Reese’s Cookies

Easy Peanut Butter Cup Cookies — Reeses Stuffed are my go to move when I need a dessert that looks like I tried really hard, even if I started baking in sweatpants at 9 pm. You know those nights when you want something sweet, but you do not want to scoop frosting or chill dough for hours? Same. These cookies are soft, peanut buttery, and have that little surprise in the middle that makes everyone’s eyes get wide after the first bite. I started making them for quick get togethers, and now my family basically expects them whenever I say I am bringing dessert.

What You Need

This is one of those recipes where the ingredient list is simple, and the payoff feels huge. The main thing is using peanut butter you already like the taste of, because it really comes through.

Ingredients (plus a few helpful notes)

• Peanut butter: creamy is easiest to work with, but chunky is fun if you like texture
• Butter: softened, not melted
• Brown sugar and white sugar: the combo keeps the cookies soft with a little chew
• Egg: helps bind everything together
• Vanilla extract: small splash, big flavor
• All purpose flour: for structure
• Baking soda and a pinch of salt
• Mini Reese’s peanut butter cups: unwrapped, and try not to eat half the bag
• Optional: a little extra sugar for rolling, or flaky salt on top

Equipment wise, you just need a bowl, a spoon or mixer, a baking sheet, and parchment paper. I also love a small cookie scoop because it keeps things even, but a spoon works totally fine.

If you are on a peanut butter kick like I usually am, you might also like these deliciously soft cake mix peanut butter cookies. They are a great shortcut recipe for busy weeks.

Video Tutorial {video_youtube}

If you are the kind of person who likes seeing the dough texture before committing, a video is super helpful for this recipe. The key visual is how the dough should be soft but not runny, and how you fully wrap the Reese’s cup so it does not peek out the sides.

Here is the quick play by play I follow every time:

First I cream the butter, peanut butter, and sugars until it looks smooth and lighter in color. Then I mix in the egg and vanilla. After that, the dry ingredients go in, and I mix just until the flour disappears. I scoop dough, press a Reese’s cup into the center, then wrap and roll it into a ball.

Then bake until the edges look set, but the centers still look a tiny bit underdone. That is how you get that soft, thick cookie that stays good even the next day.

If you like video friendly peanut butter desserts in general, I also keep a pan dessert like this bookmarked: easy lunch lady peanut butter bars. It is the kind of thing you can bring to a party and come home with an empty dish.

Reader Comments and Reviews

Every time I make Easy Peanut Butter Cup Cookies — Reeses Stuffed, someone asks for the recipe, and someone else asks if I bought them from a bakery. I think it is the hidden Reese’s that does it. It makes a regular cookie feel like a big deal.

What readers usually tell me when they try them:

They love that the cookies stay soft. They love that the peanut butter flavor is not drowned out. And they really love the moment when they hit that chocolate peanut butter center.

“I made these for my kid’s class party and had three parents text me that night asking how I got the Reese’s in the middle without it leaking. The tip about fully sealing the dough around the cup was everything. They were gone in 10 minutes.”

One more thing I hear a lot is that people appreciate how forgiving this dough is. If your dough balls are not perfect circles, nobody will care once they taste them.

And if you are someone who likes a cookie that is naturally flourless, you should try these too: easy monster cookies no flour peanut butter. Totally different vibe, but still that peanut butter comfort.

Tips for Perfect Cookies

I have made these cookies enough times to learn a few little things the hard way. None of this is complicated, but it does make a difference.

My best no stress baking tips

Unwrap the Reese’s first. Do it before you touch the dough. It keeps things cleaner and faster, and you will not be juggling sticky hands with tiny wrappers.

Seal the dough completely around the cup. If the Reese’s is exposed, it can melt out and caramelize onto your pan. Still tasty, just messier and the cookie looks less neat.

Do not overbake. Pull them when the edges are set. The centers will finish as they cool. If you wait until the tops look fully done, they can end up dry the next day.

Let them rest on the pan. Give them 5 to 10 minutes before moving to a rack. Right out of the oven they are delicate, and the center is basically molten happiness.

Use parchment paper. This helps prevent sticking, especially if a little chocolate finds its way to the edge.

If you want another cookie recipe that feels classic and reliable (especially around the holidays), I make these all the time: deliciously easy buttery Christmas spritz cookies recipe. Different flavor, same easy joy.

Variations and Substitutions

Easy Peanut Butter Cup Cookies — Reeses Stuffed are already pretty perfect as written, but you can definitely play around depending on what you have.

Easy swaps that still work

Different Reese’s sizes: Mini cups are easiest, but you can use regular cups if you make bigger dough balls and bake a minute or two longer.

Crunchy peanut butter: Adds texture. If your peanut butter is very dry, you may need a tiny splash of milk to help the dough come together.

Gluten free option: A 1 to 1 gluten free baking flour usually works well. The texture may be a little more delicate, so let them cool longer before moving.

Add ins: A small handful of chocolate chips, chopped peanuts, or even mini M and Ms is fun. Just do not overload the dough, or it gets hard to wrap around the Reese’s.

Salted top: If you love sweet and salty, add a pinch of flaky salt right after baking. It makes the chocolate taste even richer.

If you want another peanut butter and chocolate situation that is more scoop and bake in a dish, this one is dangerously good: delicious peanut butter cup dump cake recipe.

Common Questions

1. Can I make the dough ahead of time?
Yes. You can make the dough, cover it, and chill it for up to 2 days. When you are ready, scoop, stuff, and bake. If it is very firm from the fridge, let it sit out 10 to 15 minutes so it is easier to wrap around the Reese’s.

2. Why did my Reese’s melt out of the cookie?
Usually it is because the cup was too close to the surface or the dough was not fully sealed. Make sure you have a good layer of dough under and over the candy, then roll it smooth.

3. How do I store these cookies?
Keep them in an airtight container at room temperature for about 3 days. If you want them extra soft, add a slice of bread in the container. It sounds weird, but it helps.

4. Can I freeze Easy Peanut Butter Cup Cookies — Reeses Stuffed?
Absolutely. Freeze the stuffed dough balls on a tray, then store in a freezer bag. Bake from frozen, just add about 2 to 4 minutes to the bake time.

5. What if I do not have brown sugar?
You can use all white sugar, but the cookies may be a bit less chewy and a little more crisp. If you have molasses, you can mix 1 tablespoon molasses into 1 cup white sugar to make a quick brown sugar substitute.

Alright, go bake a batch

If you want a cookie that gets real reactions, Easy Peanut Butter Cup Cookies — Reeses Stuffed are the move. They are simple, they feel special, and they are easy to tweak based on what you have in the pantry. If you want to compare notes with another great stuffed cookie idea, I also like this guide for Reese’s Stuffed Cookies (With Video!) – Sugar Spun Run because it is helpful to see another method and flavor twist. Bake a batch, let them cool just enough so you do not burn your mouth, and tell me honestly if you can stop at one.