Ultimate Reese’s Peanut Butter Cookies: Loaded with Pieces and Mini Cups for an Explosive Flavor

Prepare yourself for an extraordinary treat that will delight any peanut butter enthusiast – the Ultimate Reese’s Peanut Butter Cookies! If you’re someone who simply can’t get enough of the iconic combination of peanut butter and chocolate, these cookies are meticulously crafted to deliver an unparalleled flavor experience. Imagine sinking your teeth into a soft, chewy peanut butter cookie, intensely flavored with genuine Reese’s Peanut Butter, generously studded with crunchy Reese’s Pieces throughout, and then gloriously crowned with a melted Reese’s Mini Cup right out of the oven. It’s a triple threat of Reese’s goodness!

These aren’t just any peanut butter cookies; they are designed for an intense peanut butter flavor that truly stands out. The cookie dough itself is a masterpiece of texture – incredibly fluffy, wonderfully moist, and never dry or crumbly. Each bite offers a harmonious blend of rich peanut butter, sweet chocolate, and a satisfying crunch from the Reese’s Pieces. This unique combination ensures a complex and utterly irresistible taste sensation that will have you reaching for another, and another!

Don’t just take my word for it! These delicious Reese’s peanut butter cookies have been rigorously taste-tested by my toughest critics – my friends and work colleagues. The verdict? They vanished in under three hours, a testament to their addictive deliciousness and universal appeal. Such a rapid disappearance confirms their status as a crowd-pleaser and a guaranteed hit at any gathering, party, or even just a cozy night in.

So, if you’re ready to elevate your baking game and treat yourself and your loved ones to something truly spectacular, don’t hesitate. Grab your apron, gather your ingredients, and let’s embark on this delightful journey into peanut butter madness! You’re about to discover your new favorite cookie recipe.

🥘 Ingredients for Irresistible Reese’s Cookies

Crafting the perfect Reese’s Peanut Butter Cookie starts with selecting the right ingredients. Each component plays a vital role in achieving that intense peanut butter flavor and the ideal chewy-yet-fluffy texture. Here’s a detailed look at what you’ll need to create these irresistible treats:

• Cake Flour: This type of flour, lower in protein than all-purpose, is key to achieving a wonderfully soft and tender cookie crumb. If you’re looking for a slightly richer, nuttier flavor profile, spelt flour makes an excellent alternative, adding a wholesome depth to your cookies.
• Brown and White Sugar: The combination of both sugars is crucial. Brown sugar contributes moisture, chewiness, and a slight caramel note, while white granulated sugar provides structure, crisp edges, and essential sweetness. This blend creates a perfectly balanced cookie.
• Baking Powder: Our essential leavening agent, baking powder ensures your cookies achieve that desirable fluffy texture and a slight rise, preventing them from being too dense.
• Vanilla Sugar: For an authentic and aromatic touch, vanilla sugar is highly recommended. Homemade vanilla sugar, infused with real vanilla bean, offers a fragrant depth that elevates the overall flavor. You can easily make your own with this simple recipe!
• Cocoa Powder: A subtle hint of cocoa powder in the dough not only enhances the color but also complements the chocolate in the Reese’s elements, deepening the overall flavor profile. While any good quality cocoa powder will work, opting for Criollo cocoa powder will deliver a superior, more intense chocolate flavor, making these cookies even more decadent.
• Peanut Butter: This is the star of the show! For that unmistakable, authentic Reese’s taste, we highly recommend using Reese’s Creamy Peanut Butter. Its unique, sweet, and slightly salty profile is what sets these cookies apart.
• Butter (Softened): Softened butter is vital for proper creaming with the sugars, creating a light and airy base for your cookie dough. Ensure it’s at room temperature for easy mixing and optimal texture.
• Egg (Size M): A medium-sized egg acts as a binder, adding moisture and structure to the dough, helping all the ingredients come together beautifully for the right consistency.
• Milk: A touch of milk helps to achieve the perfect dough consistency, ensuring it’s neither too dry nor too sticky, and aids in binding all the flavorful components.
• Reese’s Mini Cups and Pieces: This dynamic duo delivers the ultimate Reese’s experience. The vibrant Reese’s Pieces are mixed directly into the dough, providing bursts of crunchy peanut butter candy in every bite. The miniature Reese’s Mini Cups are pressed on top of the warm cookies immediately after baking, melting slightly to create that iconic, gooey peanut butter cup topping.

For precise measurements and detailed instructions, please refer to the complete recipe card provided below.

🔪 Step-by-Step Instructions for Perfect Reese’s Cookies

Follow these simple steps to create perfectly soft, chewy, and utterly delicious Reese’s Peanut Butter Cookies. Precision in each stage ensures the best possible texture and flavor:

1. Prepare Dry Ingredients: In a medium mixing bowl, combine the cake flour and baking powder. Sieve this mixture thoroughly. This crucial step helps to aerate the flour, removing any lumps and ensuring that the leavening agent is evenly distributed, leading to a lighter, more consistent cookie texture.
2. Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the remaining ingredients to the mixing bowl. This includes the brown and white sugar, vanilla sugar, a pinch of cocoa powder, Reese’s peanut butter, softened butter, egg, milk, and the Reese’s Pieces. It’s important to add these one by one to ensure they are properly incorporated. Remember to reserve the Reese’s Mini Cups for topping after baking.
3. Knead the Dough: Using a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook (or a paddle attachment), knead the mixture until a cohesive dough forms. The dough should be soft but manageable. If you find the dough appears too dry or crumbly at this stage, add a small amount of extra peanut butter (about a teaspoon at a time) until it reaches the desired consistency. Avoid over-kneading.
4. Chill the Dough: Once the dough is formed, wrap it tightly in cling film. Place the wrapped dough in the refrigerator and chill for a minimum of 1 hour. This chilling period is essential; it allows the flavors to meld, prevents the cookies from spreading too much during baking, and makes the dough easier to handle.



5. Handle Chilled Dough: After chilling, it is perfectly normal for the dough to have a crumbly consistency. Do not be alarmed! This is expected and will not negatively impact your cookies. The fat in the peanut butter and butter solidifies, making it appear less cohesive.
6. Shape the Cookies: Using a small teaspoon or a cookie scoop, portion out pieces of the chilled dough. Roll these portions into small, uniform balls. Aim for consistency in size to ensure even baking.
7. Prepare for Baking: Arrange the dough balls on a baking tray lined with parchment paper, leaving enough space between them for slight spreading. Gently flatten each dough ball slightly with the palm of your hand or the back of a spoon. This helps them bake evenly and gives them that classic cookie shape.





8. Bake to Perfection: Preheat your oven to 180°C (356°F) and bake the Reese’s pieces cookies for 8-10 minutes. Use top or bottom heat settings. Keep a close eye on them; they should be lightly golden brown around the edges but still soft in the center. Overbaking can lead to dry cookies.
9. Add Reese’s Mini Cups: The moment they emerge from the oven, while still warm and soft, gently press one Reese’s mini cup onto the center of each cookie. The residual heat will slightly melt the chocolate and peanut butter cup, creating a luscious, gooey topping that enhances both the flavor and visual appeal.





10. Cool and Serve: Allow the Reese’s cookies to cool completely on a wire cooling rack. This allows them to firm up and prevents them from becoming soggy. Once cooled, they are ready to be devoured!
    

    

🍪 Substitutions for Your Reese’s Peanut Butter Cookies

While this recipe is designed to create the ultimate Reese’s Peanut Butter Cookie, sometimes dietary needs, preferences, or simply what you have on hand might call for substitutions. Here’s how you can adapt the recipe without compromising too much on flavor and texture:

• Cake Flour: If cake flour isn’t available, all-purpose flour can be used as a direct substitute, though your cookies might be slightly chewier rather than tender. For those seeking a more robust, nutty flavor profile, spelt flour is an excellent choice that also adds a touch of whole-grain goodness.
• Brown and White Sugar: To adjust the sweetness or for alternative dietary considerations, coconut sugar can replace both brown and white sugar, offering a deeper, caramel-like flavor with a slightly less intense sweetness. Maple syrup or honey can also be used, but be aware that liquid sweeteners will alter the dough’s consistency, potentially requiring a slight increase in dry ingredients. Agave syrup is another option, similar to maple syrup in its impact on texture.
• Baking Powder: If you’re out of baking powder, baking soda can work as an alternative. However, baking soda requires an acidic ingredient (like vinegar, lemon juice, or buttermilk) to activate properly. You’ll typically use about 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda for every 1 teaspoon of baking powder, and ensure an acid is present in the recipe.
• Vanilla Sugar: For a quick and easy substitute, use pure vanilla extract (about 1 teaspoon per 1/2 teaspoon vanilla sugar) or vanilla bean paste for a more intense vanilla flavor. If using extract and concerned about sweetness, you might add an extra pinch of granulated sugar.
• Cocoa Powder: Dutch-processed cocoa powder will give a darker color and a milder, less acidic chocolate flavor, while natural cocoa powder will provide a richer, slightly more bitter chocolate taste. If you’re looking for a caffeine-free alternative or a different flavor, carob powder is a viable substitute, though its taste is distinct from cocoa.
• Peanut Butter: For those with peanut allergies or who prefer other nut flavors, almond butter, cashew butter, or sunflower seed butter (SunButter) are excellent alternatives. Ensure they are creamy and not overly oily for the best cookie texture.
• Butter, Soft: To make these cookies dairy-free or vegan, margarine, a high-quality vegan butter, or even coconut oil (solidified at room temperature) can be used. Be mindful that coconut oil may impart a subtle coconut flavor.
• Egg, size M: For a vegan option, a flax egg (1 tablespoon ground flaxseed mixed with 3 tablespoons water, allowed to sit for 5 minutes until gel-like) or a chia egg works wonderfully as a binder. Alternatively, 1/4 cup of unsweetened applesauce or mashed banana can replace one egg, though they may add a slight flavor and extra moisture to the cookies.
• Milk: Any plant-based milk such as almond milk, soy milk, oat milk, or cashew milk can be used as a direct 1:1 substitute for regular milk, making the recipe dairy-free if other substitutions are also made.
• Reese’s mini cups and pieces: If Reese’s products aren’t available or you’re seeking variation, other chocolate candies like M&M’s, regular chocolate chips (milk, dark, or white), or even homemade peanut butter cups can be incorporated. The key is to add small, flavorful bursts to the dough and a decorative topping for that extra indulgence.

💕 Perfect Pairings for Your Reese’s Peanut Butter Cookies

These decadent Reese’s Peanut Butter Cookies are rich, sweet, and incredibly satisfying on their own, but they truly shine when paired with the right beverage. Here are some perfect drink accompaniments that will elevate your cookie experience:

• Old Fashioned: The sophisticated notes of a timeless whiskey cocktail, featuring a balanced blend of bitters, sugar, and a citrus twist, offer a wonderful counterpoint to the cookies’ sweetness. The warmth of bourbon beautifully complements the deep peanut butter and chocolate flavors.
• Maple Old Fashioned: For a cozier twist, a Maple Old Fashioned incorporates the warm, sweet flavor of maple syrup. This rich cocktail mirrors the cookies’ comforting sweetness and adds an extra layer of complexity that’s perfect for a treat.
• Eggnog Coffee: A festive and creamy combination of rich eggnog and bold coffee, this pairing offers a delightful blend of holiday spices and robust coffee notes that cut through the richness of the cookies while enhancing their indulgent profile.
• Eggnog Hot Chocolate: For an extra decadent holiday treat, combining the creamy richness of eggnog with the velvety smoothness of hot chocolate creates a luxurious beverage. Its sweetness and creaminess are a match made in heaven with these peanut butter cookies.
• Cointreau Coffee: This sophisticated blend of bold coffee and the citrusy sweetness of Cointreau liqueur offers an unexpected but harmonious pairing. The orange notes of Cointreau provide a bright contrast to the cookies’ richness, making each bite more exciting.
• Lumumba – Hot Chocolate with Rum: A luscious and warming drink, Lumumba marries rich hot chocolate with the smooth kick of rum. The warmth of the rum and the deep chocolate notes make it an ideal companion for the peanut butter and chocolate intensity of the cookies.
• Scotch Coffee: A robust and smoky cocktail combining the strong flavors of Scotch whiskey with rich coffee. The bold, smoky notes of the Scotch provide a striking and interesting contrast to the sweet, nutty flavors of the Reese’s cookies.

🍽 Essential Equipment for Perfect Reese’s Peanut Butter Cookies

Having the right tools can make all the difference in your baking process, ensuring efficiency and perfect results. Here’s the equipment you’ll need to create these fantastic cookies:

• KitchenAid Stand Mixer with Dough Hook: A stand mixer is invaluable for effortlessly combining and kneading the cookie dough to the perfect consistency, saving you time and effort. The dough hook attachment is ideal for achieving a smooth, well-mixed dough.
• Sieve: Essential for sifting your dry ingredients, a sieve ensures a lump-free flour mixture and an even distribution of baking powder, contributing to the cookies’ light and airy texture.
• Cling Film: Used to wrap and chill the cookie dough, cling film is vital for preventing the dough from drying out and for allowing the flavors to fully develop during refrigeration.
• Small Teaspoon or Cookie Scoop: For portioning out uniform cookie dough balls, ensuring all your cookies bake evenly and have a consistent size.
• Baking Sheet with Parchment Paper: A reliable baking sheet covered with parchment paper prevents sticking and promotes even baking, making cleanup a breeze.
• Cooling Rack: Crucial for allowing your freshly baked cookies to cool properly, preventing them from becoming soggy and ensuring they achieve the perfect texture.
• Airtight Cookie Jar: For storing your delicious cookies, keeping them fresh and soft for longer periods.

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📖 Recipe Card

Ultimate Reese’s Peanut Butter Cookies

Nora

Indulge in these decadent peanut butter cookies, made with creamy Reese’s Peanut Butter, packed with Reese’s Pieces, and topped with mini Reese’s cups. Perfect for any peanut butter lover, each bite is a delightful blend of rich flavors and textures.

5 from 5 votes

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Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Chilling Time 1 hour hr

Total Time 1 hour hr 30 minutes mins

Course Cookies, Sweet snack

Cuisine American

Servings 30 Cookies

Calories 138 kcal

Equipment

• KitchenAid stand mixer with dough hook
• Sieve
• Cling film
• Teaspoon
• Baking sheet with parchment paper
• Cooling Rack
• Cookie jar

Ingredients

 

 

• 2 cups Cake flour 8.82 oz
• ½ cup Brown and white sugar
• ½ teaspoon Baking powder
• ½ teaspoon Vanilla sugar
• 1 pinch Cocoa powder
• 7.3 oz Peanut butter Reese’s
• 5 ¾ tablespoon Butter soft
• 1 Egg size M
• 1 tablespoon Milk
• Reese’s pieces about 2 small packs (3.06 oz)
• Reese’s mini cup(s) about 2 packs (5 oz)

Instructions

 

• Mix 2 cups Cake flour and ½ teaspoon Baking powder, then sieve into a mixing bowl.
• Add ½ cup Brown and white sugar, ½ teaspoon Vanilla sugar, 1 pinch Cocoa powder , 7.3 oz Peanut butter, 5 ¾ tablespoon Butter, 1 Egg, Reese’s pieces, and 1 tablespoon Milkone by one, except for the Reese’s cups, which are reserved for topping after baking.
• Knead the mixture into a dough using a food processor with a dough hook. If the dough is too dry, add a bit more peanut butter.
• Wrap the dough in cling film and chill in the fridge for 1 hour.
• Cut off pieces of dough with a small teaspoon and shape into small balls.
• Place the dough balls on a baking tray lined with baking paper and flatten slightly.
• Bake at 180°C (356°F) with top/bottom heat for 8-10 minutes.
• Immediately after baking, place a Reese’s mini cup(s) on each cookie and let them cool on a cooling rack.

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Keyword Peanut butter cookies, Peanut butter cookies with reeses, Reeses cookies

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Nutrition values are estimates only, using online calculators. Please verify using your own data.

Serving: 1Cookie | Calories: 138kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 12mg | Sodium: 63mg | Potassium: 65mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 79IU | Vitamin C: 0.01mg | Calcium: 18mg | Iron: 0.2mg

⛑️ Important Food Safety Tips

Ensuring food safety is paramount when preparing any delicious treat. Please keep these guidelines in mind to protect yourself and your loved ones:

• Cook to a minimum temperature of 165 °F (74 °C) to eliminate harmful bacteria, especially if your recipe includes meat or eggs that are not fully incorporated into a baked good.
• Always use separate utensils for raw and cooked foods to prevent cross-contamination. Never let utensils that touched raw ingredients come into contact with your finished cookies or other cooked food.
• Wash hands thoroughly with soap and warm water before and after handling raw ingredients, and after any interruptions during cooking.
• Do not leave perishable foods, especially those containing eggs or dairy, sitting out at room temperature for extended periods. Promptly refrigerate leftovers.
• Never leave cooking food unattended on the stove or in the oven. Always be present to monitor the process.
• When frying or high-heat cooking, use oils with a high smoking point to avoid the production of harmful compounds and off-flavors.
• Always ensure good ventilation when using a gas stove to prevent the buildup of carbon monoxide and other gases.

For further comprehensive information on safe food handling practices, please check the official guidelines from the FDA – Safe Food Handling.