I can’t decide if I think these cookies are cute or disgusting.  One things for sure though, your kids will love them.

I was going to go with cute, until my 4 year old son bit into one and declared “Mmmm… spider guts taste like peanut butter” and showed me the inside of his cookie, which did indeed look a little like guts.

They are tasty too.  Soft peanut butter cookies, with a peanut butter cup nestled in the center and chocolate “spider legs” leave you with nothing not to like.

These would be a great thing to make for a Halloween party, or just a surprise to stick inside your kids’ Halloween lunches.

I adapted this recipe from two places.  I got the idea from Mommy Musings and for the cookie recipe, I used Betty Crocker’s Peanut Butter Blossoms, which I made and just added a bit of salt to.

Happy Halloween!

Ingredients:
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup creamy peanut butter
1 cup room temperature butter
2 eggs
3 cups all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
additional granulated sugar for rolling, about 1/4 cup
36 Reeses miniature peanut butter cups (refrigerate prior to using for easier handling)
1 cup chocolate chips (milk or semi-sweet)
72 candy eyeballs (get them on Amazon) or my Target carries them.

Directions:

• Heat oven to 375°F. In large bowl, beat 1/2 cup granulated sugar, the brown sugar, peanut butter, butter and eggs with electric mixer on medium speed, or mix with spoon. Stir in flour, baking soda and baking powder.
• Shape dough into 1-inch balls; roll in additional granulated sugar. Place about 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet.
• Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until edges are light brown. Immediately press 1 peanut butter cup into center of each cookie. Once peanut butter cups are in place, immediately remove from cookie sheet to wire rack.
• Peanut butter cups will be a little melty and you will be able to place two eyeballs into the center of each cup and have them stick.  Once all eyeballs are in place, stick the rack into your refrigerator for about 10 minutes to let the cookies firm up.
• Remove cookies from the fridge and melt your chocolate chips either in a double broiler or the microwave.  If you use the microwave, heat for 30 seconds, stir, and repeat, being very careful not to burn the chocolate.
• Pour the melted, smooth chocolate into a ziplock bag with the corner cut off, or a piping bag.  A piping bag works better because the chocolate will be hot and it is stronger and easier to handle.  Pipe 8 legs onto each spider and place cookies back int the fridge for 10 more minutes. Serve.