Reese’s Pieces Peanut Butter Cookies

Rich Reese’s Pieces Peanut Butter Cookies are studded with everyone’s favorite chocolate-coated peanut butter candy. They are the ultimate Halloween cookie or the perfect dessert to make with leftover candy. Crisp on the outside and soft on the inside, these Reese’s Pieces Cookies require no chill time and are ready in less than 30 minutes! Makes 36 cookies.

Several Reese's Pieces Peanut Butter Cookies on white plate with glass of milk

Peanut butter has always been one of my favorite snacks. As in… I would eat spoonfuls of it as a kid. Preferably sprinkled with chocolate chips.

Peanut butter and chocolate is just the perfect combination.

Which explains why I love Reese’s Pieces so much.

Why I love this recipe:

We always have a ton of Halloween candy leftover in our home after the trick-or-treaters call it a night. And since I only purchase candy I adore to hand out, I find myself nibbling on the leftovers throughout the coming months.

Last year, we had a ton of Reese’s Pieces, and I decided to add them to a peanut butter cookie recipe.

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    These Reeses Pieces Cookies are dense, but in a good way. The exterior has a nice crust while the inside is soft.

    Also, the Reese’s Pieces melt just slightly inside the cookies to create a little gooeyness whenever you bite in.

    Bonus: You don’t have to chill the dough before baking and enjoying these cookies! So they’re ready sooner!

    Whether you’re making this cookie recipe for Halloween (because it’s got great color for the holiday), to use up some Halloween leftovers or just because you love Reese’s Pieces, you’re in for a treat!

    More Halloween dessert recipes: Halloween Oreo Rice Krispie Treats | Halloween Chocolate Cookies with White Chocolate Chips | Cheesecake Dip | Halloween Funfetti Cookies | Halloween Rice Krispie Treats

    Got sweet teeth? Check out my Dessert Recipe Index for more ideas!

    Several Reese's Pieces Peanut Butter Cookies on baking sheet

    What you need to make this recipe:

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    Let’s talk ingredients!

    In addition to the tools above, you’re going to need some ingredients to make this recipe, too! Chances are, you might already have some of them in your fridge or pantry. Scroll down to the recipe card for the full measurements and instructions.

    • Creamy peanut butter — our family uses natural peanut butter whenever possible, but you can use what you keep in your house. Just be sure to stir the peanut butter well if there is oil separation in the jar before measuring.
    • Unsweetened applesauce — we use this in place of oil or butter for the cookie dough. I like applesauce in some baked goods because it leads to a soft and moist end product.
    • Sweeteners — we’re using a combination of dark brown sugar and granulated sugar (also known as white sugar) to sweeten these cookies.
    • Eggs — you’ll want them to be at room temperature to where they mix in more smoothly. They provide structure to the cookie recipe.
    • Vanilla extract — if you can afford it, the real deal kind is where it’s at!
    • All-purpose flour — we keep unbleached AP flour at our house, but you can use the regular kind, too.
    • Baking powder — this is going to cause the cookies to rise. Make sure it’s fresh.
    • Kosher salt — I like to use a fine grain kosher salt here. You could also use a fine grain sea salt, too.
    • Reese’s Pieces — you’ll need quite a bit of these chocolate-coated peanut butter candies, so make sure you’ve got enough before you get started! These add extra peanut butter flavor to the cookies!
    Three cookies stacked on white plate with glass of milk

    How to make Reese’s Pieces Cookies with Peanut Butter

    Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a nonstick baking mat, and set aside.

    Cream the peanut butter, applesauce and sugars together. Measure the peanut butter, applesauce and sugars into a large bowl. Use a hand mixer to cream them together, blending until smooth, about 3-5 minutes.

    Add the eggs and vanilla. Mix until smooth and fragrant.

    Sift the dry ingredients into a separate bowl. The dry ingredients include flour, baking powder and salt.

    Combine the ingredients. Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, blending at a low speed until the batter starts to come together.

    Add the Reese’s Pieces. Fold them into the batter using a rubber spatula.

    Form cookie dough balls using a 1-tablespoon cookie scoop. Shape them gently in your hands, and place on the prepared baking sheet, giving them space to spread as they bake.

    Press the dough down with the palm of your hand. Add a few extra Reese’s Pieces to the tops.

    Bake for 12-15 minutes or until the cookies are just set, and remove from the oven.

    Cool completely on a wire rack, then enjoy!

    Close up of 3 stacked cookies on white plate with glass of milk

    Quick tips and tricks to the best cookies:

    • Measure the ingredients correctly. Don’t press the flour into the measuring scoop. I recommend using a kitchen scale for accuracy.
    • Use a cookie scoop for perfectly shaped cookies every time.
    • Add extra Reese’s Pieces on top of each cookie to make them beautiful.
    • Make sure your oven is running at the correct temperature. If your cookies tend to overbake or take longer than a recipe says, consider purchasing an oven thermometer to live inside your oven to confirm the temperature is reading correctly.

    Need more recipes that use leftover Halloween candy?

    Looking for more cookie recipes? Caramel Corn Cookies, SNICKERS Chunk Cookies and Halloween Monster Cookies are two family favorites.

    Love a combination of flavors together? You should definitely make Dessert Nachos.


    Just interested in these beauties?

    Scroll on down to learn how I baked them…

    Several Reese's Pieces Peanut Butter Cookies on white plate with glass of milk

    Reese’s Pieces Peanut Butter Cookies

    Erin Parker, The Speckled Palate
    Rich Reese's Pieces Peanut Butter Cookies are studded with everyone's favorite chocolate-coated peanut butter candy. They are the ultimate Halloween cookie or the perfect dessert to make with leftover candy. Crisp on the outside and soft on the inside, these Reese's Pieces Cookies require no chill time and are ready in less than 30 minutes!
    5 from 2 votes
    Servings 36 cookies
    Calories 138 kcal
    Prep Time 15 minutes
    Cook Time 12 minutes
    Total Time 27 minutes

    Ingredients
      

    • ¾ cup smooth peanut butter
    • ¼ cup unsweetened applesauce
    • 1 cup dark brown sugar
    • ½ cup granulated sugar
    • 2 eggs at room temperature
    • 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
    • 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour plus 2 additional tablespoons
    • 1 teaspoon baking powder
    • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
    • 1 ½ cups Reese’s Pieces

    As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a nonstick baking mat, and set aside.
    • In a large glass bowl, cream the peanut butter, applesauce and sugars together with a hand mixer, blending until smooth.
    • Crack the eggs, then pour them into the batter. Add the vanilla extract. Beat until smooth.
    • Sift the flour, baking powder and salt together, then slowly add them to the batter, using the mixer on a low speed until the batter starts to come together. Beat on a higher speed until smooth and combined.
    • Sprinkle in the Reese's Pieces, and fold into the batter using a rubber spatula.
    • Dollop the batter on the prepared baking sheet using a tablespoon (or a 1-tablespoon cookie scoop.) Space 1/2" apart so the cookies can spread. Press the cookies down with the palm of your hand, then place a few additional Reese's Pieces on to the tops of the cookies.
    • Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until the cookies are set, and remove from the oven.
    • Cool on a wire cooling rack, and then enjoy!

    Notes

    Adapted from my M&M Cookie recipe.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1gCalories: 138kcalCarbohydrates: 21gProtein: 3gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 10mgSodium: 95mgFiber: 1gSugar: 12g
    Keyword baking, cookies, desserts, peanut butter cookies, peanut butter dessert, reese’s pieces, reeses pieces cookies
    Course Desserts & Sweet Treats
    Cuisine American
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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    About the Author:

    Erin Parker is a Southern gal living in Texas with her husband and two daughters. She started The Speckled Palate to share what she was cooking as a newlywed… and over the years, it’s evolved to capture her love for hosting. Specifically, the EASIEST, lowest key entertaining because everyone deserves to see their people and connect over good food. Learn more about her

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    16 Comments

      1. I’m so glad I’m not the only one who repurposes her candy for cookies! And I feel you — Reese’s are my FAVORITE. So, so, so ridiculously good!

      1. Please do, and let me know what you think! So happy I’m not the only person who has a weakness for peanut butter and chocolate desserts!

    1. If I bought Reese’s Pieces to hand out, I’m not sure they would make it to Halloween! I used to get RPs in blizzards at Dairy Queen and it was the best. These cookies do look good, although since I don’t like chocolate I’d make them with white chocolate chips.

      1. I ran into that problem last Halloween, except it was the York Peppermint Patties that did me in! They’re just SO GOOD. Ugh. As are the Reese’s Pieces.

        I love that you used to get them in blizzards. I’ve never tried that combo before, and I clearly need to fix that on our next road trip! And there’s not too much chocolate here — just the chocolate coating the Reese’s Pieces — so hopefully, they’ll be good for you, too!

    2. Ooh it’s like peanut butter squared! I only discovered Reese’s Pieces on my trip to the US this month! Luckily I brought a big bag home with me and now I can enjoy them in these delicious cookies! I can’t wait to make them!

      1. ALL the peanut butter for the win!!! I love that you recently discovered Reese’s Pieces and that you brought home a bag for yourself. Smart move, lady! When you make these, let me know what you think!

      1. I think they’d be a FANTASTIC postpartum treat, lady! Also? You could (probably!) do half the flour and half oatmeal to help with milk production and call them lactation cookies. 😉 If you need an excuse for that, haha.

    3. I’m such a sucker for anything reeses and anything in the form of a cookie. You’ve got me on both accounts! I’ll have to add these to my holiday baking list.

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