Peanut Butter Spider Cookies
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Ready to add some fun to your Fall Harvest or Halloween plans? These Peanut Butter Spider Cookies are packed with all the flavors we love -- chocolate and loads of peanut butter -- and everyone who tries them loves the goofy spider look as much as the taste.
My boys, who love spiders and all things creepy-crawly, go crazy over these cookies. And the kids who are scared of real spiders? They have no problem getting close to this treat.
I would have never dreamed we'd be baking spider cookies when I first started eating gluten and dairy free years ago. Y'all, these treats look festive and taste ridiculously delicious with that chocolate and peanut butter combo, and those silly spider eyes really help the cookies come alive.
Read below for your step-by-step guide to successfully preparing these cookies to share with your family and friends.
Ingredient Notes
- peanut butter cookies-- use my easy chocolate kiss cookie recipe as the base. This recipe makes 40 cookies.
- spider body-- here is our gluten and dairy free peanut butter cup recipe. I usually prepare these cups a day or two before assembling the body. This recipe will give you 15 mini peanut butter cups and can easily be tripled for more cups.
- spider eyes-- a safe gluten and dairy free brand is Festival Candy Eyes available for purchase here. And this is their allergen statement.
- spider legs-- chocolate frosting or Betty Crocker Chocolate Decorating Cupcake Icing found at local grocery stores. Or our homemade chocolate buttercream frosting with a small icing tip works perfect as well.
Step-by-Step Guide
- For this recipe prepare the peanut butter cups as the above recipe suggests. After the cups are solid, remove from the muffin liner and set aside.
- Follow the cookie recipe link above. After the cookies are removed from the oven, allow them to cool for 10 minutes; then place the cups upside down on each cookie. If the peanut butter cups are placed on the cookies too soon, they melt and lose their spider shape.
- Next, after the cups have been placed on the cookies, attach the eyes. The peanut butter cups will be slightly melty, making it easier to have the eyes attach.
- Then lastly using frosting and a #1 icing tip with a frosting bag or the Betty Crocker Decorating Icing mentioned above, add four legs to each side of the body.
- Store these at room temperature in an airtight container up to 3 days. They are freshest the day the cookies are baked.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make these ahead of time? Yes -- bake and decorate the cookies the same day if you can, since the peanut butter cups hold their spider shape best when placed on a warm cookie. If you need to prep ahead, bake the cookies a day early and decorate them the morning you plan to serve them.
Can I use a different cookie base? Absolutely. Any soft gluten and dairy free peanut butter or chocolate cookie works well here -- just make sure the cookies are still warm when you add the peanut butter cup so it sticks.
How do I keep the peanut butter cups from melting too much? Let the cookies cool for about 10 minutes before adding the cups. Any earlier and the cups melt flat and lose their spider shape; any later and they won't stick to the cookie.
Storage
Store finished Peanut Butter Spider Cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, or in the fridge for up to a week. Keep them in a single layer if you can, so the spider legs and eyes stay intact.
Other Recipes You'll Love for the Fall
- pumpkin cookies with cream cheese frosting-- these cookies are a fall must. They melt-in-your-mouth.
- candy corn rice krispie treats-- these gooey falls treats will have everyone feeling festive and like a kid again
- mummy brownies-- these festive treats are delicious and easy to make
- the best Halloween candy-- not sure which candy is safe to share for school parties, Trick or Treating, or Fall Harvest parties? This offers several safe suggestions that are kid-approved.
- and so, so many delicious Thanksgiving recipes such as smoked turkey and brine, creamy mashed potatoes, comforting sweet potato bake, crock-pot stuffing and rich butter tarts
Lastly
While these cookies do take some time planning ahead. It is completly worth it.
These cookies are the best! They're fun, festive, and funny. So to say these Spider Cookies are a crowd favorite is an understatement.
Everyone goes cray-cray over these festive cookies.
Don't forget how perfect these cookies would fit in at a creepy crawly bugs and insects birthday party theme, too.
Please do me a favor and leave me a 5 star review and comment below if you enjoyed these cookies.
And you'll find so many more fall and Christmas recipes on my website! Grab a cup of joe and enjoy exploring.
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