Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Cookies get a fun Halloween makeover with a cute, not-too-spooky Reese’s cup spider on top. These festive Spider Cookies for Halloween are sweet, playful, and perfect for kids and adults alike.
Halloween is just around the corner, and these homemade spider cookies are a delicious way to celebrate. They start with a soft peanut butter cup cookie base and are topped with candy eyes, melted chocolate legs, and a miniature Reese’s cup to create an adorable spider. They look festive on a party tray, but they are simple enough to make for a school party, movie night, or family baking day.
Spider Cookies for Halloween
Chocolate and peanut butter are a classic combination, and they work beautifully in this easy Halloween cookie recipe. The cookie dough bakes up chewy and rich, while the Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup on top adds a creamy candy center. Candy eyeballs and piped chocolate legs turn each cookie into a sweet little spider that is more cute than creepy.
If you enjoy Halloween-themed treats, these spider cookies are a great addition to your seasonal baking list. They are eye-catching, kid-friendly, and easy to customize with different chocolate candies if you want to make a peanut-free version or use what you already have in the pantry.
Spider Cookies
These spider cookies are ideal for Halloween parties, classroom treats, bake sales, and festive dessert tables. The peanut butter cup spider on top makes them stand out, and the chocolate drizzle legs add just the right amount of spooky fun. They are playful enough for young children but tasty enough that older kids and adults will enjoy them, too.
Because the decorations are added while the cookies are warm, the Reese’s cup settles gently into the cookie and stays in place as it cools. Once the chocolate legs are piped on and set, the cookies are ready to serve or store.
Spider Cookies without Peanut Butter
Can you use a different cookie recipe to make spider cookies? Yes. Almost any cookie dough can work as long as the spider body and legs are easy to see on top. A light-colored cookie dough works best because the chocolate decorations stand out clearly.
Can you decorate store-bought cookies? You can, but it may be harder to attach the candy body and eyes because warm, freshly baked cookies help the candy adhere. If you are using store-bought cookies, a small amount of melted chocolate can help hold the decorations in place.
Ingredients Needed for Spider Cookies for Halloween
All-purpose flour – This is the base of the cookie dough and gives the cookies structure.
- Baking soda – Helps the cookies rise slightly and bake with a tender texture.
- Salt – Balances the sweetness and enhances the chocolate and peanut butter flavor.
- Butter – Use softened butter so it creams smoothly with the sugars. Salted or unsalted butter can be used.
- Granulated sugar – Adds sweetness and helps the cookies bake with lightly crisp edges.
- Brown sugar – Adds moisture and a deeper, caramel-like flavor.
- Vanilla extract – Adds warmth and rounds out the flavor of the dough.
- Eggs – Large eggs work well and help bind the cookie dough together.
- Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Minis – These are mixed into the cookie dough for extra peanut butter and chocolate flavor.
- Reese’s Miniature Peanut Butter Cups – These become the spider bodies on top of the baked cookies.
- Candy eyeballs – These give each spider cookie its fun Halloween look.
- Chocolate chips – Melted chocolate is used to attach the eyes and pipe the spider legs. Semi-sweet or milk chocolate both work.
How to Make This Spider Cookie Recipe
The process is simple: prepare the candy spider bodies first, bake the cookies, press the spiders into the warm cookies, and finish with chocolate legs.
Start by melting the chocolate chips in the microwave for about one minute. Stir until the chocolate is smooth. It should be melted enough to use as edible glue, but not so thin that it runs everywhere.
Dip the back of each candy eyeball into the melted chocolate, then press two eyes onto the side of each miniature Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup. Place the prepared candy spiders on a sheet and let them set. Chilling them briefly in the refrigerator can help the chocolate firm up faster.
Next, preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set it aside.
Using an electric mixer, cream the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar together in a large bowl until smooth and combined. Add the eggs and vanilla extract, then mix again.
In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture and mix just until the dough comes together. Stir in the Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Minis.
Scoop the cookie dough onto the prepared baking sheet using a one-tablespoon cookie scoop. Keeping the cookies the same size helps them bake evenly.
Bake for about 11 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown.
Remove the cookies from the oven and immediately press one prepared Reese’s cup spider into the center of each cookie.
Let the cookies cool on a wire rack in a cool place until the candy has set. You can place them in the refrigerator for a short time if you want them to firm up more quickly.
Melt the chocolate again if needed, adding a few more chocolate chips if you need extra. Transfer the melted chocolate to a small piping bag or a plastic bag with a tiny corner snipped off.
Pipe chocolate legs onto each cookie, starting at the candy body and extending outward. Let the cookies set one more time before serving or storing.
Love it? Save it!
If you love easy Halloween cookies, keep this recipe handy for parties, classroom celebrations, and fall baking days.
FAQ
How do I make spider cookies without peanut butter? If you are avoiding peanut butter, replace the Reese’s cups with Rolos, malted milk balls, chocolate-covered almonds, or another round chocolate candy.
How do I store spider cookies? Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for a few days. Keep them in a cool place so the chocolate decorations stay firm.
Can I make these cookies in advance? Yes. These cookies can be made ahead and frozen, which is helpful if you are planning a Halloween party and want to prepare desserts early.
Can I make these cookies gluten-free? This recipe has not been tested with gluten-free flour, but a one-to-one gluten-free baking flour may work as a substitute.
Substitutions
- Make chocolate chip cookies and top them with Rolos or malted milk balls instead of peanut butter cups.
- Use a chocolate-covered almond or a large chocolate-covered raisin for the spider body.
- Use dark chocolate kisses by unwrapping them and placing the pointed side down into the warm cookie.
- Choose any light-colored cookie dough so the chocolate spider legs are easy to see.
Tips & Tricks
- Bring ingredients to room temperature before making the dough.
- Make sure the butter is softened so it creams smoothly with the sugars.
- Use a cookie scoop so the cookies are evenly sized and bake at the same rate.
- Add the candy spiders while the cookies are still warm so they settle into the tops.
- Let each layer of chocolate set before moving or stacking the cookies.
Happy Halloween!
These Halloween spider cookies are a fun homemade treat for anyone who loves chocolate, peanut butter, and festive baking. They are simple to decorate, easy to serve, and sure to bring smiles to your Halloween dessert table.
More Halloween Recipes to Love
- Bloody Dirty Shirley Cocktails
- Sweet & Savory Halloween Snack Board with Peanut Butter Dip
- RedRum RedRum Punch
- Ghostly Poptarts
Add these easy spider cookies to your Halloween baking list. With chewy cookies, creamy peanut butter cups, candy eyes, and chocolate spider legs, they are festive without being frightening. Guests will love the flavor, and the playful spider design makes them a memorable Halloween dessert.
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Spider Cookies for Halloween
Equipment
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Candy eyeballs
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Parchment paper
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Baking sheet
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Cookie scoop
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Small piping bag or plastic bag
Ingredients
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup butter, softened to room temperature
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs
- 2 cups Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Minis
- 48 Reese’s Miniature Peanut Butter Cups unwrapped
- 96 candy eyeballs
- 1/4 cup chocolate chips melted
Instructions
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Make the spiders first. Melt the chocolate chips in the microwave for about one minute, then stir until smooth. Dip the back of each candy eye into the melted chocolate and press two eyes onto each miniature Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup. Place them on a sheet to set.
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Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set it aside.
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Using an electric mixer, cream together the butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar.
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Add the eggs and vanilla extract, then mix until combined.
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Sift together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture.
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Fold in the Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Minis.
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Scoop the dough onto the prepared baking sheet using a one-tablespoon cookie scoop.
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Bake for about 11 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown. Remove from the oven and immediately press one prepared Reese’s cup spider into the top of each cookie.
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Let the cookies cool on a wire rack in a cool place until the candy is set.
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Reheat the melted chocolate if needed and transfer it to a small piping bag or plastic bag with the corner snipped off.
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Pipe chocolate legs onto each spider cookie. Let the chocolate set before serving.
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Store in an airtight container in a cool place.
Nutrition
These spider cookies are a festive Halloween treat made with soft peanut butter cup cookies, Reese’s candy spiders, candy eyeballs, and piped chocolate legs.
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