Reese’s Pieces Cookies have the perfect peanut butter flavor in an easy-to-make dough. Your whole family will love these classic cookies with the sweet crunch of Reese’s Pieces in every bite!
These Reese’s Pieces Cookies are a peanut butter lover’s dream. They start with a delicious peanut butter dough, then go to the next level with Reese’s Pieces peanut butter candies. The combination of flavors in these cookies couldn’t be more perfect.
For more cookies that will satisfy a peanut butter craving, make sure to try Peanut Butter Blossoms, Peanut Butter Shortbread Cookies, Peanut Butter Cup Cookies, and Peanut Butter and Jelly Cookies. They’re all easy to make and even easier to eat!
These delicious Reese’s Pieces Cookies are soft and chewy at the center, with a touch of crispness at the edges. They have everything to love in a cookie – buttery flavor, the perfect texture, and of course, everyone’s favorite candy!
Reese’s Pieces candies finish off this easy-to-make dough. They’re colorful and bright, not to mention their subtle peanut butter flavor is oh-so-good. These cookies are so fun to serve and to eat.
About Reese’s Pieces Cookies
- Easy-to-make dough
- Soft and chewy
- Colorful and fun to serve
- Ultimate crowd-pleasing cookie!
Tools You Need
- Mixer – Stand or hand-held.
- Measuring Cups and Spoons
- Rubber Spatula or Whisk – To combine dry ingredients.
- Medium Cookie Scoop – The easiest way to get consistently sized cookies for even baking. You can also use a regular spoon to scoop.
- Baking Sheet
- Parchment Paper – To line baking sheet for easy clean up.
- Wire Cooling Rack
What You Need to Make Reese’s Pieces Cookies
- Peanut Butter – Creamy peanut butter is best for these cookies. Don’t use the natural variety for this recipe because it will change the texture.
- Butter – Use real unsalted butter for the best flavor, softened to room temperature for easy creaming. If you use salted butter, omit salt in recipe.
- Brown Sugar – Packed brown sugar, light or dark, sweetens and gives extra flavor. Learn all about brown sugar, including how to measure it and make your own, right here.
- Egg – To bind all of the ingredients together.
- Vanilla Extract – Use pure vanilla extract for the best flavor. Imitation vanilla can also be used.
- Flour – All-purpose flour gives a light, chewy texture. Measure using the spoon and level method. Learn more about how to measure here.
- Baking Powder – The leavening agent that makes these cookies soft and chewy with the perfect rise. Learn about Baking Soda vs. Baking Powder here.
- Salt – A touch of salt for the perfect flavor. Omit if using salted butter.
- Reese’s Pieces – Colorful peanut butter candies for a delicious flavor and fun presentation.
Variations
- Chocolate – Do you love the peanut buttery goodness of these cookies but crave a bit of chocolate? Then add in a cup of M&Ms or your favorite chocolate chips! The chocolate along with the Reese’s Pieces candies is melt-in-your-mouth heaven!
- Butterscotch – You can’t go wrong with the classic combination of peanut butter and butterscotch. Add in a cup of real butterscotch chips for an extra burst of sweet buttery flavor.
- Crunchy Peanut Butter – If you’re a peanut lover through and through, try making these cookies with crunchy peanut butter for a little crunch in the texture.
Overview | How to Make Reese’s Pieces Cookies
The full printable recipe is below
- Cream – Cream together peanut butter, butter, and sugar until fluffy.
- Combine – Beat in egg and vanilla until combined.
- Whisk – In medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt.
- Add – Add dry mixture to wet mixture until combined. Fold in Reese’s Pieces.
- Refrigerate – Cover dough and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
- Scoop – Form dough into balls using medium scoop. Drop onto parchment lined baking sheet.
- Bake – Bake for 6 minutes at 375°F. Optional: Remove from oven and press Reese’s Pieces on top, then return to oven for 2 – 3 minutes.
- Cool – Allow to cool 1 minute, then transfer to wire cooling rack.
Tips
- Mix your dough a day ahead. Refrigerating the dough for at least 30 minutes helps to prevent spread during baking. Making the dough a day ahead and refrigerating overnight saves time on baking day, which is especially helpful if you’re making these for an event like a party or cookie exchange.
- Serve Reese’s Pieces Cookies warm out of the oven for the best melt-in-your-mouth texture and flavor. If you’re serving from refrigerated or room temperature, you can microwave cookies a few at a time for just a few seconds to warm the cookie and melt the candies just a touch.
How to Store
- Room Temperature – Store in a sealed, airtight container for up to five days. After that, cookies will start to lose their fresh flavor.
- Refrigerate – Baked cookies will stay fresh in the refrigerator for up to one week. Store in an airtight container such as a lidded Rubbermaid bowl or a Ziploc bag. Let cookies come to room temperature before eating, so Reese’s Pieces will be soft for chewing.
- Freeze Cookies – After baking, let cookies cool completely before freezing. Then place cookies in an airtight container or freezer bag, separating layers with parchment paper. When ready to serve, allow cookies to thaw in the refrigerator or at room temperature.
- Freeze Dough Balls – Freeze dough balls on a baking sheet for 1 hour to harden. Then transfer to an airtight container or freezer bag and store for up to 3 months. After that, dough will remain edible but will begin to lose its freshness. When you’re ready to bake, simply let thaw to room temperature, then bake according to instructions. You can even bake from frozen by adding a few minutes to the baking time – watch cookies closely and remove from oven once center appears set.
Baking times can vary, so it’s good to know what to look when you’re baking cookies. Bake until the edges appear dry and the center is just set. Remember, cookies will continue to bake after they’re removed from the oven, so it’s important not to overbake them. Remove from oven and let cookies rest on baking sheet for 1 – 2 minutes. Serve warm or transfer to a wire cooling rack to cool.
Creaming your ingredients does more than just mixing them together. It’s actually creating air pockets that will make your cookies light and fluffy. If you skip the creaming, your cookies could end up hard and flat. That’s not the texture you want for most cookies.
Join the cookie club! Receive the best new cookie recipes and tips delivered directly to your inbox!
More Easy Recipes You’ll Love!
- Cookies n Cream Cookies
- Oatmeal Sandwich Cookies
- Brown Butter Toffee Cookies
- Miniature Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Mini Egg Cookies
- S’mores Cookies
- Thin Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Cornflake Cookies
- Funfetti Cookies
- Halloween Monster Cookies
Reese’s Pieces Cookies
Equipment
- Mixer, Stand or hand-held
- Measuring Cups and Spoons
- Rubber spatula or whisk
- Medium cookie scoop (optional)
- Baking Sheet
- Parchment Paper, Optional
- Wire cooling rack
Ingredients
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter, not natural variety
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1 large egg
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1½ cups all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt, omit if using salted butter
- 2 cups Reese's Pieces, set aside ¼ cup to top
Instructions
- In a stand mixer or medium mixing bowl, cream peanut butter, butter, and sugar until fluffy (about 3 minutes).
- Beat in egg and vanilla until just combined.
- In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Gradually add dry mixture to wet mixture until just combined. Fold in Reese's Pieces.
- Cover dough (or dough balls) and refrigerate 30 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 375°F.
- Using a medium cookie scoop or teaspoon, form dough balls. Drop onto parchment lined cookie sheets allowing room for spread.
- Bake 6 minutes. Optional: remove and gently press Reese's Pieces on top. Return to oven for 2-3 minutes until edges are set and slightly golden.
- Allow to cool 1 minute. Transfer to a wire cooling rack.
Notes
- Mix your dough a day ahead. Refrigerating the dough for at least 30 minutes helps to prevent spread during baking. Making the dough a day ahead and refrigerating overnight saves time on baking day, which is especially helpful if you’re making these for an event like a party or cookie exchange.
- Serve Reese’s Pieces Cookies warm out of the oven for the best melt-in-your-mouth texture and flavor. If you’re serving from refrigerated or room temperature, you can microwave cookies a few at a time for just a few seconds to warm the cookie and melt the candies just a touch.
To Store:
- Room Temperature – Store in a sealed, airtight container for up to five days. After that, cookies will start to lose their fresh flavor.
- Refrigerate – Baked cookies will stay fresh in the refrigerator for up to one week. Store in an airtight container such as a lidded Rubbermaid bowl or a Ziploc bag. Let cookies come to room temperature before eating, so Reese’s Pieces will be soft for chewing.
- Freeze Cookies – After baking, let cookies cool completely before freezing. Then place cookies in an airtight container or freezer bag, separating layers with parchment paper. When ready to serve, allow cookies to thaw in the refrigerator or at room temperature.
- Freeze Dough Balls – Freeze dough balls on a baking sheet for 1 hour to harden. Then transfer to an airtight container or freezer bag and store for up to 3 months. After that, dough will remain edible but will begin to lose its freshness. When you’re ready to bake, simply let thaw to room temperature, then bake according to instructions. You can even bake from frozen by adding a few minutes to the baking time – watch cookies closely and remove from oven once center appears set.
Leave a Comment