These Reese’s Peanut Butter Cookie Bites combine the rich flavors of peanut butter and chocolate in a perfectly bite-sized treat that everyone will love. Soft buttery cookie dough encases a sweet peanut butter center, topped with melty chocolate chips and optional crunchy toppings for an irresistible texture. They bring a fun twist to classic cookies and make for a fantastic dessert or snack at any gathering.
I first made these during a holiday party, and they vanished so quickly that guests started requesting the recipe every year since.
Ingredients
- Unsalted butter: softened for creamy dough texture and flavor richness choose fresh high-quality butter for best results
- Brown sugar: adds molasses notes helping create a chewy cookie interior
- Granulated sugar: balances sweetness and helps with browning for appealing golden edges
- Egg: optional but adds moisture and helps bind the dough you can skip to make them egg-free
- Vanilla extract: enhances overall flavor with warm aromatic tones choose pure extract when possible
- All-purpose flour: for structure sift if needed to avoid lumps
- Creamy peanut butter: is the star of the filling providing smoothness and that classic Reese’s taste natural peanut butter with a hint of salt works nicely here
- Powdered sugar: sweetens and lightens the peanut butter filling so it is not too dense
- Semi-sweet chocolate chips: add melty pockets of richness use good quality for best flavor
- Optional crushed Reese’s Pieces, chopped peanuts, or mini M&Ms: provide crunchy contrast and extra fun colors
- Egg yolk mixed with water: creates a glossy golden finish helps cookies look bakery-worthy
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Sift and prepare Oven and Tin:
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and line a muffin tin with paper liners to keep your cookies from sticking and make clean-up easier
- Cream the Butter and Sugars:
- In a large bowl, beat softened butter with brown sugar and granulated sugar until the mixture is pale and fluffy. This ensures the right texture for tender cookies
- Add Wet Ingredients:
- Mix in the egg if using and vanilla extract thoroughly to combine moisture and flavor evenly into the dough
- Integrate Dry Ingredients:
- Gradually add all-purpose flour to the wet mixture, mixing gently until the dough comes together without overworking it, which preserves tenderness
- Prepare Peanut Butter Filling:
- In a separate bowl, beat peanut butter and powdered sugar until smooth and creamy. Roll this into small balls about the size of a marble. Chill in the fridge for ten minutes to firm up, which helps when placing them in the dough
- Assemble Cookie Bites:
- Press portions of cookie dough into each muffin cup, making sure to create a small well in the center to nestle the peanut butter balls. Place one chilled peanut butter ball in the well
- Add Toppings and Cover:
- Sprinkle chocolate chips and any optional toppings over the peanut butter layer. Take a little of the remaining dough and place it gently over the top, partially covering for a layered look
- Apply Egg Wash:
- Using a pastry brush, lightly brush the egg yolk and water mixture over the tops of the cookie bites for a beautiful golden finish after baking
- Bake and Cool:
- Bake the cookie bites for 12 to 15 minutes or until the edges are a light golden brown and the centers are just set. Let them cool in the muffin tin for five minutes before transferring to a wire rack so they firm up properly without losing their gooey peanut butter center warmth
ADVERTISEMENT
