Irresistible Homemade Crumbl Peanut Butter Cup Cookies: Your Ultimate Guide

Prepare to delight your taste buds with these incredible Crumbl Peanut Butter Cup Cookies! They are truly a dream come true for any Reese’s lover, combining the rich, nutty flavor of a classic peanut butter cookie with the iconic chocolate and peanut butter candy. Each cookie starts with a deliciously thick and chewy Crumbl-style peanut butter cookie base, generously crowned with a smooth, melted peanut butter chip topping, and then finished with an abundance of chopped Reese’s peanut butter cups. The result is a symphony of textures and flavors that will have you reaching for another, and another!

If you’re already a fan of the Crumbl Classic Peanut Butter Cookies, you’ll love how this recipe elevates that beloved base. It was a joy to transform that timeless idea into these decadent peanut butter cookies with Reese’s cups! For more peanut butter perfection, don’t miss my delightful Crumbl Peanut Butter Blossom Cookies. And if your heart truly belongs to Reese’s peanut butter cups, you absolutely must check out my Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup S’mores Skillet – it’s a fantastically fun and shareable dessert. Don’t stop there; expand your cookie repertoire with my Crumbl Peanut Butter Brownie Cookies and these irresistible Chocolate Peanut Butter Chip Cookies too!

Why These Crumbl Peanut Butter Cup Cookies Are a Must-Try

These homemade Crumbl Peanut Butter Cup Cookies aren’t just delicious; they are crafted with specific techniques and ingredients to ensure a perfect result every time. Here’s what makes this recipe truly stand out:

• Perfectly Smooth Peanut Butter Topping: The secret to a luscious, spreadable peanut butter topping lies in a simple trick: adding a touch of vegetable oil to the peanut butter chips as they melt. This prevents the chips from seizing up and ensures a beautifully smooth, glossy consistency that spreads effortlessly over each cookie. Unlike plain melted peanut butter, chips contain stabilizers, and the added oil encourages them to stay wonderfully fluid, creating a professional-looking and tasting glaze that’s rich and sweet. This detail guarantees a velvety texture that melts in your mouth, rather than a clumpy or sticky mess.
• The Ultimate Thick and Chewy Peanut Butter Cookie Base: This Crumbl-inspired peanut butter cookie is a masterpiece on its own. It’s designed to be wonderfully thick, incredibly chewy, and absolutely bursting with intense peanut butter flavor. With a generous 3/4 cup of creamy peanut butter in the dough, every bite delivers a deep, satisfying nuttiness that forms the perfect foundation for the Reese’s toppings. The combination of brown and granulated sugar, along with precise baking times, creates a cookie with slightly crackled edges and a soft, tender center, mimicking that iconic bakery texture you love.
• A Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup in Every Single Bite! What’s better than a peanut butter cookie? A peanut butter cookie generously topped with your favorite candy! These peanut butter cookies with Reese’s cups are designed for maximum enjoyment, ensuring you get that delightful chocolate and peanut butter candy in every mouthwatering bite. The trick? Don’t be shy! Load up each cookie with as many chopped Reese’s pieces as your heart desires. This generous application not only looks incredible but also guarantees that signature Reese’s flavor and texture is present throughout the entire cookie, creating an unforgettable experience.

Key Ingredients for Perfect Peanut Butter Cup Cookies

Every ingredient plays a crucial role in the success of these Crumbl Peanut Butter Cup Cookies. Understanding their function will help you achieve the best possible results and confidently make any necessary adjustments.

• Unsalted Butter: Starting with unsalted butter gives you precise control over the overall saltiness of your cookies. If you only have salted butter on hand, remember to reduce the amount of added salt in the recipe by approximately 1/4 teaspoon per stick (or 1/2 cup) of butter used. Room temperature butter is essential for proper creaming with sugars and peanut butter, resulting in a smooth, well-emulsified dough.
• Creamy Peanut Butter: For this recipe, traditional creamy peanut butter is highly recommended over natural varieties. Natural peanut butter typically separates, with oil rising to the top. This extra liquid and different fat content can significantly alter the dough’s consistency and how the cookies bake, potentially leading to a greasier texture or excessive spreading. Traditional creamy peanut butter provides a consistent texture and flavor that this recipe relies on for its thick, chewy outcome.
• Brown Sugar: Whether you choose light or dark brown sugar, both contribute significantly to the cookie’s texture and flavor. I used light brown sugar for a classic taste. Dark brown sugar, with its higher molasses content, will impart a deeper color and a richer, more robust caramel-like flavor to your cookies. More importantly, brown sugar adds moisture, ensuring these peanut butter cookies remain soft and wonderfully chewy, preventing them from becoming dry or crumbly.
• Peanut Butter Chips: These chips are not merely an optional addition; they are crucial for creating the perfect topping for your Crumbl peanut butter cup cookies. When melted, they provide a sweet, intensely peanut buttery glaze that wouldn’t be achieved with plain melted peanut butter. Peanut butter chips contain specific ingredients that help them melt smoothly and retain a lovely texture, which is superior to the stick-to-the-roof-of-your-mouth experience you might get from regular peanut butter. They enhance the overall “peanut butter candy” flavor profile.
• Vegetable Oil: Just a small amount of vegetable oil is a game-changer when melting the peanut butter chips. Its primary role is to act as an emulsifier and thinner, preventing the melted chips from seizing up into a thick, unmanageable mass. This ensures the topping stays beautifully smooth, pourable, and easy to spread evenly across each cookie, creating that signature glossy finish. Canola oil is a suitable alternative.
• Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups: The star of the show! Chopped Reese’s peanut butter cups are scattered generously on top, providing that unmistakable, beloved Reese’s flavor and texture in every bite. Feel free to use any variety you prefer: regular cups, mini cups, the larger cups, or even fun holiday shapes like Reese’s eggs, trees, or pumpkins. Each offers a slightly different size and candy-to-chocolate ratio, allowing you to customize your cookie experience. Chop them into various sizes for different bursts of flavor.

Easy Step-by-Step Instructions for Your Crumbl Peanut Butter Cup Cookies

Creating these incredible cookies is a straightforward process. Follow these simple steps to bake your way to peanut butter perfection:

1. Cream Butters and Sugars: Begin by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C) and lining a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (or using a hand mixer), combine the softened unsalted butter, creamy peanut butter, packed brown sugar, and granulated sugar. Cream these ingredients together for 2-3 minutes on medium speed until the mixture is light, fluffy, and well combined. This process incorporates air, contributing to the cookie’s tender texture. Then, add the large egg and vanilla extract, mixing until just combined, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed to ensure everything is evenly incorporated.
2. Add the Dry Ingredients: To the wet mixture, add the all-purpose flour, salt, and baking soda. Mix on low speed until the dry ingredients are just incorporated into the wet, being careful not to overmix. Overmixing can develop the gluten in the flour too much, leading to tougher cookies. The dough should come together but still be soft.

3. Form into Cookie Dough Balls: Using a 1/4 cup cookie scoop, or by rolling the dough with your hands, portion the dough into evenly sized balls. For that signature Crumbl look, place about 6 dough balls onto your prepared baking sheet, ensuring they are spaced far enough apart to allow for some spread.
4. Prepare for Baking and Bake: Once the dough balls are on the baking sheet, gently press down on each ball with the palm of your hand until it forms a thick, flat disk, similar to a hockey puck. This step is key for achieving those characteristic crackled edges and ensuring an even thickness, which leads to a more uniform bake. Bake for 11-12 minutes. The cookies are ready when the edges appear set and slightly crackled, but the centers still look slightly soft and underdone. They will continue to set and firm up as they cool on the hot baking sheet.
5. Remove and Let Cool: Carefully remove the cookies from the oven. Allow them to cool on the baking sheet for 5-10 minutes. This crucial cooling time on the hot pan helps them finish baking gently and firm up without becoming brittle. After this initial cooling, transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely. Cooling completely is important before adding the toppings, as a warm cookie will cause the topping to run off.
6. Prepare the Toppings: While the cookies are cooling, prepare your delicious topping. Place the peanut butter chips and vegetable oil in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in 20-second intervals, stirring thoroughly after each interval, until the mixture is completely melted and smooth. Be careful not to overheat, as this can cause the chips to seize or burn. The vegetable oil ensures a beautifully fluid and glossy topping.

7. Add the Toppings and Enjoy! Once the cookies are completely cool, spread about 1 tablespoon of the melted peanut butter chip mixture evenly over the top of each cookie. While the topping is still wet, generously sprinkle with your chopped Reese’s peanut butter cups. The topping will firm up as it cools, securing the candy pieces. Serve these delectable cookies at room temperature or slightly warm for an extra gooey experience.

Expert Tips for Perfect Crumbl Peanut Butter Cup Cookies

Achieving bakery-quality Crumbl Peanut Butter Cup Cookies is easy with a few insider tips:

• Shape the Dough for Even Baking: After portioning your cookie dough into balls, don’t skip the step of pressing them down. Using the palm of your hand, gently flatten each dough ball into a thick disk, resembling a mini hockey puck. This technique is essential for two reasons: it helps the cookies achieve those signature crackled edges that Crumbl cookies are known for, and it ensures an even thickness across all cookies. Uniform thickness promotes a more consistent bake, so all your cookies come out perfectly chewy and cooked through at the same time.
• Customize with Chocolate Chips: While these cookies are fantastic as is, feel free to add chocolate chips to the cookie dough if you’re a true chocolate-peanut butter enthusiast! About 1/2 to 3/4 cup of semi-sweet or milk chocolate chips folded into the dough before baking will add an extra layer of deliciousness and an even richer chocolate flavor, turning them into a true chocolate peanut butter explosion.
• To Chill or Not to Chill? This recipe is designed so you don’t have to chill the cookie dough, saving you valuable time! However, if you prefer, you certainly can. Chilling cookie dough for at least 30 minutes (or even overnight) can deepen the flavors of the ingredients and slightly reduce spread during baking, leading to an even thicker cookie. For these Reese’s peanut butter cup cookies, spreading isn’t a major issue, so skipping the chill time won’t compromise the final texture, but a brief chill can still enhance flavor complexity.
• Room Temperature Butter is Key: Always start with room temperature butter. This seemingly small detail makes a significant difference in the dough’s consistency. Butter that is properly softened will cream together much more effectively with the sugars and peanut butter, creating a smooth, homogenous mixture. This smooth base allows for better air incorporation, which contributes to the cookies’ light yet chewy texture. Cold butter won’t blend properly, leading to a lumpy dough and a less desirable cookie texture.

Make Ahead, Storing, and Freezing Options

These Crumbl Peanut Butter Cup Cookies are fantastic to enjoy fresh, but they also offer great flexibility for making ahead, storing, and freezing:

Make Ahead Dough: To prepare the cookie dough in advance, simply follow the recipe steps up to forming the dough balls. Store the prepared dough in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 1-2 days. When you’re ready to bake, remove the container from the fridge about 30 minutes before you plan to bake. This allows the dough to soften slightly, making it easier to roll or scoop into perfect portions.

Storing Baked Cookies: Once baked and cooled, store these delightful cookies in an airtight container or a Ziplock bag. They will remain wonderfully fresh at room temperature for 2-3 days. If you want to extend their freshness, storing them in the refrigerator will keep them delicious for 5-6 days. For optimal flavor and texture, allow them to come to room temperature or warm them slightly before serving if stored in the fridge.

Freezing Cookie Dough: Freezing cookie dough is a fantastic way to enjoy freshly baked cookies anytime. Roll the dough into individual 1/4 cup-sized balls as directed in the recipe. Place these dough balls on a baking sheet and flash freeze them for about 1-2 hours, or until they are firm. Once firm, transfer the frozen dough balls to a freezer-safe Ziplock bag or an airtight container. They will keep well in the freezer for 1-2 months. When you’re ready to bake, simply place the frozen dough balls on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake directly from frozen. You might need to add an additional minute or two to the bake time, but no thawing is required!

Freezing Baked Cookies: If you’ve already baked the cookies and want to save some for later, flash freeze them first. Place the topped cookies on a baking sheet and freeze for 5-10 minutes, or until the peanut butter chip topping is firm. This prevents the topping from sticking to wrapping. Once firm, individually wrap each cookie in plastic wrap, then place the wrapped cookies in a freezer-safe Ziplock bag or an airtight container. They can be frozen for up to 1 month. To enjoy, simply remove from the freezer and let them thaw at room temperature before indulging. You can also freeze the cookies without any toppings. Just let them cool completely, then wrap and store in a Ziplock bag or airtight container for 1-2 months. When ready to serve, thaw and then add the freshly melted peanut butter chip and Reese’s toppings.

Common Questions About Crumbl Peanut Butter Cup Cookies

Explore More Delicious Peanut Butter Recipes

If you can’t get enough of that rich, creamy peanut butter flavor, you’re in luck! Here are some other fantastic peanut butter recipes to satisfy your cravings:

• Peanut Butter Oatmeal: A comforting and hearty breakfast that packs a protein punch.
• Chocolate Cake with Peanut Butter Frosting: The ultimate flavor combination in a decadent dessert.
• No Bake Peanut Butter Pie: An incredibly easy and refreshing dessert, perfect for any occasion.
• Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Balls: A healthy and energizing snack for when you need a quick boost.