Indulge in the decadent combination of peanut butter and chocolate with these easy-to-make peanut butter cup cookies. The soft, chewy cookie base, laced with the subtle nuttiness of peanut butter, is crowned with a miniature peanut butter cup for an irresistible finish.
Photos of Peanut Butter Cup Cookies Recipe
All ingredients for this recipe are commonly found in your local supermarket. Nonetheless, be aware to look for miniature peanut butter cups in the candy aisle, not to be confused with regular-sized. Also, remember to grab unsalted butter from the dairy section, as it allows you to control the salt level in your cookies.
Peanut Butter Cup Cookies Ingredients
Butter: A dairy product that adds richness and moistness to the cookies.
Sugar: To sweeten the cookies.
Brown sugar: Adds sweetness with a hint of caramel flavor.
Peanut butter: Gives the cookies a distinct nutty flavor.
Egg: Acts as a binding agent.
Vanilla extract: Enhances the flavor of the cookies.
Whole milk: Provides moisture and helps give the cookies a soft texture.
Flour: The base of the cookie dough.
Baking soda: A leavening agent that helps the cookies rise.
Salt: Balances the sweetness and enhances other flavors.
Miniature peanut butter cups: Sweet, chocolatey, and peanut buttery candies that make the perfect cookie topping.
One reader, Glory Murray says:
The peanut butter cup cookies recipe is a game-changer! The cookies turned out soft, chewy, and packed with peanut butter flavor. The addition of the peanut butter cups in the center was a delightful surprise. My family couldn't get enough of them. This recipe is definitely a keeper!
Essential Techniques for Making Peanut Butter Cup Cookies
How to prepare the cookie dough: Cream together the butter, sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Gradually add the peanut butter, egg, vanilla, and milk until fully combined. Then, sift together the flour, baking soda, and salt and add to the mixture on low speed until just combined.
How to shape the cookie dough: Scoop the cookie dough and roll them into balls before placing them into the muffin tins.
How to bake the cookies: Preheat the oven to 375°F and grease the mini muffin tins. Bake the cookie dough in the tins for 8 to 10 minutes until golden brown.
How to add the peanut butter cups: Immediately place a miniature peanut butter cup into the middle of each cookie as soon as they come out of the oven. Let the cookies cool for 15 minutes before removing them from the pan.
How To Make Peanut Butter Cup Cookies
Turn your favorite peanut butter cups into cookies! These crunchy peanut butter cup cookies are smooth inside and crunchy outside. Try this at home now!
Serves:
Ingredients
- ½cupunsalted butter,softened
- ½cupsugar
- ½cupbrown sugar,packed
- ½cuppeanut butter,smooth
- 1egg,large, beaten
- 2tspvanilla extract
- 2tbspwhole milk
- 1¾cupsflour
- 1tspbaking soda
- ½tspsalt
- 36miniature peanut butter cups,unwrapped
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 375 degrees F and grease your mini muffin tins.
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Using a stand mixer, beat together the butter, sugar, and brown sugar on medium-high speed until lightened in color and fluffy then gradually add the peanut butter, egg, vanilla, and milk until fully combined.
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Sift together the flour, baking soda, and salt and add to the stand mixer on low speed until just combined.
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Scoop the cookie dough and roll them into balls.
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Put the dough into the muffin tins and bake for 8 to 10 minutes then immediately put a peanut butter cup into the middle of the cookies when they come out of the oven and remove from the pan after letting cool for 15 minutes.
Nutrition
- Calories: 123.49kcal
- Fat: 6.74g
- Saturated Fat: 2.80g
- Trans Fat: 0.11g
- Monounsaturated Fat: 2.57g
- Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.98g
- Carbohydrates: 14.14g
- Fiber: 0.60g
- Sugar: 8.50g
- Protein: 2.35g
- Cholesterol: 11.73mg
- Sodium: 63.69mg
- Calcium: 12.22mg
- Potassium: 57.09mg
- Iron: 0.26mg
- Vitamin A: 25.05µg
- Vitamin C: 0.02mg
Expert Tip for Perfecting Your Peanut Butter Cup Cookie Technique
To ensure that your peanut butter cup cookies have a consistent texture and bake evenly, it's crucial to properly cream together the butter, sugar, and brown sugar. This process aerates the butter, which helps to leaven the cookies as they bake. The butter and sugar should be beaten together until they're light and fluffy, which usually takes about 3-5 minutes. Don't rush this step, as it can make a big difference in the final product.
Time-Saving Tips for Making Peanut Butter Cup Cookies Recipe
Prep ahead: Prepare the cookie dough in advance and store it in the refrigerator for up to 2 days before baking.
Use a cookie scoop: Use a cookie scoop to portion the dough, ensuring uniform cookie sizes for even baking.
Bake in batches: If your mini muffin tin can't accommodate all the cookies at once, bake them in batches to save time and ensure even baking.
Multi-task: While the cookies are baking, unwrap the peanut butter cups to save time during the assembly process.
Freeze the dough: Freeze the cookie dough balls in advance, then simply bake and add the peanut butter cups when needed for a quick treat.
Substitute Ingredients For Peanut Butter Cup Cookies Recipe
unsalted butter - Substitute with coconut oil: Coconut oil can provide a similar richness and flavor to the cookies, while also adding a hint of coconut flavor.
peanut butter - Substitute with almond butter: Almond butter can be used as a substitute for peanut butter, providing a similar nutty flavor and creamy texture.
whole milk - Substitute with almond milk: Almond milk can be used as a dairy-free alternative, providing a subtle nutty flavor to the cookies.
flour - Substitute with almond flour: Almond flour can be used as a gluten-free alternative, adding a nutty flavor and a slightly denser texture to the cookies.
miniature peanut butter cups - Substitute with chopped dark chocolate: Chopped dark chocolate can be used as a substitute for peanut butter cups, adding a rich and decadent chocolate flavor to the cookies.
How to Beautifully Present Your Homemade Peanut Butter Cup Cookies
Elevate the cookie size: Instead of traditional small cookies, create larger, more indulgent cookies to make a bold statement on the plate.
Incorporate a drizzle of chocolate sauce: Add a touch of elegance by drizzling a rich, decadent chocolate sauce over the cookies to enhance their visual appeal and add a luxurious touch to the presentation.
Garnish with powdered sugar: Lightly dust the plate with a sprinkle of powdered sugar to create a visually stunning contrast and add a touch of sophistication to the overall presentation.
Arrange in a circular pattern: Arrange the cookies in a circular pattern on the plate to create a visually appealing and organized presentation that showcases the cookies beautifully.
Use a fine dining plate: Select a high-quality, elegant plate to serve the cookies, elevating the overall presentation and creating a sense of luxury and refinement.
Add a scoop of gourmet ice cream: Accompany the cookies with a scoop of premium, gourmet ice cream to add a touch of sophistication and elevate the overall dessert experience.
Incorporate edible flowers: Introduce delicate, edible flowers to the plate to add a pop of color and a touch of elegance, enhancing the visual appeal of the presentation.
Create a symmetrical arrangement: Arrange the cookies and accompanying elements in a symmetrical and visually pleasing manner to create a sense of balance and harmony on the plate.
Use gold leaf accents: Incorporate edible gold leaf accents to add a luxurious and opulent touch to the presentation, elevating the overall visual appeal of the dessert.
Present on a mirrored platter: Serve the cookies on a mirrored platter to create a stunning reflection and add a sense of grandeur and sophistication to the presentation.
Essential Kitchen Tools for Making the Perfect Peanut Butter Cup Cookies
- Stand mixer: A stand mixer is a versatile kitchen appliance that can be used for mixing cookie dough, creaming butter and sugar, and incorporating ingredients evenly. It's a convenient tool for this recipe as it can handle the thick cookie dough with ease.
- Mini muffin tins: Mini muffin tins are essential for shaping the cookie dough into small cups and baking them to hold the peanut butter cups. They help create the perfect bite-sized treats.
- Sifter: A sifter is used to aerate and combine dry ingredients such as flour, baking soda, and salt. It ensures that the dry ingredients are evenly mixed and free of lumps before adding them to the wet ingredients.
- Cookie scoop: A cookie scoop is a handy tool for portioning the cookie dough evenly, resulting in uniformly sized cookies. It helps create round, uniform balls of dough for consistent baking.
- Oven: An oven is essential for baking the cookies to perfection. Preheat the oven to the specified temperature and use it to bake the cookie dough until golden brown and delicious.
- Cooling rack: A cooling rack is used to allow the freshly baked cookies to cool evenly. It promotes air circulation around the cookies, preventing them from becoming soggy on the bottom as they cool.
How To Store and Freeze Peanut Butter Cup Cookies for Later
- Allow the peanut butter cup cookies to cool completely before storing them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
- To keep the cookies fresh for longer, place a slice of bread in the container with the cookies. The bread will absorb any excess moisture and keep the cookies from becoming soggy.
- If you want to freeze the cookies, place them in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze until solid. Once frozen, transfer the cookies to a freezer-safe container or resealable plastic bag and store in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- To thaw frozen cookies, remove them from the freezer and let them come to room temperature on the counter for about an hour before serving.
- For an extra special treat, warm up the thawed cookies in the microwave for 10-15 seconds before enjoying them with a glass of cold milk or a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
How To Reheat Leftover Peanut Butter Cup Cookies
The best way to reheat leftover peanut butter cup cookies is to preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Place the cookies on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and heat them for 5-7 minutes, or until they are warmed through and the peanut butter cups are slightly melted.
Another option is to use a microwave. Place the cookies on a microwave-safe plate and heat them in 10-second intervals until they reach your desired temperature. Be careful not to overheat them, as the peanut butter cups can become too melty and lose their shape.
If you want to restore the crispy texture of the cookies, you can also reheat them in an air fryer. Set the air fryer to 350°F (175°C) and place the cookies in the basket. Heat them for 2-3 minutes, or until they are crispy and warmed through.
For a quick and easy method, you can simply let the cookies come to room temperature on their own. This works well if you prefer a softer, chewier texture. Just take them out of the refrigerator about 30 minutes before you plan to serve them.
If you want to get creative, try crumbling the leftover cookies over a scoop of vanilla ice cream or using them as a topping for a chocolate sundae. The combination of warm, gooey peanut butter cups and cold, creamy ice cream is sure to be a hit!
Surprising Facts About the Origins of Peanut Butter Cup Cookies
The peanut butter cup cookies recipe is a delightful treat that combines the classic flavors of peanut butter and chocolate. These cookies are perfect for any occasion and are sure to be a hit with both kids and adults. They are easy to make and can be customized with different types of peanut butter cups for added variety. Whether you're baking for a party or just craving a sweet snack, these cookies are a delicious choice.
Is Making Peanut Butter Cup Cookies at Home Cost-Effective?
The cost-effectiveness of this peanut butter cup cookies recipe is quite high. The ingredients are commonly found in households, and the recipe yields a decent batch. The use of peanut butter and flour is economical, and the addition of peanut butter cups adds a delightful touch. The approximate cost for a household of 4 people is around $10-$15, making it a budget-friendly treat. Overall Verdict: 9/10
Are Peanut Butter Cup Cookies Healthy or Unhealthy?
This peanut butter cup cookie recipe, while undeniably delicious, is not particularly healthy. The main concerns are:
- High sugar content: The recipe calls for a full cup of sugar (both white and brown), which can contribute to obesity, diabetes, and other health issues when consumed in excess.
- Saturated fat: Butter and peanut butter are both high in saturated fat, which can raise LDL (bad) cholesterol levels and increase the risk of heart disease.
- Refined flour: All-purpose flour is a refined carbohydrate that lacks fiber and nutrients compared to whole grain alternatives.
However, there are several ways to make this recipe healthier without sacrificing taste:
- Reduce the sugar content by using a sugar substitute like Stevia or Erythritol, or simply cut the amount of sugar in half.
- Replace some or all of the all-purpose flour with whole wheat pastry flour, almond flour, or oat flour for added fiber and nutrients.
- Use natural peanut butter without added sugars or oils to reduce the amount of processed ingredients.
- Swap out half of the butter for Greek yogurt or mashed avocado to reduce saturated fat and add protein or healthy fats.
- Experiment with adding chopped nuts, seeds, or dried fruit to the dough for extra texture and nutrition.
- Moderation is key – enjoy these cookies as an occasional treat rather than an everyday snack.
Editor's Opinion: Why Peanut Butter Cup Cookies are a Must-Try
The peanut butter cup cookies recipe is a delightful combination of sweet and salty flavors. The use of miniature peanut butter cups adds a delightful surprise in the center of each cookie, creating a delicious contrast to the soft and chewy texture of the cookie. The recipe's balance of butter, sugar, and peanut butter creates a rich and indulgent cookie that is sure to satisfy any sweet tooth. The addition of vanilla extract and whole milk enhances the depth of flavor, making these cookies a delightful treat for any occasion.
Enhance Your Peanut Butter Cup Cookies Recipe with These Unique Side Dishes:
Delicious Alternatives to the Classic Peanut Butter Cup Cookies Recipe
Ideal Appetizers and Main Courses to Serve with Peanut Butter Cup Cookies
Why trust this Peanut Butter Cup Cookies Recipe:
This recipe is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser, using only the finest peanut butter, unsalted butter, and vanilla extract. The combination of sugar and brown sugar adds a perfect balance of sweetness, while the addition of miniature peanut butter cups elevates the cookies to a whole new level. With precise instructions and high-quality ingredients, this recipe promises to deliver irresistible peanut butter cup cookies that will leave everyone craving for more.
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