This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

If your favorite food combination is peanut butter with chocolate, you’re going to love these Peanut Butter Cookie Cups. A peanut butter cookie base fits into a mini-muffin tin, and we fill that with a mini Reese’s peanut butter cup. They are the perfect bite-sized treat, and everyone devours them!

A white plate holds a pile of peanut butter cup cookies on a marble surface, next to a wooden spatula and an orange patterned cloth.
Add us as a Google Trusted Source
Blue cursive text reads "Lucy's notes" on a transparent background.

I’m old enough to remember, “Hey! You got your chocolate in my peanut butter!” That was an ad campaign for Reese’s peanut butter cups. I was hooked and Reese’s has been my favorite candy for decades.

So, given that I love that combo so much, I have several chocolate-and-peanut-butter desserts on this site, like my Peanut Butter Pound Cake, my Peanut Butter Pie with Chocolate Ganache, and my Chocolate Peanut Butter Chip Cookies. I love them all!

And these little peanut butter cup cookies might be my favorite. They’re the perfect little size and have a full mini-Reese’s peanut butter cup right in the middle.

  1. We’ve tested this recipe with a chocolate cookie version and even a chocolate chip cookie version, but our testers preferred the simple peanut butter cookie base.
Person with shoulder-length blond hair and blue glasses smiling indoors in front of a red brick wall.

I hope you make this recipe. I think you’ll love it!

Black cursive text that reads xo Lucy as a signature.
A hand holding a peanut butter cookie with a chocolate peanut butter cup center, with more cookies on a plate in the background.

Ingredient notes

Here are a few things to know about the ingredients in this recipe.

➡️➡️➡️ The full ingredient amounts and instructions are listed below on the printable recipe card. Scroll below the recipe card for frequently asked questions and tips for success.

Peanut butter: Use creamy peanut butter for this recipe.

Reese’s cups: Please use the real thing. Don’t try to get away with fake Reese’s. Just don’t.

Pin this now to save it for later
  1. Mix up the dough for the peanut butter cookies.
  2. Fill a muffin pan with dough balls and bake the cookies.
  3. Remove the muffin pan from the oven and press a mini Reese’s peanut butter cup into each cookie while still warm.
Peanut butter cookies with chocolate centers arranged next to a glass of milk on a marble surface.

If you make this recipe, please leave a comment and ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ below!

Join Southern Food and Fun Community group
and Southern Potluck group!

And please follow us on social media:

Southern Baking Essentials
Sign up for email updates and we’ll send you our free pdf checklist of our favorite Southern baking essentials.
No ratings yet

Peanut Butter Cookie Cups

Chewy peanut butter cookies with melty mini Reese’s cups in the center makes a simple, irresistible treat for any occasion!
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 8 minutes
Total: 18 minutes
Servings: 24 mini cups
Save This Recipe
Peanut butter cookies with chocolate candy centers arranged next to a glass of milk on a white surface.

Equipment

mini muffin pan
mini muffin pan

Ingredients 

  • 1 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
  • ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 large egg
  • ¾ cup creamy peanut butter
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ¼ cup whole milk
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • pinch of salt
  • 24 mini-Reese’s cups
Save this recipe to your inbox!
Enter your email below and we’ll send the recipe straight to your inbox!

Instructions 

  • Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
  • In a large mixing bowl or stand mixer, combine 1 cup brown sugar, firmly packed and ½ cup unsalted butter, softened until smooth and creamy.
    A glass mixing bowl with brown sugar and a stick of butter, surrounded by eggs, peanut butter, milk, vanilla, flour, and peanut butter cups on a white countertop.
  • Add in 1 large egg, ¾ cup creamy peanut butter, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, and ¼ cup whole milk. Mix the ingredients together until smooth.
    A mixing bowl contains partially mixed cookie dough with brown sugar, eggs, peanut butter, and milk, surrounded by baking ingredients on a marble countertop.
  • Whisk in 2 cups all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon baking soda, and a pinch of salt until the dry ingredients are fully incorporated into the cookie dough.
    A glass mixing bowl with flour on top of peanut butter mixture, surrounded by eggs, vanilla extract, peanut butter, and candy cups on a marble countertop.
  • Fill a mini-muffin pan with balls of dough the size of one tablespoon. Bake the cookies for 8 minutes.
    A muffin tin filled with raw dough balls sits on a marble countertop, surrounded by eggs, empty bowls, and an orange kitchen towel.
  • Remove the cookies from the oven and press one mini-Reese’s cup into the center of each cookie.
    A muffin tin filled with 24 peanut butter cup cookies, each topped with a chocolate peanut butter cup, on a marble countertop.
  • Allow the cookies to cool before removing them from the muffin tin, serve, and enjoy!
    A plate of peanut butter cup cookies is stacked on a kitchen counter, with wooden utensils and jars in the background.

Notes

  • It is important not to overcook these cookies. It will cause them to crumble when you put the Reese’s cups in.
  • These cookies can be stored for about five days on the counter or in the fridge in an airtight container.
  • If you are storing your cookies in the fridge, simply pop them in the microwave for about 30 seconds to reheat them or eat them cold. They are great either way!

Nutrition

Serving: 1cookie, Calories: 247kcal, Carbohydrates: 28g, Protein: 5g, Fat: 13g, Saturated Fat: 5g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 5g, Trans Fat: 0.2g, Cholesterol: 18mg, Sodium: 178mg, Potassium: 135mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 18g, Vitamin A: 142IU, Vitamin C: 0.1mg, Calcium: 32mg, Iron: 1mg
Course: Cookies, Dessert
Cuisine: American
Calories: 247
Keyword: Peanut Butter Cookie Cups
Leave a comment and ★★★★★ rating below!

Questions and tips

Storage

You can store these cookies for several days in an airtight container on the counter.

Can I freeze these cookies?

Yes! These Peanut Butter Cup Cookies freeze very well. I like to set them out on a parchment-lined baking sheet for several hours until frozen, then pop them in a freezer storage bag. This way, they won’t stick together.

A woman with shoulder-length blonde hair, wearing a white T-shirt and dark jeans, stands in a kitchen with a brick backsplash and stainless steel appliances. She is smiling and resting her hands on the counter.

About the author

Hi, I’m Lucy! I’m a home cook, writer, food and wine fanatic, and recipe developer. I’ve created and tested hundreds of recipes so that I can bring you the best tried and true favorites.

Read More About Me

Follow Lucy on social media:

Posted in:

, ,

You May Also Like:

Sign up with your email address to receive a 5-day series of Southern Cooking Secrets, followed by weekly emails with recipes and tips. We won't send you spam. Unsubscribe at any time.

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating