Peanut Butter Spider Cookies

Why You’ll Love It

A fun project: Making peanut butter spider cookies is an enjoyable baking project the kids can help out with. You can get creative with these.
Perfectly sweet: The combination of peanut butter, vanilla, chocolate, and candies works so well, offering the perfect amount of sweetness.
Simple to make: You don’t need any specific baking expertise to make these and you don’t have to be artsy either, as they’re really straightforward.

Spider Peanut Butter Cookie Ingredients

A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.

Peanut butter: Crunchy or creamy peanut butter – just use whichever you have on hand. You can use natural peanut butter or the sweetened kind, whatever you prefer.
White and brown sugar: Light brown sugar and white granulated sugar go into the cookies for sweetness.
Whoppers: These small, round brown candies make the bodies of the spiders.
Candy eyes: Such a cute touch!
Vanilla extract: Vanilla extract complements the other flavors in these Halloween cookies.
Flour: A main ingredient in the cookies.
An egg: Binds the cookie dough.
Chocolate chips: Melted chocolate chips are used to make the spider legs.

How to Make Peanut Butter Spider Cookies

For more detailed instructions with weights and measurements, jump to the printable recipe card.

Make the cookies: Cream the butter and peanut butter, then mix in the sugar, egg and vanilla. Stir in the flour and baking powder and shape the cookie dough into balls. Bake on a baking sheet until golden brown.
Decorate the cookies: Press a couple of whopper candies into each cookie and add the candy eyes. Let them cool completely and draw on spider legs using a toothpick and melted chocolate chips. Let them set and then serve.

Substitutions and Variations

Gluten-free option: If you want a gluten-free version, use gluten-free flour and gluten-free candies.
Peanut-free version: Swap the peanut butter for almond butter or cashew butter.
Adjust the sweetness: If you prefer a less sweet result, use less sugar.
Different cookie recipe: You can use any peanut butter cookie recipe if there’s another you usually make.

Serving Suggestions

Ghoulish savory bites: Add Halloween hot dogs and skull potatoes to your Halloween buffet table, or try these cute mini Halloween charcuterie boards!
Spooky sweet treats: Pumpkin mini bundt cakes and apple cider donuts pair well with peanut butter spider cookies.
Scary sips to savor: Glow-in-the-dark coconut rum shots are fun!

How to Store Spider Cookies with Whoppers

Store: Keep the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature and eat within 3 or 4 days.
Freeze: These will lose their shape and texture if frozen and thawed.