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Peanut butter cup cookies are homemade peanut butter cookies, baked in a mini muffin tin and stuffed with a mini Reese’s peanut butter cup.

Chocolate and peanut butter are a winning flavor combination and a family favorite in our house. We make Frosted Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats, Peanut Butter Balls with Rice Krispies, Chocolate Peanut Butter No Bake Cookies, and these tasty Reese’s peanut butter cup cookies at least once every holiday baking season. And several times throughout the year as well.

I mean does it get any better than homemade peanut butter cookies stuffed with peanut butter cups?

Peanut Butter Cup Cookies with a mini reese's cup in the center. One had bite taken out of it to show inside of reese's peanut butter cup.

Plus, I love how easy these Reese’s cookies are to make, all in one bowl. No need to combine dry ingredients and wet ingredients separately for this quick and easy cookie recipe!

For another easy Reese’s dessert try my Reese’s peanut butter cup dip recipe.

These mini peanut butter cup cookies will be the star of your Christmas cookie tray, although the delicious cookies are perfect for any time of the year and for any occasion.

Mini peanut butter cup cookies stacked neatly on serving platter

Unlike most cookie recipes, this peanut butter cookie recipe doesn’t call for any butter or flour.

Surprising I know, but trust me on this–they are absolutely delicious!

three peanut butter cup cookies stacked, top cookie cup has bite taken out of it

Ingredients

This section includes ingredient notes and substitution options. Get all measurements, ingredients, and instructions in the printable recipe card at the end of this post.

Mini peanut butter cups– I used Reese’s Mini Peanut Butter Cups
Creamy peanut butter– I recommend using a conventional peanut butter here since they are typically thicker than natural peanut butters. The thicker peanut butter is necessary to hold up the shape of the cookie.
Granulated sugar
Light brown sugar
Baking soda
Large eggs
Pure vanilla extract– if you are using imitation vanilla increase the amount to 2 teaspoons
Fine sea salt – regular table salt works too

Kitchen Supplies

How to Make

This section shows you how to make the recipe with step-by-step photos and instructions. For the full printable recipe, see the recipe card below.

In a large mixing bowl, combine the peanut butter, granulated sugar, light brown sugar, and baking soda. Mix in the eggs, the vanilla extract, and salt.

Two image collage. On left: sugar, brown sugar, peanut butter, and baking soda in mixing bowl with hand mixer next to it. On right: eggs, vanilla, and salt added to cookie batter

Use a medium cookie scoop to portion out equal scoops of batter and roll each scoop into a ball. Place 1 cookie dough ball into each cup of a mini muffin tin.

Two image collage. On left: cookie batter in mixing bowl with hand mixer and mini muffin tin next to it. On right, mini muffin tin filled with evenly-sized cookie dough balls

Bake as directed in the recipe card below.

When you remove the cookies from the oven immediately press a mini peanut butter cup into the center of each cookie.

How to make peanut butter cookie cups with peanut butter cups

Place the muffin tin on top of a wire cooling rack and allow the cookies to cool completely before carefully removing them from the pan.

Tip: You may find it helpful to a butter knife to gently separate the side of cookie cups from the tin.

Peanut butter cup cookies on cooling rack

Storage

Room Temperature: Place the cookies in an airtight container and store at room temperature for up to 4 days.

Freezer: Place baked and cooled cookie cups on a baking sheet and freeze for 1 hour before placing in a freezer bag or other freezer-safe container. The cookies will stay fresh in the freezer for up to 4 weeks. Thaw the cookies or eat them frozen!

peanut butter cookies with peanut butter cups pressed in center. Several cookies are stacked neatly on platter and one is removed and cut in half to show inside.

Tips & Variations

You can replace the Reese’s with another small candy. Try the recipe with Rolos, caramels, mini Snickers, mini Milky Ways, mini Butterfingers, Hershey Kisses, etc…
Prep the dough ahead of time and freeze for up to 3 months. Then simply thaw, bake, and add your mini peanut butter cups.
For a short cut you can use a bag of peanut butter cookie mix or ready-to-bake peanut butter cookie dough.

More Must-Try Cookie Recipes

Recipe

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