Peanut Butter Spider Cookies

Peanut butter spider cookies are the ultimate Halloween treat - cute, spooky, and irresistibly delicious. They're soft, chewy peanut butter cookies topped with mini peanut butter cups and chocolate spider legs. You might also like Halloween Chocolate Spiders.

Whether you're preparing for a Halloween party, classroom event, or a cozy evening at home, these cookies are guaranteed to steal the show. This recipe is simple enough for beginner bakers but detailed enough to help you achieve bakery-level results on your first try. You might also like Best Halloween Food Ideas.

Peanut butter spider cookies capture everything Halloween should be - playful, delicious, and just a little spooky. Each cookie combines creamy peanut butter flavor with rich chocolate, dressed up as creepy-cute spiders that kids and adults can't resist. They're simple, fun, and the kind of treat everyone will talk about long after the Halloween lights are out.

Why You'll Love Peanut Butter Spider Cookies

• Perfect for Halloween: These cookies instantly give off a spooky-cute vibe.
• Soft and chewy texture: The classic peanut butter cookie base stays moist and flavorful.
• Kid-friendly: Fun for kids to decorate and enjoy.
• Make ahead friendly: You can bake ahead and decorate later for convenience.

Ingredients Explained

• Peanut butter: Use creamy peanut butter, not crunchy peanut butter. This will help ensure your cookies are soft and chewy. 
• Butter: Adds tenderness and helps the cookies spread just the right amount.
• Brown sugar and granulated sugar: Create the perfect chewy balance, while brown sugar adds moisture and a hint of molasses.
• Egg: Binds the dough and enhances richness.
• Vanilla extract: Lifts the cookie flavor and complements the peanut butter.
• Flour: Provides structure - helps the cookies hold their shape while remaining soft.
• Baking soda and baking powder: Ensure proper rise and soft centers.
• Salt: Balances sweetness and brings out flavor depth.
• Mini peanut butter cups: Create the spider "bodies." They melt slightly into the cookie for that perfect blend.
• Chocolate chips or melts: Used for the spider "legs" and "eyes."
• Candy eyes or melted white chocolate dots: Bring your spiders to life!

How to Make Peanut Butter Spider Cookies

This is an overview with step-by-step instructions. Full ingredients, measurements & instructions are in the recipe card below. 

Step 1: Mix Wet Ingredients

1. Add the butter and sugars to a large mixing bowl. Use an electric hand mixer to cream the ingredients together for about 2 minutes, or until smooth and creamy.
2. Whisk in the egg for about a minute, or until the mixture is light and fluffy. Whisk in the peanut butter. 

Step 2. Mix Dry Ingredients and Combine

Add the baking powder, baking soda, and flour. Gently whisk the wet and dry ingredients together until homogenous. 

Step 3: Shape and Bake

1. Shape into small balls and arrange on a baking sheet. Use a cookie scoop or large spoon to drop balls of dough onto a cookie sheet.
2. Flatten your balls slightly into discs and bake at 350°F until lightly golden around the edges but soft in the center, for 11 minutes. 
3. Top each cookie with a peanut butter cup as they come out of the oven. Flatten slightly with your fingers or fork.

Step 4: Add Legs and Eyes

1. Melt the chocolate chips or melting wafers, transfer them to a piping bag or resealable plastic bag with the tip snipped. Pipe 8 lines onto each cookie coming out of the peanut butter cup to resemble spider legs.
2. Use melted chocolate as glue to attach candy eyes, or pipe small dots of white chocolate topped with tiny chocolate dots.

Pro Tips for Perfect Peanut Butter Spider Cookies

• Waiting a few minutes to add your candy eyes allows the chocolate on the peanut butter cups to soften, which helps the candy eyes stick perfectly. 
• How to pipe spider legs? We just used a ziplock bag to pipe on the spider legs. You can also use a piping bag with a very fine tip.  
• Space your cookies about 2 inches apart to account for spreading. Don't overbake: The cookies should stay soft in the centers - they continue cooking on the tray as they cool.
• Work quickly: Press peanut butter cups while the cookies are still warm so they adhere.
• Use high-quality chocolate: Smooth melty chocolate makes easier, cleaner spider legs.
• Keep steady hands: Let the melted chocolate cool slightly before piping; it will be thicker and easier to control.
• Chill before moving: Once decorated, refrigerate cookies for 10-15 minutes to set decorations firmly in place.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Can I use chunky peanut butter?
  Yes, but the cookie texture will be slightly rougher. Creamy peanut butter gives the smoothest finish.
• Can I make these ahead of time?
  Absolutely. Bake a day in advance and decorate before serving for maximum freshness.
• Do I need to chill the dough?
  If the kitchen is warm, yes - 30 minutes in the fridge prevents overspreading.
• Can I use another candy for spider bodies?
  Mini chocolate truffles or chocolate-covered caramels work well if you don't have peanut butter cups.

Variations and Substitutions 

• No candy eyes? Use small white chocolate dots or mini chocolate chips.
• Nut-free version: Substitute sunflower butter for peanut butter and use nut-free mini cups.
• Add crunch: Mix in crushed pretzels or chopped peanuts for texture.
• Double chocolate: Use a chocolate cookie base for a darker, spookier version.
• To make these gluten-free: Use a 1:1 gluten-free baking flour blend.

Essential Tools

1. Rubber spatula: Helps scrape every bit of dough from the bowl.
2. Medium cookie scoop: Keeps cookie sizes consistent for even baking.
3. Baking sheet or sheet pans: Flat pans for even heat distribution and golden edges.

Storage and Leftovers

• Serve immediately: You can serve these cookies immediately or let the chocolate set. If you are in a rush you can chill them in the fridge for about 20 minutes. 
• Room temperature: Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
• Refrigerate: Peanut Butter Spider cookies can be stored in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. Keep them airtight to preserve their freshness as long as possible. 
• Freeze the dough: Freeze cookie dough balls unbaked for up to 2 months.
• Freeze decorated cookies: Place in layers between parchment paper and freeze up to 1 month.
• Reheat: Allow frozen cookies to thaw at room temperature before serving.

More Halloween Cookies and Treats

• Halloween Rice Krispie Treats
• Little Shop of Horrors "Audrey" Cupcakes
• Nutella Ghost Hand Pies
• Halloween Brownie Cakesicles