Looking for a delicious and easy-to-make cookie dough recipe? Look no further than these Halloween Cookies made with Reese's peanut butter pieces!
This cookie dough is super rich and flavorful, and the Reese's peanut butter pieces add a perfect touch of sweetness and creaminess.
Looking for more Halloween Themed Recipes and inspiration? Explore the full collection of festive ideas.
Halloween is one of the best times of year for baking, and there are so many delicious recipes to choose from. One of our favorites is these Halloween cookies made with Reese's candy pieces.
They're super easy cookie recipe to make, and they're always a big hit with kids and adults alike. The key to making them perfect is to make sure the candy pieces are evenly distributed throughout the dough.
Once they're baked, they'll be nice and soft, with a delicious peanut butter flavor. So if you're looking for a Halloween treat that's sure to please, I hope you'll try these cookies!
Ready for more Easy Desserts? Try my Halloween Chocolate Covered Pretzels or this fun collection of Halloween Food and Treats.
Table of Contents
- What does dissolving baking soda in hot water do for cookies?
- Halloween Cookie Gifts
- Helpful Kitchen Tools
- Main Ingredients Needed
- Step-by-Step Directions
- Bake Cookies Like a Pro!
- Baking Instructions
- Before You Begin!
- Cookie Storage Tips
- Cookie Freezing Tips
- Printable Halloween Gift Tags
- Scare Up Some Fun with Our Halloween Activity Pack Sale!
- 📖 Recipe Card
- 💬 Comments
What does dissolving baking soda in hot water do for cookies?
Baking soda is a key ingredient in many cookie recipes. When combined with hot water, it helps to create a light, airy texture in the cookies. It also helps to ensure that it gets equally distributed in the batter.
The baking soda also reacts with the other ingredients in the recipe to create a more evenly-baked cookie. Without baking soda, cookies can end up being dense and oily.
Dissolving the baking soda in water also helps to ensure that your cookies turn out light and fluffy every time.
Halloween Cookie Gifts
Giving cookies as gifts is something I love to do. What's even better, is to give the cookie mix as a mason jar gift idea. They make a great gift for teachers, neighbors, family and even a hostess or thank you gift.
Here's all you need to do to give this Halloween Cookie recipe in a mason jar:
- Start layering the dry ingredients into the jar and top it off with the Reese's Pieces Candies.
- Print out the recipe card at the bottom of this post. You can also copy the recipe onto a fun colorful paper.
- Tie the recipe onto the mason jar with twine and you have a really cute gift for a friend, a teacher or someone who helped you recently!
- Check out my Halloween Cookies in a Mason Jar for a very similar recipe but comes with FREE printable gift tags for you to give a great gift!
- Or check out these fun printable gift bags and tags that are great for giving home-baked goodies for the holidays.
Helpful Kitchen Tools
More InformationMore InformationMore InformationMore Information
Main Ingredients Needed
Exact measurements are listed below in the recipe card. Make sure you scroll down to print and save the recipe for later!
Step-by-Step Directions
Step 1: Add the butter, oil and both sugars to a medium mixing bowl. With an electric mixer, cream together until smooth and creamy.
Step 2: Add the egg and beat until incorporated. Then add the vanilla.
Step 3: Dissolve the baking soda into the hot water. Add it into the mixture. Combine the flour and salt together in a bowl.
Step 4: Add half of the dry ingredients to the creamed mixture and stir until just combined. Then add the remaining half and stir until all of the ingredients are wet.
Step 5: Finally add the Reese's Candy Pieces and combine. Then cover and chill dough for 15 minutes.
Step 6: Once chilled, remove the dough from refrigerator. Using a cookie scoop, add the cookie dough on the cookie sheet, 2 inches apart. You can use parchment paper if you prefer.
Bake Cookies Like a Pro!
Use a cookie scoop to form the dough balls to ensure they are evenly sized for uniform cooking.
Not sure what size cookie scoop to use? Grab my FREE Cookie Scoop Size Cheat Sheet!
Baking Instructions
Step 7: Bake for 10 to 12 minutes in a preheated 350° F. Remove from oven and allow the cookies to cool on the pan for 2-3 minutes. Transfer the cookies to a wire rack to completely cool before serving.
Before You Begin!
If you make this recipe, please leave a review and star rating. This helps my business thrive and continue providing FREE recipes.
Cookie Storage Tips
Baked cookies can last for several weeks if they are stored properly. The key is to keep them fresh and prevent them from drying out. Cookies stored properly should last up to 10 days:
- One way to do this is to place the cookies in an airtight container. A plastic storage bag or tupperware works well.
- If you are using a plastic bag, make sure to squeeze out as much air as possible before sealing it.
- Another way to keep cookies fresh is to wrap them individually in wax paper or parchment paper. This will help to keep them moist and prevent them from sticking together. Once they are wrapped, place them in an airtight container or freezer bag.
Cookie Freezing Tips
Freezing baked cookies is a great way to extend their shelf life and ensure that they stay fresh for weeks or even months.
- When freezing baked cookies, it's important to first let them cool completely.
- Then, place them in an airtight container or freezer bag before transferring them to the freezer.
- For best results, try to eat the frozen cookies within three months.
- When you're ready to enjoy a frozen cookie, simply allow it to thaw at room temperature or heat it up in the microwave for a few seconds.
Printable Halloween Gift Tags
There are printable Halloween Gift Tags and gift bags that would be fun to use to give these Halloween cookies as a gift available in the WOS Shop.
Scare Up Some Fun with Our Halloween Activity Pack Sale!
📖 Recipe Card
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Halloween Cookies
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter
- 1 cup granulated white sugar
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 2 eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 tablespoon hot water
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 3 cups flour
- 2 cups Reese's Pieces candy baking pieces
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
- Add the butter, oil and both sugars to a medium mixing bowl. With an electric mixer, cream together until smooth and creamy.
- Add the eggs and beat until incorporated. Then add the vanilla.
- Dissolve the baking soda in the hot water and add it to the mixing bowl.
- Combine the flour and salt together in a bowl.
- Add half of the dry ingredients to the creamed mixture and stir until just combined. Add the remaining half and stir until all of the ingredients are wet.
- Add the Reeses Pieces and combine.
- Cover and chill dough for 15 minutes.
- Once chilled, remove from refrigerator. Using a cookie scoop, add the cookie dough on the lined cookie sheet, 2 inches apart.
- Bake for 10 to 13 minutes.
- Remove from oven and allow the cookies to cool on the pan for 2-3 minutes.
- Transfer the cookies to a wire rack to completely cool before serving.
Notes
This recipe has been updated since it first appeared in 2014 with new photos, information and a new printable recipe card that includes nutritional information. I hope you enjoy the updates as much as I enjoyed working on them!
Francine Patterson says
When do you add the oil?
Lois says
Thanks for catching the typo! I updated the recipe card to show that you add the oil along with the butter. Thanks for visiting.
Erlene - My Pinterventures says
What a fun way to thanks someone or just give as a gift. Thanks for sharing your recipe and idea on Merry Monday.
Kelly Mahan says
Omg, they look so perfect for Halloween!! I wanna make them to give as treats on trick or treating night!
Jessica Snyder says
these are so cute! what a perfect gift!
Nettie Moore says
Hi Lois! Thank you for linking up your wonderful Halloween Cookies at our Simple Supper Tuesday Linky Party! You have been featured at Moore or Less Cooking! Nettie
http://mooreorlesscooking.com/2014/10/27/simple-supper-tuesday-linky-party-33/
Jill Shepherd says
What a great idea for a gift! And the cookies look awesome.
Thanks for linking to a Round Tuit!
Hope you have a fabulous week!
Jill @ Creating my way to Success
http://www.jembellish.blogspot.com/
Kimberly Lewis says
Hello gorgeous! What an amazing idea. Oh Yum and so cute! Pinned. We hope to see you at our party tonight at 7 pm. It is so fun to party with you! http://loulougirls.blogspot.com/
Happy Monday! Lou Lou Girls
Joanne DiPalo says
Cookie Jar gifts are such a terrific idea. This recipe sounds awesome with the Reeses' pieces, I love them more than using peanut butter in the cookie. Pinned/shared.
Joy says
Lois, this is so much fun- I always see those "cookies in a jar" gift ideas and always mean to make some...Jani fixed up a really cute one. And the cookies you made from it look r-e-a-l-l-y good! Thank you for sharing this with us at Treasure Box Tuesday- pinned! 🙂
Ash Roberts says
These look so good! I'll be making these for my son's football team. 🙂
Patty Anderson says
What a nice idea for a gift Lois.