Ultimate Loaded Reese’s Cookies: A Peanut Butter Lover’s Dream Dessert Recipe

Prepare for an extraordinary treat! These Loaded Reese’s Cookies are an absolute dream come true for anyone who adores Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. Imagine soft, buttery cookies, generously packed with vibrant Reese’s Pieces and decadently topped with miniature Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. This isn’t just a cookie; it’s an over-the-top Reese’s dessert experience that promises to satisfy every peanut butter and chocolate craving you have. Each bite delivers a delightful combination of textures and an explosion of irresistible Reese’s flavor, making them perfect for sharing with friends and family, or simply indulging yourself!

If you find yourself reaching for Reese’s in any form – whether it’s a classic peanut butter cup, a handful of Reese’s Pieces, or even a Reese’s chocolate bar – then this recipe is definitely for you. These cookies are not just good; they are truly amazing, offering a rich and fulfilling flavor profile. To ensure they aren’t overly sweet despite the abundance of candy, we’ve carefully reduced the amount of sugar in the cookie dough. This adjustment allows the distinctive Reese’s flavor to shine through beautifully, creating a harmonious balance that will leave you wanting more. These soft and chewy cookies are truly a masterpiece, brimming with Reese’s Pieces and Mini Peanut Butter Cups for an undeniably awesome and indulgent dessert.

Essential Ingredients for Your Reese’s Peanut Butter Cookies

Crafting the perfect loaded Reese’s cookie starts with selecting the right ingredients. Each component plays a vital role in achieving that sought-after soft, chewy texture and rich, irresistible flavor. Here’s a breakdown of what you’ll need and why:

– Butter: Using softened, unsalted butter is key. It helps create an incredibly creamy base when blended with the sugars, contributing significantly to the rich, buttery flavor that forms the foundation of these incredible cookies. Make sure your butter is truly softened, not melted, for the best dough consistency.

– Shortening: The inclusion of shortening is a secret weapon for achieving the ideal cookie texture. It helps make the cookies wonderfully crisp around the edges while keeping the centers light, airy, and delightfully chewy. This combination of butter and shortening gives these loaded Reese’s cookies their signature melt-in-your-mouth quality.

– Sugars: We utilize both granulated sugar and brown sugar for a reason! Granulated sugar provides a crispness and helps the cookies spread, while brown sugar adds moisture, depth of flavor, and contributes to that desirable chewy texture. The molasses in brown sugar also adds a subtle caramel note that complements the peanut butter perfectly.

– Eggs: Eggs are essential binders in cookie dough. They help hold all the ingredients together, ensuring your cookies maintain their shape during baking and achieve a consistent texture. They also add richness and contribute to the overall structure.

– Vanilla Extract: While often a supporting player, high-quality vanilla extract elevates the flavor profile of any cookie. It acts as a bridge, enhancing the sweetness and bringing out the complex notes of the butter, sugars, and, of course, the peanut butter candies. Don’t skimp on good vanilla!

– All-Purpose Flour: This is the backbone of our cookie dough. Using all-purpose flour provides the necessary structure without making the cookies tough. Measuring it correctly (spooned and leveled) is crucial for the right consistency.

– Baking Soda and Salt: Baking soda is our leavening agent, helping the cookies rise and achieve that soft, airy interior. Salt is its indispensable sidekick; it doesn’t just add flavor but also balances the sweetness and makes all the other flavors in the cookie taste even better and more pronounced. Without salt, the cookies would taste flat.

– Reese’s Chocolates & Candies: This is where the “loaded” part truly comes in! We call for five different types of chocolates and candies to create an ultimate Reese’s experience. While you *can* substitute, for the authentic, over-the-top flavor, we highly recommend trying to incorporate them all for the most dynamic and delicious cookie possible.

The Incredible Amount of Reese’s in These Cookies!

Get ready, Reese’s enthusiasts, because these cookies are truly *loaded*! We weren’t kidding when we said we put a lot of Reese’s in these. Trust us, the generous quantity of candies contributes to an unbelievably delicious and texturally exciting cookie. The combination is simply incredible, delivering a burst of peanut butter and chocolate in every single bite. In addition to a half-cup of classic mini chocolate chips for an extra chocolatey kick, we’ll be incorporating four distinct types of Reese’s candies:

3/4 cup Reese’s Peanut Butter Chips: These tiny chips melt beautifully into the cookie dough, infusing it with an extra layer of creamy peanut butter flavor. You can typically find them in the baking aisle, right alongside the other chocolate chips.
9 oz Reese’s Pieces: These iconic orange, yellow, and brown candies add a delightful crunch and a vibrant pop of color, along with their unmistakable peanut butter candy coating flavor. We use the regular-sized candies for maximum impact within the cookie dough.
7.6 oz Reese’s Mini Peanut Butter Cups: Crucially, you need the MINI Peanut Butter Cups for this recipe. Look for the bags of unwrapped candies in the candy aisle. These are perfect for incorporating directly into the dough and pressing onto the tops of the cookies, offering a soft, melt-in-your-mouth peanut butter cup experience.
5 oz Reese’s Mini Pieces: These are a smaller version of the regular Reese’s Pieces, providing an additional layer of texture and peanut butter candy goodness. They are excellent for pressing into the exterior of the cookie dough balls, ensuring every surface is adorned with Reese’s. You can usually find them in the candy aisle or sometimes near ice cream toppings. (I often find them at larger retailers like Walmart.)

This magnificent medley of Reese’s ensures that every cookie is packed to the brim with your favorite peanut butter and chocolate flavors and textures. It’s a true celebration of all things Reese’s!

How to Make Your Ultimate Loaded Reese’s Cookies

Creating these sensational Reese’s cookies is a straightforward process, but paying attention to each step will ensure perfect results every time. Follow these instructions to bake your way to peanut butter perfection:

First, begin by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). While the oven heats, prepare your baking sheets. Line them with parchment paper; this prevents sticking and makes for easy cleanup. Set the prepared sheets aside until your dough is ready.

Mix the Cookie Dough to Perfection

The foundation of these delicious cookies is a perfectly mixed dough:

In a small bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients: flour, baking soda, and salt. Whisking ensures they are evenly distributed, which is crucial for uniform leavening. Set this bowl aside for now.
In a separate, large mixing bowl (preferably using a stand mixer with a paddle attachment or a hand mixer), combine the softened butter and shortening. Beat them together on medium speed until the mixture becomes visibly pale and wonderfully creamy. This aeration is important for the cookie’s texture.
Next, add both the granulated sugar and brown sugar to the butter and shortening mixture. Continue mixing until the sugars are fully incorporated and the mixture is light and fluffy. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed to ensure everything is well combined.
Crack the eggs into the mixture, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Then, add the vanilla extract and mix again until just combined. Be careful not to overmix at this stage.
Gradually add the flour mixture into the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until the dry ingredients are just incorporated. Stop mixing as soon as no dry streaks of flour remain to avoid developing too much gluten, which can lead to tough cookies.
Finally, gently stir in the first batch of candies: the mini chocolate chips, Reese’s Peanut Butter Chips, 1/2 cup of the Mini Peanut Butter Cups, and 1/3 cup of the Mini Reese’s Pieces. Fold them in by hand with a spatula until evenly distributed throughout the dough.

Add A Ton of Reese’s – The “Loaded” Step!

This step is where your Reese’s cookies truly earn their “loaded” title and irresistible appearance:

Combine both sizes of the *leftover* Reese’s Pieces (the regular and mini ones you didn’t mix into the dough) into a shallow bowl. This bowl will be used for coating the cookie dough balls.
Using a medium-sized cookie scoop (about 1.5 to 2 tablespoons), scoop out portions of the cookie dough. Gently roll each portion into a ball.
Take each dough ball and press it firmly into the bowl of Reese’s Pieces. Use your hands to gently overturn the cookie dough, pressing the Reese’s Pieces into the dough from all sides so that they adhere well and don’t fall off during baking. The goal is to have the entire surface of the cookie dough ball covered with the colorful Reese’s.
For the ultimate finish, take one of the remaining Mini Peanut Butter Cups and gently press it into the very top of each dough ball, right amongst the Reese’s Pieces. This creates that iconic, indulgent look and ensures a delicious burst of peanut butter cup in every cookie. Now, your cookie dough balls are truly loaded with Reese’s and ready for the oven!

Bake the Reese’s Cookies to Golden Perfection

Baking these loaded cookies requires a careful eye to ensure they achieve the perfect texture without being overbaked:

Carefully place the Reese’s-covered dough balls on your prepared baking sheet. Ensure they are spaced about 1.5 to 2 inches apart to allow for proper spreading during baking.
Bake for approximately 11-12 minutes. The key is to watch for the edges to just barely begin to turn a light golden brown. The centers of the cookies might still look slightly soft or underbaked – this is exactly what you want for a perfectly chewy cookie!
Once baked, remove the baking sheet from the oven. Let the cookies cool on the hot baking sheet for a full 10 minutes. This crucial resting period allows the cookies to continue baking slightly from the residual heat, firm up, and set their structure without becoming dry or crumbly.
After 10 minutes, gently transfer the cookies using a spatula to a wire cooling rack to cool completely. This prevents the bottoms from becoming soggy and allows for even cooling. Once cooled, they are ready to be devoured! Enjoy your incredibly delicious and generously loaded Reese’s cookies!

Loaded Reese’s Cookies

Loaded Reese’s Cookies PERFECT for Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup lovers! Soft & buttery cookies packed with Reese’s Pieces & topped with mini PB cups for an over-the-top Reese’s dessert!

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Course: Cookies, Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Loaded Reese’s Cookies

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 11 minutes

Total Time: 26 minutes

Servings: 36

Calories: 228kcal

Author: Jessica & Nellie

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going to sleep

Ingredients

2 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter softened
1/2 cup shortening
3/4 cup white sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar firmly packed
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 eggs
1/2 cup mini chocolate chips
3/4 cup Reese’s Peanut Butter Chips
9 oz Reese’s Pieces
7.6 oz Reese’s Mini Peanut Butter cups
5 oz Reese’s Mini Pieces

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°F. Cover a cookie sheet with parchment paper & set aside.
In smaller bowl, mix flour, baking soda and salt. Set aside.
In a mixing bowl, add butter and shortening and mix well until pale and creamy looking. Add in sugars and mix until combined. Add the eggs and vanilla; mix again.
Pour the flour mixture into the butter mixture and mix until dry ingredients are incorporated.
Stir in the mini chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, 1/2 cup Mini Peanut Butter cups and 1/3 cup Mini Reese’s Pieces.
Combine both sizes of the leftover Reese’s Pieces into a shallow bowl.
Scoop the dough out using a medium sized cookie scoop and then press the ball of dough into the bowl of Reese’s. Use your hands to gently turn the cookie dough right side up, pressing the Reese’s Pieces into the dough so that they don’t fall off. The top part of the cookie dough ball should be covered with Reese’s.
Take 1 of the remaining Mini Peanut Butter Cups and press it into the top of the dough ball, amongst the Reese’s Pieces. Now the cookie dough should be pretty loaded with Reese’s!
Place the dough balls on the prepared baking sheet about 1.5”-2” apart.
Bake for 11-12 minutes until the cookies just barely begin to turn light brown on the edges.
Let them cool on the baking sheet for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire cooling rack. Enjoy!

Nutrition

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Frequently Asked Questions About Loaded Reese’s Cookies

Here are some common questions and helpful tips to make your Loaded Reese’s Cookies experience even better:

Can You Freeze Reese’s Cookies?

Absolutely! Freezing these delicious Reese’s cookies is an excellent way to extend their shelf-life and ensure you always have a delightful sweet treat on hand whenever a craving strikes. Once the cookies have completely cooled down to room temperature, simply arrange them in a single layer in an airtight container or a heavy-duty freezer bag. For best results and to prevent freezer burn, you can place parchment paper between layers if stacking. They will keep beautifully in the freezer for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to enjoy them, simply let them thaw at room temperature for an hour or so, or gently warm them in the microwave for a few seconds for that freshly baked feel.

How Do I Know When My Reese’s Cookies Are Finished Baking?

Achieving the perfect texture for these loaded Reese’s cookies is all about timing. The best way to tell if they’re done is to observe their appearance. Look for the edges to be lightly golden brown. Crucially, the centers should still appear a little soft and slightly underbaked. This might seem counter-intuitive, but it’s the secret to their wonderfully chewy texture. The cookies will continue to cook and set as they cool. Letting them rest on the warm cookie sheet for 10 minutes after removing them from the oven is a vital step. This allows the residual heat to complete the cooking process without overbaking, ensuring they firm up sufficiently before you transfer them to a wire cooling rack.

Can I Use All Regular Sized Reese’s?

While you certainly could use all regular-sized Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups and Reese’s Pieces, and the cookies would still be incredibly delicious (because, well, it’s Reese’s!), you might encounter a few challenges. The larger candies can make it a bit more difficult for the cookie dough balls to hold together and integrate seamlessly. The mini-sized Peanut Butter Cups and Mini Reese’s Pieces are specifically recommended for this recipe because their smaller size allows for better distribution throughout the dough and easier pressing onto the exterior, creating a more cohesive “loaded” effect. If mini cups are unavailable, a great workaround is to simply chop larger Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups into smaller pieces to achieve a similar distribution and texture within the cookie.

What if I don’t have shortening?

While shortening is recommended for its unique contribution to texture (crisp edges, chewy center), you can substitute it with an equal amount of butter. However, be aware that the cookies might spread a bit more and have a slightly different overall texture, potentially being less airy. If using all butter, ensure it’s softened, not melted, and consider chilling the dough for 30 minutes before baking to help prevent excessive spreading.

How long do these Loaded Reese’s Cookies stay fresh?

When stored in an airtight container at room temperature, these cookies will stay fresh and delicious for 3-5 days. If you keep them in the refrigerator, they can last up to a week. For longer storage, freezing is your best option, as mentioned above!

Can I add other candies or nuts?

Absolutely! While this recipe celebrates Reese’s, you can certainly customize it. Consider adding a sprinkle of chopped peanuts for extra crunch, or even a mix of milk chocolate and dark chocolate chips for a more complex chocolate flavor. White chocolate chips would also be a fantastic addition to complement the peanut butter. Just be mindful of the total volume of add-ins to maintain the integrity of the dough.

Enjoying delicious homemade cookies is a wonderful way to bring joy to any occasion, and these Loaded Reese’s Cookies are sure to be a hit. We believe in the power of good food and shared moments. For us, baking and sharing these treats often goes hand-in-hand with creating lasting family memories.

Living in a snowy climate provides us with fantastic opportunities for family activities like skiing! There’s something truly special about getting three generations of family members together on the slopes, creating cherished memories and enjoying the crisp winter air.

Here’s our happy crew after a fun-filled day of skiing – Grandpa didn’t even fall once, proving that these moments are truly for everyone!

Looking for More Easy Cookie Recipes? Check These Out:

Best Chewy M&M Cookies
Chocolate Cake Mix Cookies
Double Chocolate Chip Cookies
Flourless Double Chocolate Cookies
Mint Chocolate Cake Mix Cookies
Banana Chocolate Chip Cookies
White Chocolate Cherry Oatmeal Cookies
Chocolate Peppermint Blossoms
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
Chocolate Mint Cookies
Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
Chocolate Chip Pudding Cookies
Cherry Chocolate Cookies
Avocado Chocolate Chip Cookies
Reeses Chocolate Cookie Cups

These Loaded Reese’s Pieces Cookies truly are the perfect indulgence for any Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup enthusiast. Their soft, buttery texture, combined with the generous amount of Reese’s Pieces and delightful mini PB cups on top, creates an unforgettable, over-the-top Reese’s dessert that’s sure to become a new favorite!