Halloween Spider Cookies are so easy and tasty for Halloween. Delicious peanut butter cookies transform into a cookie spider with the help of Reese’s cups and googly eyes.
I have been throwing Halloween parties for the kids for at least 10 years. Every good Halloween party needs lots of fun Halloween desserts.
This recipe for spider cookies is always a hit with kids and adults. It is basically the Halloween version of adorable Peanut Butter Blossom Cookies.
Looking for more party treats? You might also like Spider Brownies, Frankenstein Rice Krispie Treats or Oreo Spider Cookies. Serve these along side the peanut butter spider cookies. Make sure to also try Halloween Sugar Cookies and Halloween Cake Pop Recipes.
Table of Contents
Why We Love This Recipe
- Fun and Festive – This is a fun and festive treat to make for Halloween. We love baking during the holidays and this one is always made for Halloween. We also like making chocolate truffles.
- Easy Ingredients – The ingredients are easy staple ingredients. You probably already have everything you need.
- Great for Parties – This is a fun and easy cookie to make. Perfect for your kids class parties and it will be a hit with the kids.
Ingredients
- All-Purpose Flour. For the most accurate measuring, spoon the flour into the measuring cup instead of scooping it.
- Brown Sugar. Homemade Brown Sugar Recipe is so easy to make if you run out.
- Butter. Softened at room temperature so it’s easy to combine.
- Peanut Butter. Creamy peanut butter is best.
- Eggs. Room temperature eggs.
- Reese’s Miniature Peanut Butter Cups. These need to be chilled before using.
- Candy Eyes. Kids love these and they can help.
- Chocolate Melting Wafers. You can also use chocolate chips.
Find the complete list of ingredients for this recipe on the recipe card at the bottom.
Step By Step Instructions
- Step 1. Prepare Oven – Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Step 2. In a mixing bowl combine the dry ingredients together.
Step 3. Get out a separate mixing bowl, combine the butter and both of the sugars. I like to use a stand mixer or a hand-held mixer. Mix until the ingredients are light and fluffy.
Step 4. Then add in the peanut butter, eggs and vanilla.
Step 5. Mix until these ingredients are combined.
Step 6. Lower the mixer speed. Then gradually mix in the dry ingredients.
Step 7. Combine until they are just blended. Do not over mix.
Step 8. Form the dough into round balls with a cookie scoop. Gently roll the dough in the remaining sugar and place them on an un-greased baking sheet.
Step 9. Use a fork to flatten the dough balls and create a criss-cross shape into each cookie.
Step 10. Bake the cookies for 10-12 minutes until the cookies are lightly golden brown. Then let the cookies cool for 5 minutes and then start decorating.
Step 11. Top the cookies with a peanut butter cup. Gently press them upside down in the center of the cookies.
Step 12. Melt the chocolate wafers in the microwave and transfer to a piping bag or small ziplock bag for piping. Allow this mixture to cool for 5 minutes. Pipe four chocolate lines on both side of the Reeses peanut butter cups to make the spider’s legs.
Step 13. Finally, add chocolate on the front of the peanut butter cup. Then add 2 of the candy eyes for the spider eyes. Allow to set and then enjoy.
Pro Tips
- Cookie Scoop – Use a cookie scoop to make the dough into balls.
- Make a divot – Make a divot so you can place your peanut butter cup in the middle of the cookie. Use the back of the spoon to press down on the cookie.
- Piping Bag – Use piping bag to make designs on the cookie.
- Peanut Butter Cups – We like to freeze the peanut butter cups. This makes it so they are easy to manage when placing on the cookie.
- Refrigerate the dough – To help with scooping the dough, we recommend refrigerating the dough at least an hour.
- Do not overbake – Make sure to not overbake the cookies. They will continue to cook on the baking sheet when you remove it from the oven.
- Premade Cookies – For a fast and easy way to prepare these spider cookies, use already made cookies. You can buy store bought cookies or the refrigerator cookie dough works great too.
- Use a ziploc bag for piping. If you do not have a piping bag, use a ziplock bag instead. Just cut off the corner and pipe the spider legs.
Storage
Store leftover cookies in an airtight container. You can place in the refrigerator or keep them at room temperature. This Halloween dessert is easy to store if you need to make in advance.
More Easy Halloween Treats
- Oreo Spider Cookies
- Halloween Sugar Cookies
- Halloween Chocolate Covered Oreos Recipe
- Jack o Lantern Chocolate Covered Oreos
- Easy Spider Cupcakes
- 55 Delicious Halloween Cupcakes
Make these today for a fabulous treat. Please leave a comment once you do and a star rating. I can’t wait to hear what you think.
Halloween Spider Cookies
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cup All-Purpose Flour
- 1 1/4 cup sugar
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 cup butter softened
- 1 cup Peanut Butter
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp cornstarch
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
- 2 Eggs
- 36 Reese’s Miniature Peanut Butter Cups chilled
- Candy Eyes
- 10 Ounce Chocolate Melting Wafers
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- In a mixing bowl combine the dry ingredients: flour, baking powder, baking soda, cornstarch and salt.
- In a separate mixing bowl, combine the butter and 1 cup of both of the sugars with a stand up mixer or a hand-held mixer. Mix until the ingredients are light and fluffy.
- Then add in the peanut butter, eggs and vanilla. Mix until these ingredients are thoroughly combined.
- Reduce the mixer sped to low and gradually mix in the dry ingredients until they are just incorporated. Do not over mix.
- Form the dough into round balls with a cookie spoon. Gently roll the dough in the remaining sugar and place them on an un-greased baking sheet. Use a fork to flatten the dough balls and create a criss-cross shape into each cookie.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes until the cookies are lightly golden brown.
- Allow the cookies to cool for 5 minutes and then start decorating.
- Melt the chocolate wafers in the microwave and transfer to a piping bag or small ziplock bag for piping. Allow this mixture to cool for 5 minutes for easier decorating.
- Unwrap the miniature peanut butter cups and gently place them upside down in the center of the cookies. You can use the melted chocolate to adhere the peanut butter cups to the cookies if they do not stay.
- Pipe four chocolate lines on both side of the peanut butter cups to make the spider’s legs.
- Then place chocolate on the front of the peanut butter cup and adhere 2 of the candy eyes for the spider eyes.
- Allow the chocolate to cool complete and then serve!
