Sweet Peanut Butter Cup Cookies Recipe with a Chocolate Center

Irresistible sweet peanut butter cup cookies combine decadent chocolate and creamy nutty flavors in a delightful treat that sparks instant cravings.

Each bite promises a perfect balance between rich, velvety chocolate and smooth peanut butter undertones.

Homemade cookies offer comfort and nostalgia, transporting you to childhood memories of classic dessert indulgences.

These cookies represent more than a simple recipe—they embody a delectable experience that redefines ordinary moments into extraordinary sensations.

Soft, chewy textures and melting chocolate create a sensory symphony that delights taste buds and warms hearts.

Baking these cookies redefines your kitchen into a welcoming sanctuary filled with incredible aromas and anticipation.

The magic happens when carefully selected ingredients meld together, promising an unforgettable culinary adventure.

Storing Your Peanut Butter Cup Cookies with Care

• Refrigeration: Store cooled cookies in an airtight container lined with parchment paper between layers to prevent sticking, keeping them fresh for up to 5 days.
• Freezing: Wrap individual cookies tightly in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer-safe container or ziplock bag, preserving their delicious taste for up to 3 months.
• Reheating: Warm refrigerated or thawed cookies in the microwave for 10-15 seconds, or in a preheated 325°F oven for 3-4 minutes to restore their soft, gooey texture and bring back the melt-in-your-mouth experience.

Pairings That Match Sweet Peanut Butter Cookies

• Pair with Cold Milk: Creamy, chilled whole milk perfectly balances the rich, sweet peanut butter cookie. The cool liquid cuts through the intense chocolate and peanut butter flavors, creating a refreshing contrast that enhances each delicious bite.
• Complement with Vanilla Ice Cream: Serve these warm cookies alongside a scoop of smooth vanilla ice cream. The cold, creamy dessert melds beautifully with the warm, gooey cookie, offering a delightful temperature and texture experience that chocolate and peanut butter lovers will adore.
• Match with Espresso: A shot of strong espresso provides a robust, slightly bitter counterpoint to the cookie's sweetness. The deep coffee notes highlight the chocolate and peanut butter flavors, creating a sophisticated dessert pairing that feels like a gourmet treat.
• Create a Dessert Platter: Arrange cookies with fresh strawberries and a small drizzle of caramel sauce. The fruit's tartness and caramel's richness add depth and complexity to the already decadent peanut butter cup cookies.

Ways to Switch Up Your Peanut Butter Cup Cookies

• Chocolate Chunk Fusion: Replace Reese's peanut butter cups with dark chocolate chunks for a rich, intense flavor profile that complements the peanut butter base.
• Nutty Almond Remix: Swap half the peanut butter with almond butter and sprinkle crushed almonds on top for a nutty, crunchy alternative that adds depth to the original recipe.
• Salted Caramel Edition: Drizzle homemade caramel sauce over the finished cookies and sprinkle sea salt flakes to create a sweet-salty combination that elevates the classic peanut butter cookie experience.
• Gluten-Free Comfort: Use gluten-free flour blend instead of regular flour and certified gluten-free peanut butter cups to make the recipe accessible for those with dietary restrictions while maintaining the same delicious texture and taste.

Why Sweet Peanut Butter Cup Cookies Are So Addictive

• Irresistible Flavor Explosion: Packed with rich peanut butter and decadent Reese's cups, these cookies deliver an incredible taste that combines sweet, salty, and chocolate notes in every single bite.
• Bakery-Quality Texture Magic: The recipe creates perfectly soft and chewy cookies with crispy edges, complemented by chunks of chocolate and peanut butter cups that provide delightful textural contrast.
• Quick and Easy Indulgence: Designed for minimal effort with straightforward steps, this recipe takes just 30 minutes from start to finish, making it perfect for spontaneous baking sessions or satisfying sudden dessert cravings.
• Crowd-Pleasing Comfort Treat: These cookies are universally appealing, suitable for kids and adults alike, great for potlucks, family gatherings, or weekend baking projects that guarantee smiles and second helpings.

What You’ll Need for Peanut Butter Cup Cookies

• Smooth Peanut Butter: Creamy base that provides rich peanut flavor and helps bind the cookie dough.
• Butter: Softened butter adds richness and helps create a tender cookie texture.
• Brown Sugar, Granulated Sugar: Combination of sugars provides sweetness and helps create a chewy cookie.
• Egg: Binds ingredients together and adds moisture to the cookie dough.
• Vanilla Extract: Enhances overall flavor with its warm, sweet aroma.

• All-Purpose Flour: Main structural ingredient that provides the cookie's foundation.
• Baking Powder, Baking Soda: Leavening agents that help the cookies rise and become light.
• Corn Starch: Helps create a softer, more tender cookie texture.
• Salt: Balances sweetness and enhances the overall flavor profile.

• Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, Reese's Peanut Butter Chips: Classic candy that adds chocolate and peanut butter flavor throughout the cookie.
• Vegetable or Canola Oil: Helps melt the peanut butter chips for drizzling and creates a smooth consistency.

How to Bake Sweet Cookies with Peanut Butter Cups

Step 1: Warm Up The Oven

Crank your oven to 350°F (175°C).

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Step 2: Create Cookie Magic

• Butter
• Peanut butter
• Brown sugar
• Granulated sugar

Whip until silky smooth.

Crack in the egg and splash vanilla extract.

Mix until everything hugs together.

Step 3: Combine Dry Ingredients

In another bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, cornstarch, and salt.

Slowly incorporate dry ingredients into wet mixture.

Stir until just combined.

Step 4: Add Peanut Butter Cup Surprise

Roughly chop Reese’s peanut butter cups.

Gently fold chunks into cookie dough.

Step 5: Shape Delicious Discs

Use a cookie scoop to create 9 uniform dough balls.

Roll each ball between palms.

Flatten to about 1-inch thickness.

Place on prepared baking sheet.

Freeze for 15 minutes.

Step 6: Bake To Golden Perfection

Slide baking sheet into preheated oven.

Bake 12-13 minutes until edges turn golden.

Step 7: Create Decadent Topping

Microwave peanut butter chips with vegetable oil.

Heat in 30-second bursts.

Stir between intervals until smooth.

Step 8: Drizzle And Decorate

Pour melted chips over hot cookies.

Spread evenly.

Sprinkle additional chopped peanut butter cups on top.

Step 9: Cool And Enjoy

Let cookies chill completely on baking sheet.

Serve and savor every delicious bite!

Pro Tips for Chewy, Chocolatey Cookie Bites

• Chill for Perfection: Freezing the cookie dough before baking helps prevent spreading and creates a thicker, chewier texture.
• Measure Precisely: Use exact measurements for flour and sugar to ensure consistent cookie texture and prevent dryness.
• Chop Carefully: Cut Reese's peanut butter cups into chunky, uneven pieces for bursts of flavor and interesting texture in each bite.
• Melt with Caution: Microwave peanut butter chips slowly and stir frequently to prevent burning and achieve a smooth drizzle.
• Cool Completely: Let cookies cool entirely on the baking sheet to allow them to set properly and develop a perfect chewy consistency.

Sweet Peanut Butter Cup Cookies Recipe

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4.8 from 28 reviews

• Total Time: 35 minutes
• Yield: 24 1x

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Description

Irresistible peanut butter cup cookies deliver pure chocolate and peanut butter bliss in one delightful bite. Chocolate lovers will savor rich layers of creamy peanut butter nestled within classic cookie perfection you can’t resist.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Dry Ingredients:

• 1 ⅓ cups all-purpose flour
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• 1 tablespoon corn starch
• ¼ teaspoon salt

Wet Ingredients and Sweeteners:

• ½ cup smooth peanut butter
• ½ cup butter, softened
• ½ cup brown sugar
• ⅓ cup granulated sugar
• 1 egg, at room temperature
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Toppings and Mix-ins:

• 1 cup Reese’s peanut butter cups, roughly chopped (about 10 Reese’s)
• ⅔ cup Reese’s peanut butter chips
• 1 ½ teaspoons vegetable or canola oil

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Instructions

1. Prepare the oven environment by heating to 350°F and lining a baking sheet with parchment paper, ensuring an ideal baking surface.
2. Create a smooth, creamy base by thoroughly blending butter, peanut butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until fully integrated.
3. Enhance the mixture’s richness by incorporating egg and vanilla extract, stirring until the texture becomes uniform and glossy.
4. Develop the dry foundation by whisking flour, baking powder, baking soda, corn starch, and salt in a separate container to eliminate potential lumps.
5. Merge the dry ingredients with the creamy mixture, gently folding until just combined to maintain a tender cookie texture.
6. Introduce chopped Reese’s peanut butter cups into the dough, distributing them evenly for consistent flavor throughout.
7. Shape the cookies by portioning nine uniform dough balls, rolling them between palms and flattening to approximately one-inch thickness.
8. Chill the formed cookies by placing them on the prepared sheet and freezing for 15 minutes to enhance structural integrity.
9. Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 12-13 minutes, watching for golden-brown edges as a signal of perfect doneness.
10. Simultaneously prepare a luxurious topping by melting peanut butter chips with oil, using short microwave intervals and stirring between each to achieve a smooth consistency.
11. Transform the hot cookies by generously drizzling and spreading the melted peanut butter chip mixture across their surface.
12. Garnish the cookies with an additional sprinkle of chopped Reese’s peanut butter cups, creating visual appeal and extra flavor complexity.
13. Allow the cookies to cool completely on the baking sheet, enabling the topping to set and flavors to fully develop before serving.

Notes

• Craving a decadent dessert that combines the irresistible flavors of peanut butter and chocolate? Look no further than these indulgent Sweet Peanut Butter Cup Cookies.
• Freezing the cookie dough before baking helps prevent spreading and ensures a perfectly thick, chewy texture that chocolate lovers will adore.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 15 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 24
• Calories: 230
• Sugar: 14 g
• Sodium: 160 mg
• Fat: 12 g
• Saturated Fat: 5 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 29 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 4 g
• Cholesterol: 25 mg