Easy Peanut Butter Cup Cookies: Mini Muffin Tin Chocolate Treats Everyone Will Love

Irresistible Homemade Peanut Butter Cup Cookies

There’s something magical about the combination of chocolate and peanut butter, and these peanut butter cup cookies perfectly capture that heavenly duo in every bite. Made in mini muffin tins with a soft peanut butter cookie base and a chocolate peanut butter cup nestled in the center, these treats are guaranteed to disappear from your cookie jar in record time!

Why You’ll Love These Peanut Butter Cup Cookies

These adorable mini treats are the perfect balance of sweet, salty, and chocolatey goodness. The soft, chewy peanut butter cookie cradles a miniature peanut butter cup that gets deliciously melty in the center. They’re impressive enough for special occasions but easy enough for weekend baking with kids!

Ingredients for Perfect Peanut Butter Cup Cookies

• 1¾ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
• ½ cup creamy peanut butter
• ½ cup granulated sugar
• ½ cup packed light brown sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons milk
• 40 miniature peanut butter cups, unwrapped

How to Make Peanut Butter Cup Cookies

1. Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease two mini muffin tins.
2. In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, and salt; set aside.
3. In a large bowl, cream together the butter, peanut butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
4. Beat in the egg, vanilla extract, and milk until well combined.
5. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the peanut butter mixture, mixing just until incorporated. Don’t overmix!
6. Roll the dough into 1-inch balls and place each ball into a mini muffin cup.
7. Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until lightly golden around the edges.
8. Remove from oven and immediately press a miniature peanut butter cup into the center of each cookie.
9. Allow to cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then carefully remove to a wire rack to cool completely.

Pro Tips for Cookie Success

• Chill the peanut butter cups in the freezer before unwrapping them. This makes them easier to handle and less likely to melt too quickly.
• Don’t overbake the cookies – they should be just set but still soft when you remove them from the oven.
• Let them cool properly in the pan first, or they might fall apart when you try to remove them.
• For extra peanut butter flavor, try using crunchy peanut butter instead of creamy.

Variations on Classic Peanut Butter Cup Cookies

Double Chocolate Version

Add ¼ cup cocoa powder to the cookie dough for an extra chocolate punch that complements the peanut butter cups beautifully.

Holiday Special

Roll the edges of the dough balls in colored sprinkles before baking for a festive touch perfect for Christmas or birthday parties.

Peanut Butter Cup Cookie Sandwich

Make smaller cookies (without pressing in peanut butter cups), then sandwich chocolate frosting or more peanut butter between two cooled cookies.

Storage and Freezing Instructions

Store these peanut butter cup cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. For longer storage, freeze the cooled cookies in a single layer, then transfer to a freezer bag for up to 3 months.

You can also freeze the cookie dough balls to bake later! Simply place them on a baking sheet, freeze until solid, then transfer to a freezer bag. Bake directly from frozen, adding 1-2 minutes to the baking time.

Nutritional Information

Why These Peanut Butter Cup Cookies Always Get Rave Reviews

With their perfect balance of sweet and salty, soft and chocolatey, these cookies hit all the right notes. They’re ideal for bake sales, holiday cookie exchanges, or simply as an after-school treat that will make you the favorite parent on the block!

The mini muffin tin format makes these cookies look bakery-quality with minimal effort, and the melty peanut butter cup center creates that irresistible “wow” factor when you bite into them.

Whether you’re a seasoned baker or trying your hand at homemade cookies for the first time, these peanut butter cup cookies are guaranteed to impress. Happy baking!

Recipe adapted from AllRecipes