Little Cookie Peanut Butter Bites Recipe

Introduction

These Little Cookie Peanut Butter Bites are a delightful treat combining soft, buttery cookie cups with a rich peanut butter candy center. Perfect for a quick snack or a fun dessert, they’re easy to make and sure to satisfy any peanut butter lover’s cravings.

Ingredients

• 1 cup flour
• ½ tsp. baking powder
• ½ cup sugar
• 1 egg, room temperature
• 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
• 1 tbsp. salted butter, softened
• 12 mini Reese’s peanut butter cups

Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and grease a 12-count mini muffin pan. Set the pan aside.
2. Step 2: In a stand mixer bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, sugar, egg, vanilla extract, and softened butter. Mix until a cookie dough forms.
3. Step 3: Press 1 to 2 tablespoons of the dough into each cup of the mini muffin pan, shaping it by pressing the dough against the sides to form a small cup.
4. Step 4: Bake for 10 minutes until the cookie cups are lightly browned and cooked through. Remove from the oven and gently press each cookie down with a spoon, reshaping it against the sides of the pan as it may have risen during baking.
5. Step 5: Return the pan to the oven and bake for an additional 5 to 8 minutes, or until the cookie cups are a deeper golden brown.
6. Step 6: As soon as the cookies come out of the oven, place one mini Reese’s peanut butter cup into the center of each cookie cup. Allow them to cool completely before removing from the pan.

Tips & Variations

• For a richer flavor, try using browned butter instead of softened salted butter in the dough.
• Swap out mini Reese’s with your favorite chocolate or caramel candies for different fillings.
• If you don’t have a mixer, the dough can be mixed by hand using a sturdy spoon or spatula.
• To add extra texture, fold in a handful of chopped peanuts or chocolate chips before pressing the dough into the pan.

Storage

Store the cooled cookie bites in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. For longer storage, keep them in the refrigerator for up to a week. Reheat gently in the microwave for 10 to 15 seconds if you prefer them warm.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use natural peanut butter instead of Reese’s cups?

Yes, you can spoon a small amount of natural peanut butter into the cookie cups before baking or immediately after, but keep in mind it won’t have the chocolate coating that Reese’s provide.

What if I don’t have a mini muffin pan?

A mini muffin pan helps the dough hold its cup shape, but if you don’t have one, you can use a regular muffin pan and adjust the portion size, though the cookie cups may be larger and require a slightly longer baking time.

Little Cookie Peanut Butter Bites Recipe

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4.8 from 133 reviews

These Little Cookie Peanut Butter Bites are a delightful treat featuring buttery, tender cookie cups filled with mini Reese’s peanut butter cups. Perfect for peanut butter lovers, these bite-sized sweets combine a soft vanilla-flavored cookie crust with rich, melty peanut butter candy centers, making them ideal for parties, snacks, or dessert platters.

• Author: Sienna
• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 15 minutes
• Total Time: 25 minutes
• Yield: 12 cookie bites 1x
• Category: Dessert
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Cookie Dough

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• ½ cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg, room temperature
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon salted butter, softened

Filling

• 12 mini Reese’s peanut butter cups

Instructions

1. Prepare Oven and Pan: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 12-count mini muffin pan thoroughly to prevent sticking and set it aside.
2. Make Cookie Dough: In a stand mixer bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, sugar, egg, vanilla extract, and softened butter. Mix on medium speed until the ingredients come together into a smooth cookie dough.
3. Form Cookie Cups: Using 1 to 2 tablespoons of dough per cavity, press the dough firmly into each mini muffin cup, shaping it by pressing against the sides to form a small cup. This creates a hollow center for the peanut butter cup later.
4. Initial Bake: Bake the cookie cups for 5 minutes at 350°F. This step partially cooks the dough and prepares it for shaping.
5. Shape Cookies Mid-Bake: Remove the pan from the oven. Using the back of a spoon, gently press each cookie down into the pan, pushing the dough against the sides. This helps reform the cup shape as the dough will have risen during the initial baking.
6. Final Bake: Return the pan to the oven and bake for an additional 5 to 8 minutes until the cookie cups are lightly browned and fully cooked through.
7. Add Peanut Butter Cups: As soon as the cookies come out of the oven, place one mini Reese’s peanut butter cup into the center of each cookie cup, allowing the warmth to slightly soften the candy.
8. Cool and Remove: Allow the cookie bites to cool completely in the pan before carefully removing them. Cooling ensures they hold their shape and the filling sets nicely.

Notes

• Make sure the butter is softened to room temperature for easier mixing.
• Pressing the cookie dough into the muffin pan creates a perfect cup shape to hold the peanut butter cup.
• Cooling the cookie bites fully before removing helps maintain their structure.
• These bites can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerated for longer freshness.
• For variation, try using different flavors of mini peanut butter cups or add a sprinkle of sea salt on top for contrast.

Keywords: peanut butter cookie bites, mini cookie cups, Reese’s peanut butter cups recipe, bite-sized desserts, easy cookie recipe