When my son brought home a bag of candy eyeballs from his school’s Halloween party, I knew exactly what I had to make: Peanut Butter Spider Cookies! These little treats are as fun to make as they are to eat, a perfect mix of spooky and sweet.
These cookies are incredibly easy to make, which is perfect for busy weeknights or a last-minute Halloween party treat. With just a few ingredients and a touch of creativity, you’ll have a batch of creepy-crawly cookies ready to impress. Let’s get baking!
Why You’ll Love It
These Peanut Butter Spider Cookies are a Halloween hit for good reason! They’re incredibly easy to make, requiring no baking and minimal effort. The combination of peanut butter cookies, Reese’s peanut butter cups, and chocolate is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser, appealing to both kids and adults. Plus, they’re just so darn cute and spooky! The candy eyes staring back at you add a playful touch, making them a fun and festive treat for any Halloween gathering.
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Peanut Butter Spider Cookies
- Total Time: 15 mins
- Yield: 12 cookies
Description
For perfectly melted chocolate, use a double boiler or the microwave, stirring every 30 seconds to prevent burning. Transfer the melted chocolate to a piping bag or a Ziploc bag with a tiny corner snipped off for easy drizzling. If you’re short on time, melt some chocolate chips in the microwave for a quick fix. For more helpful tips, check out our Breakfast recipes.
Ingredients
- Peanut butter cookies
- Semi-sweet chocolate
- Mini Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups
- Candy eyeballs (optional)
Instructions
- Melt the semi-sweet chocolate in a double boiler or in the microwave, stirring every 30 seconds until smooth. Transfer the melted chocolate to a piping bag or a Ziploc bag with a tiny corner snipped off.
- Place a small dot of melted chocolate in the center of each peanut butter cookie. Press a mini Reese’s peanut butter cup on top of the chocolate dot, securing it in place.
- Using the piping bag or Ziploc bag, create eight spider legs with the melted chocolate, four on each side of the peanut butter cup. Let the chocolate set slightly.
- If using candy eyeballs, dab a bit of melted chocolate onto the front of each Reese’s peanut butter cup. Gently press two mini candy eyeballs onto the chocolate.
- Let the chocolate legs and eyes set completely before serving. These cookies will keep at room temperature for up to 5 days, or in the freezer for up to 2 months. Enjoy your spooky spider treats!
Notes
These Peanut Butter Spider Cookies are sure to be a hit, bringing smiles and maybe a few happy shrieks to your Halloween gathering. They’re a delightful blend of spooky and sweet, perfect for little monsters and grown-up ghoulfriends alike. If you give these creepy-crawly treats a try, I’d love to hear how it goes! Share your spooky creations over on Instagram! Don’t forget to check our Dessert category for more inspiration and fun treats. You can also find me on Facebook and Pinterest for more culinary adventures.
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 0 mins
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
What You’ll Need
Here’s everything you’ll need to craft these spooky-sweet treats. Don’t worry, the list is short and sweet—just like these delightful cookies!
- 12 peanut butter cookies (store-bought or homemade – check our Desserts category for delicious homemade recipes!)
- 12 mini Reese’s peanut butter cups
- 1/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate, melted
- Optional: 24 mini candy eyeballs
Let’s talk a bit about the stars of this recipe! The peanut butter cookies form the base, providing that classic nutty taste and chewy texture. The mini Reese’s peanut butter cups turn into adorable spider bodies, and the melted chocolate becomes the stuff of creepy-crawly legs. The candy eyeballs? They’re the finishing touch, bringing these spooky spiders to life!
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Melt the Chocolate
Melt the semi-sweet chocolate in a double boiler or in the microwave, stirring every 30 seconds until smooth. Transfer the melted chocolate to a piping bag or a Ziploc bag with a tiny corner snipped off.
Step 2: Assemble the Spiders
Place a small dot of melted chocolate in the center of each peanut butter cookie. Press a mini Reese’s peanut butter cup on top of the chocolate dot, securing it in place.
Step 3: Create the Spider Legs
Using the piping bag or Ziploc bag, create eight spider legs with the melted chocolate, four on each side of the peanut butter cup. Let the chocolate set slightly.
Step 4: Add the Eyes (Optional)
If using candy eyeballs, dab a bit of melted chocolate onto the front of each Reese’s peanut butter cup. Gently press two mini candy eyeballs onto the chocolate.
Step 5: Set and Enjoy!
Let the chocolate legs and eyes set completely before serving. These cookies will keep at room temperature for up to 5 days, or in the freezer for up to 2 months. Enjoy your spooky spider treats!
Better-Than-Grandma Tips
For perfectly melted chocolate, use a double boiler or the microwave, stirring every 30 seconds to prevent burning. Transfer the melted chocolate to a piping bag or a Ziploc bag with a tiny corner snipped off for easy drizzling. If you’re short on time, melt some chocolate chips in the microwave for a quick fix. For more helpful tips, check out our Breakfast recipes.
Make It Your Way
These Peanut Butter Spider Cookies are easily customizable. Feeling adventurous? Swap the peanut butter cups for other small candies like caramel or mint chocolates. Use white chocolate for the legs to create ghostly spiders. Want more seasonal treats? Check our Dinner recipes.
No matter how you choose to customize these creepy crawlers, they’re sure to be a delicious and festive addition to your Halloween celebrations.
How do I store these Peanut Butter Spider Cookies?
These cookies are best stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. For longer storage, freeze them for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before serving.
Can I use different types of cookies for the base?
Absolutely! While the recipe calls for store-bought or homemade peanut butter cookies, you can substitute with other cookies like oatmeal, chocolate chip, or even sugar cookies. Just keep in mind the flavor combinations when pairing with the peanut butter cups and chocolate drizzle.
What can I use as a substitute for mini Reese’s peanut butter cups?
If you don’t have mini Reese’s peanut butter cups, you can use other small chocolate candies, like Rolos or even chocolate chips. You can also use regular-sized peanut butter cups and cut them into smaller pieces. Just make sure they’re small enough to fit on top of the cookies and look proportionate to the spider legs.
How difficult is it to make these cookies?
These cookies are relatively easy to make and don’t require a lot of baking expertise. The most challenging part is melting the chocolate and creating the spider legs, but even that’s not too difficult with a piping bag or a zip-top bag with a small corner snipped off. Kids can definitely help with assembling the spiders, making it a fun Halloween activity for the whole family.
How to Serve
These Peanut Butter Spider Cookies are perfect for Halloween parties, classroom treats, or a spooky movie night at home. Serve them on a festive platter with other Halloween goodies, like candy corn and ghost-shaped pretzels. For an added touch, present them on a web of cotton candy! Looking for more spooky snacks? Check out our Lunch recipes for more ideas.
That’s a Wrap
These Peanut Butter Spider Cookies are sure to be a hit, bringing smiles and maybe a few happy shrieks to your Halloween gathering. They’re a delightful blend of spooky and sweet, perfect for little monsters and grown-up ghoulfriends alike. If you give these creepy-crawly treats a try, I’d love to hear how it goes! Share your spooky creations over on Instagram! Don’t forget to check our Dessert category for more inspiration and fun treats. You can also find me on Facebook and Pinterest for more culinary adventures.
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