tin.
    1 cup extra sugar
  • Bake them for 7-9 minutes, until puffed and slightly golden around the edges. Immediately press the unwrapped Reese’s peanut butter cups into the center of each cookie, so that the candy is inside and the cookie comes up and around the edges.
  • Cool them in the pan for 10 minutes then use a knife of fork to pop the cookies out of the tins and transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely. The Reese’s cups will melt and harden again as they cool.
Last step! If you make this, please leave a review letting us know how it was!

Notes

Note 1. Flour. Always weigh your ingredients, especially the flour, whenever possible for best results. We tested this recipe with Bob’s Red Mill Gluten-Free 1:1 Baking Flour (which includes xanthan gum) and it worked perfectly.
Note 2. Peanut Butter. Use a no stir, thick, peanut butter, like JIF. Natural peanut butter that is drippy and needs stir will yield a different consistency that i don’t recommend!
Note 3. Mini Muffin Pan. You can make this recipe on a standard baking sheet if you don’t have a mini muffin tin. Chill the dough for 1 hour to ensure they don’t spread on the pan. Scoop 1 Tablespoon of dough out onto a parchment-lined baking sheet, roll in sugar, and bake for 8-10 minutes, or until puffed and set.
 

Equipment

  • 24-count (or 2 12-count) mini muffin pan (Note 3 Sheet Pan)

Nutrition

Serving: 1cookie | Calories: 167kcal | Carbohydrates: 16.2g | Protein: 3.5g | Fat: 10.4g | Cholesterol: 165mg | Sodium: 165.1mg | Fiber: 0.8g | Sugar: 9.7g | Vitamin A: 36.9IU

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

5 from 4 votes (3 ratings without comment)

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




3 Comments

  1. Lori Zapotocky says:

    Can the Peanut Butter Cup cookies be frozen after baking? Thank you.

    1. Molly Thompson says:

      Yes they can! Freeze them in an air tight container for up to 3 months.

  2. Alyssa Overs says:

    5 stars
    Great classic recipe I use each year!