Spider Cookies

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These Halloween Spider Cookies are super easy to make and is a perfect Halloween treat! Made with chewy peanut butter cookies, mini peanut butter cups, edible eyes and melted chocolate. Kids can even help make them too!

Other spooky recipes to try are Halloween Cookie Bars, Mummy Rice Krispies, Ghost Brownies, and Mummy Hot Dogs!

PIN these easy Spider Cookies to try later!

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spider cookies

Spooky Spider Cookies make the cutest Halloween treat! Everyone will love the peanut butter and chocolate flavors in each bite. These treats come together in less than 30 minutes and they are easy enough for kids to help make.

Use any peanut butter or sugar cookie recipe, use a cookie mix, or refrigerated cookie dough to make these treats. Then top each cookie with a mini Reese’s cups, candy googly eyes, and melted chocolate for the chocolate legs. 

They are soft, chewy, and almost too cute to eat! Add these cookies to your Halloween festivities, wrap them up in goodie bags to give to family and friends, or make these for any type of Fall party.

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key ingredients

• Peanut butter cookie mix: Use any of your favorite brands. I used Betty Crocker peanut butter cookie mix, plus you’ll need the ingredients listed on the package. If you want to make your cookie dough from scratch, use my Peanut Butter Blossoms Cookies recipe! 
• Reese’s Peanut butter cups: Reese’s mini peanut butter cups works best and is just the right size for the spider bodies.
• Chocolate chips: We melt the chocolate chips to make the spider legs. You can use either dark chocolate, milk chocolate, or semi-sweet chocolate chips. You could also use brown candy melts or chocolate frosting instead.
• Edible candy eyes: You can find these at most grocery stores or any craft store in the baking isle.

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how to make spider cookies

Prepare peanut butter cookies: Prepare the peanut butter cookies according to package instructions.

Chill dough: Chill cookie dough for 10-20 minutes.

Roll in sugar (optional step): Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Scoop cookie dough balls with a mini ice cream scoop or 2 tablespoon dough balls. Add white sugar into a shallow bowl and roll each cookie dough ball to coat (optional).

Bake: Place on prepared cookie sheets and bake for 10-12 minutes or until the edges are a light golden brown.

Cool cookies: Let the cookie cool for a few minutes and then transfer to a wire rack.

Melt chocolate chips: To assemble the spiders, place the chocolate chips in the microwave to melt. I like to stir in 20 second intervals until chocolate melts. Place the melted chocolate in a pastry bag, piping bag, or sandwich ziplock bag and cut off a small piece of the corner.

Assemble spider cookies: To make the body of the spider, dab a little melted chocolate on the top of a mini peanut butter cup and press onto the top of each cookie. Dab more melted chocolate onto the back of the edible eyes and place in front of the peanut butter cups. Draw eight legs on each spider cookie. Let the chocolate on the cookies harden for about 20 minutes otherwise they could smear. Enjoy!

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pro tips

• Use a mini ice cream scoop or cookie scoop and then roll the cookie dough into balls for the perfect cookie shape.
• Refrigerate the mini peanut butter cups before to prevent the chocolate from sticking to the wrapper.
• Let the cookies cool for a few minutes before adding the peanut butter cup otherwise if you add the chocolate to a hot cookie, it will start to melt. I like to dab the melted chocolate on to the bottom of the peanut butter cup and eyes as “glue” so it sticks together.
• Underbake the cookies slightly so they are extra soft and the peanut butter cup can sink into the centers a bit.
• Chill the dough. This isn’t necessary but I always love chilling the dough for a few minutes to prevent the cookie dough from spread out too much.

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variations

Cookie base: To make things easy, I love using a semi-homemade cookie base. You can use store bought cookie dough, cookie mix, make cake mix cookies, or make your own from homemade cookies scratch. Peanut butter cookies or sugar cookies work best for this recipe.

Spider bodies: Oreo cookies can be used or other chocolate candy such as Lindt chocolate truffles, large sized chocolate Whopper or malt balls, or Rolo candies can also be used. You can also use smaller sized chocolate Whoppers and add two instead of one.

Spider eyes: Edible marker, chocolate frosting, black icing gel, mini chocolate chips, or M&M’s.

Chocolate spider legs: Icing gel, black licorice cut into thin pieces, or an edible marker will also work.

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Chocolate chip spider cookies

Instead of using peanut butter cups for the head of the spider cookie, add a few chocolate chips to the tops of the cookies and add legs. This will look like there are a few spiders crawling on the cookie! You don’t need any eyes for these spiders since they are much smaller.

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leftovers & Storage

To Store: Place cookies in an airtight container or ziplock bag and store for up to 5 days. Store in a cool area.

To Freeze: You can also freeze any leftover cookies for up to 6 months. Let the cookies defrost at room temperature when ready to eat.

To Freeze Cookie Dough Balls: Freeze cookie dough balls by placing the cookie dough balls on a baking sheet and flash freeze for 30 minutes or until hardened. Transfer the cookie dough balls to a large ziplock bag or airtight container and store in the freezer for up to 6 months. Bake cookies, then assemble to make spiders accordingly.

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