These peanut butter spider cookies are a delicious home-made indulgence for Halloween or any spooky-themed party. The cookies are both fun to make and super simple. The design mimics a spooky spider, complete with a mini-peanut butter cup body, chocolate legs and googly eyes.
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Kid-friendly recipe
These spider cookies are one of those recipes that kids love to help make. Baking cookies is an excellent way to spend quality time together and share a few laughs. So grab your kids and make these yummy treats for your next Halloween gathering.
Ingredients
This recipe uses the following ingredients:
- All-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, brown sugar and granulated sugar
- Unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- An egg: a room temperature egg will incorporate better into the cookie dough than a cold egg
- Creamy peanut butter
- For decorating: mini-peanut butter cups, melted chocolate and edible googly eyes
See recipe card for quantities.
Equipment
You need the following equipment to make the a Halloween Peanut Butter Spider Cookies:
- Hand- or stand mixer
- Cookie sheet pans lined with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat
- Cookie scoop: helpful to create even sized cookies
- Bowls, measuring cups and spoons
- Pastry bag: to pipe spider legs
Storage
Place the cookies in an airtight container and store at room temperature for up to 3 days. Alternatively, wrap the cookies well and freeze for up to 2 months.
Top tip
Take care when melting the chocolate for the spider legs as chocolate will scorch if over-heated. To melt, place the chocolate in a microwave safe container and melt at 50% power in 20 second bursts . Stir the chocolate well between each heating.
FAQ
Can I make my own edible googly eyes?
Related
Looking for other Fall-time recipes like this? Try these:
📋 Recipe
Halloween Spider Cookies Recipe
Equipment
- 1 Electric mixer hand- or stand-mixer
- 2 Parchment paper or silicone baking mats
- 1 Cookie Scoop optional
- Bowls, measuring cups and spoons
- Pastry bag to pipe spider legs
Ingredients
Cookie Dough
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup light brown sugar
- ½ cup creamy peanut butter
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened softened
- 1 large egg room temperature
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour sifted
- ¾ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ cup granulated sugar to roll cookies in prior to baking
Cookie Decorations
- ⅓ cup chocolate chips, melted
- 26 mini Mini Reeses cups, unwrapped
- 52 small googly eyes
Instructions
Make cookies
- Prepare two cookie sheet pans by lining with parchment paper or a silicone baking mats.
- Preheat oven to 375℉ (190℃)
- Combine flour, baking powder and baking soda in a bowl. Set aside for later.1 ½ cups all-purpose flour, ½ teaspoon baking powder, ¾ teaspoon baking soda
- Place softened butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and peanut butter in the bowl of a stand mixer (note: a hand mixer may also be used). Mix on medium speed until light and fluffy (approximately 3 - 4 minutes). Scrape down sides of bowl as needed.½ cup granulated sugar, ½ cup light brown sugar, ½ cup unsalted butter, softened, ½ cup creamy peanut butter
- Add egg and mix until well combined. Scrape down sides of bowl as needed.1 large egg
- Add the dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, baking soda) and mix until just combined. Scrape down sides of bowl as needed.
- Scoop out 1½ tablespoons of cookie dough. Roll in granulated sugar and place on baking sheets. Leave approximately 2" of space between each cookie.½ cup granulated sugar
- Bake 8 - 10 minutes (edges will be a light brown color). Remove from oven and let cool for 10 minutes on baking sheets. Move to a wire rack to cool completely.
Decorate cookies
- Place chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl. Heat on 50% powder in 20 second bursts, stirring between each heating. Alternatively, place bowl over a pot of simmering water and heat until the chips melt, stirring often.⅓ cup chocolate chips, melted
- Transfer melted chocolate to a pastry bag (alternatively use a small zip lock bag and cut a small hole in one corner).
- To make spider legs, pipe 4 lines diagonally across each cookie intersecting at the center of the cookie. Place mini peanut butter cup in the middle of each cookie. Pipe two small dabs of chocolate on each peanut butter cup and place a googly eye on each dab. Allow melted chocolate to set.26 mini Mini Reeses cups, unwrapped, 52 small googly eyes
Video
Nutrition
Food safety
- Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
- Wash hands after touching raw meat
- Never leave cooking food unattended
- Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove
Andrea says
These are adorable! Super fun and love the flavor combination of chocolate and peanut butter.
Michelle says
I made these this morning and they were just perfect! Will be making them again for Halloween and I just know they're going to down a treat with everyone.