Chewy Cookies Stuffed with a Mini Reese’s Cup: The Ultimate Peanut Butter Chocolate Dream
Why You’ll Love This Chewy Cookies Stuffed with a Mini Reese’s Cup Recipe
Nothing beats the classic combination of peanut butter and chocolate—except maybe hiding an entire mini Reese’s cup inside a warm, chewy cookie! These Chewy Cookies Stuffed with a Mini Reese’s Cup take your favorite candy to the next level, creating the ultimate surprise-filled treat that will have everyone asking for your secret.
Imagine biting into what looks like a regular chocolate chip cookie, only to discover a perfectly melted mini Reese’s cup nestled in the center. The result? Pure magic! These cookies are incredibly easy to make, require no special techniques, and deliver that perfect chewy texture with a gooey peanut butter chocolate center. Whether you’re baking for a party, treating the kids, or satisfying your own sweet tooth, these stuffed cookies are guaranteed crowd-pleasers.
Quick Info Table
| Prep Time | Cook Time | Total Time | Servings | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 mins | 10 mins | 25 mins | 24 cookies | Easy |
What You’ll Need
For the Cookie Dough:
- All-purpose flour – 2¼ cups
- Baking soda – 1 teaspoon
- Salt – 1 teaspoon
- Butter – 1 cup (softened)
- Brown sugar – ¾ cup (packed)
- Granulated sugar – ¾ cup
- Large eggs – 2
- Vanilla extract – 2 teaspoons
- Semi-sweet chocolate chips – 1 cup (optional but recommended)
For the Stuffing:
- Mini Reese’s peanut butter cups – 24 pieces (unwrapped)
- Coarse sea salt – ½ teaspoon (for sprinkling, optional)
Substitution Notes:
- Butter: Use room temperature margarine or vegan butter for dairy-free option
- Eggs: Replace with 2 flax eggs (2 tbsp ground flaxseed + 6 tbsp water) for vegan version
- Mini Reese’s: Mini peanut butter cups from other brands work perfectly
- Chocolate chips: Dark chocolate or milk chocolate chips are great alternatives
- Brown sugar: Light or dark brown sugar both work—dark adds richer molasses flavor
Step-by-Step Directions
Prepare Your Workspace:
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and line two large baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Unwrap all mini Reese’s cups and place them on a plate. Keep them at room temperature—they’ll be easier to work with than cold ones.
Pro Tip: Unwrap the Reese’s cups while your oven preheats. This saves time and prevents sticky fingers from affecting your cookie dough!
Make the Cookie Dough:
- Whisk together dry ingredients in a medium bowl: flour, baking soda, and salt. Set this mixture aside.
- Cream butter and both sugars in a large bowl using an electric mixer on medium speed for 2-3 minutes until the mixture is light and fluffy.
- Beat in eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition, then add vanilla extract.
- Gradually add the flour mixture to the butter mixture, mixing on low speed until just combined. Don’t overmix—this keeps the cookies tender!
- Fold in chocolate chips by hand using a wooden spoon, distributing them evenly throughout the dough.
Pro Tip: The dough should be soft and slightly sticky. If it’s too wet to handle, chill it for 10-15 minutes in the refrigerator.
Assemble the Stuffed Cookies:
- Scoop cookie dough using a cookie scoop or large spoon (about 2 tablespoons per cookie).
- Flatten each portion gently in your palm to create a disc about 3 inches wide and ¼ inch thick.
- Place a mini Reese’s cup in the center of each dough disc, pressing it down slightly.
- Wrap the dough around the candy by bringing the edges up and over the Reese’s cup, pinching the seams together to seal completely.
- Roll into a smooth ball with the seam on the bottom, ensuring the Reese’s cup is completely enclosed.
- Place on prepared baking sheets seam-side down, spacing cookies about 2 inches apart to allow for spreading.
Pro Tip: Make sure the Reese’s cup is completely covered by dough—any exposed candy will leak out during baking!
Bake to Perfection:
- Sprinkle with sea salt if desired for that perfect sweet-salty combination.
- Bake for 9-11 minutes until the edges are golden brown but centers still look slightly underbaked. They’ll continue cooking on the hot pan!
- Cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack. This prevents the melted centers from oozing out.
Pro Tip: Don’t overbake! The cookies will look slightly underdone when you remove them, but they’ll finish cooking on the pan for perfect chewiness.
How to Serve
These Chewy Cookies Stuffed with Mini Reese’s Cups are incredible on their own, but here are some creative serving ideas:
Warm and Gooey: Serve slightly warm when the Reese’s center is still melty—absolutely divine with a cold glass of milk.
Ice Cream Sandwiches: Let cookies cool completely, then sandwich vanilla or peanut butter ice cream between two cookies for an over-the-top dessert.
Cookie Platter: Arrange on a platter alongside regular chocolate chip cookies—watch guests’ faces light up when they discover the surprise center!
Gift Boxes: Package in clear boxes or tins for gorgeous homemade gifts that look professionally made.
Party Dessert: Serve at room temperature for parties—they’re less messy but still incredibly delicious.
Expert Tips for Success
Perfect Texture Secret: The key to ultra-chewy cookies is not overbaking them. Remove them when centers look barely set—they’ll finish cooking on the pan.
Storage Solutions: Store completely cooled cookies in an airtight container for up to one week. For longer storage, freeze for up to 3 months in freezer-safe containers with parchment between layers.
Make-Ahead Magic: Shape the stuffed cookies and freeze them on baking sheets. Once solid, transfer to freezer bags. Bake directly from frozen, adding 1-2 extra minutes to baking time.
Size Consistency: Use a cookie scoop for uniform cookies that bake evenly. Consistent sizing also ensures each cookie gets exactly one Reese’s cup!
Temperature Matters: Room temperature ingredients blend more easily, creating smoother dough and better texture in the final cookies.
Sealing Success: Press dough seams together firmly to prevent the melted peanut butter from leaking during baking.
Common Questions
Can I use full-size Reese’s cups instead of mini ones?
While possible, full-size cups are harder to completely enclose and may cause the cookies to crack open during baking. If using them, cut each cup in half for better results.
What if I don’t have mini Reese’s cups?
Any small chocolate-peanut butter candy works! Try mini peanut butter cups from other brands, or even small pieces of peanut butter chocolate bars.
Why are my cookies spreading too much?
This usually happens when the dough is too warm or the butter was overly soft. Chill the shaped cookies for 15 minutes before baking, or make sure your butter is softened but not melted.
Can I make these ahead of time?
Absolutely! The shaped, unbaked cookies freeze beautifully for up to 3 months. You can also make the dough ahead and refrigerate it for up to 3 days before shaping.
How do I know when they’re perfectly done?
Look for golden brown edges with centers that appear slightly underbaked. The cookies should feel set around the edges but soft in the middle when gently pressed.
What’s the best way to reheat leftover cookies?
Microwave individual cookies for 10-15 seconds to warm the Reese’s center, or warm them in a 300°F oven for 3-5 minutes.
Final Thoughts
These Chewy Cookies Stuffed with Mini Reese’s Cups are the ultimate comfort food mashup—combining the homemade goodness of fresh-baked cookies with everyone’s favorite peanut butter chocolate candy. The surprise element makes them perfect conversation starters, while the incredible flavor combination ensures they’ll disappear faster than you can make them.
What makes these cookies truly special is their simplicity. You don’t need any fancy techniques or unusual ingredients—just basic cookie dough wrapped around a beloved candy. The result is pure indulgence that feels both nostalgic and exciting.
Whether you’re an experienced baker or just starting out, these stuffed cookies are foolproof and incredibly rewarding to make. The joy on people’s faces when they bite into that melty peanut butter center is absolutely priceless. Give this recipe a try, and prepare to become the hero of every gathering, bake sale, and family dinner. These aren’t just cookies—they’re edible happiness wrapped in chewy, chocolatey perfection!
