Irresistible 5-Ingredient Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookie Cups: Easy & Delicious Treat
Discover the magic of these incredibly simple yet utterly delicious Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookie Cups! Crafted with just 5 essential ingredients, these delightful treats feature soft peanut butter cookie bases filled with luscious, creamy peanut butter and rich chocolate layers, all crowned with a sprinkle of crunchy granola. They offer the perfect blend of sweet, salty, and satisfying texture in every bite, making them an instant family favorite.
As someone who bakes frequently, I’ve noticed my children can sometimes become accustomed to an endless supply of cookies, making them less of a special treat. However, when I introduced these charming little cookie cups the other day, they vanished within hours! My kids couldn’t stop raving, constantly asking why I hadn’t made “the best cookies ever” before. Their enthusiasm was truly infectious, proving that some simple desserts can indeed steal the show and create lasting memories.
What Exactly Are Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookie Cups?
These delightful cookie cups are essentially bite-sized desserts that combine the beloved flavors of peanut butter and chocolate in an easy-to-manage format. They begin with a convenient refrigerated peanut butter cookie dough, baked in a mini muffin pan to create perfectly cupped cookie bases. Once these cookie cups are baked and allowed to cool, they are generously filled with two distinct layers of rich, sweet goodness. The first layer is a smooth peanut butter mixture, enriched with melted white chocolate chips, adding a subtle vanilla note and extra creaminess. The second layer is a classic semi-sweet chocolate blend, also combined with peanut butter, creating a harmonious balance of flavors. The final touch, a sprinkle of granola, introduces a wonderful textural contrast, making each bite exceptionally satisfying. It’s a simple addition, but it genuinely elevates the crunch factor and adds a delicious depth to these mini desserts.
Key Ingredients for Your Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookie Cups
One of the best features of this recipe is its minimal ingredient list, making it perfect for a quick and impressive dessert. Here’s a closer look at the five stars of the show:
- Peanut Butter Cookie Dough: For ultimate convenience, using a refrigerated package of peanut butter cookie dough is highly recommended. You can typically find this in the dairy aisle of your grocery store, often alongside other pre-made doughs like crescent rolls or cinnamon rolls. This shortcut significantly cuts down on prep time. However, if you prefer a homemade touch, you are welcome to use your favorite peanut butter cookie recipe. Just be aware that homemade recipes often yield more dough, so you may need to adjust the quantities of the filling ingredients accordingly to ensure you have enough for all your cookie cups. For instance, a typical homemade recipe might yield enough for 48 cookie cups, double the amount needed here.
- White Chocolate Chips: You’ll need about 1/2 cup of vanilla baking chips for one of our delicious layers. These are sometimes labeled as “vanilla chips” or “white morsels” but functionally, they are white chocolate. Ensure you pick up the white variety to achieve the distinct flavor contrast with the semi-sweet chocolate.
- Peanut Butter: This recipe calls for 3/4 cup of creamy peanut butter, which will be divided in half for the two filling layers. While precision isn’t paramount, aiming for a roughly equal split is good. It’s important to use a creamy, processed peanut butter (like Jif or Skippy) rather than a more natural, oil-separated type. Natural peanut butters tend to be runnier and may not set as firmly, potentially affecting the texture and stability of your cookie cup filling.
- Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips: A classic choice for balancing the sweetness and richness. You’ll need 1/2 cup of these. While you could substitute with milk chocolate for a sweeter profile or dark chocolate for a more intense flavor, semi-sweet chocolate chips typically provide the best complementary taste to the peanut butter, creating that iconic chocolate-peanut butter harmony.
- Oats & Honey Granola: This ingredient adds a delightful crunch and a hint of texture that really makes these cookie cups special. You can use any granola you prefer, but a plainer variety, such as oats and honey, is recommended. Granola with excessive dried fruits or strong additional flavors might clash with the chocolate and peanut butter. I personally love and use Nature Valley protein granola, which I also enjoy with yogurt daily. If you don’t have loose granola, crushing a couple of Nature Valley Oats & Honey granola bars works perfectly as a topping. While the granola is highly recommended for its texture, you can also omit it or swap it for other toppings like colorful sprinkles or mini M&M’s for a different aesthetic.
How to Make Delicious Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookie Cups
Creating these delightful cookie cups is a straightforward process. Follow these simple steps for a perfect batch every time:
- Prepare Your Pan: Begin by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). While the oven heats, thoroughly grease a mini muffin pan with baking spray. This crucial step helps prevent the cookie cups from sticking, ensuring easy removal later.
- Form the Cookie Bases: If using refrigerated cookie dough, it should already be divided into 24 squares. If you’re using homemade dough or a different packaged variety, divide it into 24 equally sized pieces. Gently press each piece of dough into a mini muffin cup, carefully pushing the dough up the sides to form a cup shape. Be careful not to press the dough too thin, as you want to avoid any holes in the base that could allow the filling to seep through.
- Bake and Cool: Bake the cookie cups for approximately 10-12 minutes, or until their edges turn a light golden brown. Once baked, remove the pan from the oven and let the cookie cups cool in the pan for about 5 minutes. During baking, the dough tends to expand slightly, so you’ll need to re-form the indentations. Use the back of a 1/2 teaspoon measuring spoon to gently press the centers back down, creating a deeper well for the filling. Handle them gently to avoid damaging your perfectly formed cookie cups! Allow them to continue cooling completely in the pan to ensure they hold their shape.
- Prepare the Dual Fillings: While the cookie cups cool, you can prepare the two layers of filling. Divide your 3/4 cup of creamy peanut butter roughly in half, placing each portion into a separate microwave-safe bowl. To one bowl, add the 1/2 cup of white chocolate chips, and to the other, add the 1/2 cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips.
- Melt White Chocolate Peanut Butter Layer: Place the bowl with the white chocolate chips and peanut butter in the microwave. Heat for 45 seconds, then remove and stir well. If not yet smooth, microwave for another 30 seconds and continue stirring until the mixture is completely smooth and creamy. Spoon this luscious white chocolate peanut butter filling into each of the cooled cookie cups, filling them about halfway.
- Melt Semi-Sweet Chocolate Peanut Butter Layer: Repeat the same melting process for the semi-sweet chocolate chips and peanut butter mixture. Once smooth, spoon this rich chocolate layer on top of the white chocolate peanut butter layer in each cookie cup.
- Finishing Touches and Setting: Generously sprinkle the oats and honey granola over the top of each cookie cup. This adds a delightful crunch and visual appeal. Finally, transfer the muffin pan to the refrigerator and chill for approximately 1 hour, or until the fillings are completely set and firm. Once set, gently remove the cookie cups from the muffin pan. These cookie cups can be stored at room temperature, but we personally found them even more enjoyable when kept cold in the refrigerator for a refreshing treat.
Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookie Cups
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Ingredients
- 1 16.5 oz package of refrigerated peanut butter cookie dough
- ½ cup white chocolate chips
- ¾ cup peanut butter divided in half
- ½ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- ½ cup oats & honey granola
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 350°. Grease a mini muffin pan with baking spray.
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The cookie dough should be divided into 24 squares already, but if you are using a different type of dough (or you want to use homemade dough), you’ll need to divide the dough into 24 pieces. Gently press each piece into a mini muffin cup, gently pressing the dough up the sides of the cup. Make sure you don’t press the dough too thin -you don’t want any holes!
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Bake for about 10-12 minutes or until the edges are browned. Cool in the pans for about 5 minutes. The dough will have expanded a little bit, so you’ll need to re-form your indentations a little bit. I used the back of a 1/2 teaspoon measuring spoon to gently press the indentations back down. Just be gentle so you don’t destroy your cookie cups! Leave the cookie cups in the pan to keep cooling.
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While the cookie cups are cooling, you can make the filling. Divide the peanut butter in half, placing each half in a microwaveable bowl. Add the vanilla chips to half the peanut butter and the semi-sweet chips to the other half.
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Place the white chocolate/peanut butter bowl in the microwave for 45 seconds, remove and stir. Microwave for another 30 seconds and stir until completely smooth. Spoon the filling into each of the cookie cups, filling them about halfway.
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Melt the semi-sweet chips/peanut butter mixture the same way and spoon it on top of the peanut butter layer. Sprinkle the granola on top. Refrigerate until set, about 1 hour. Remove from muffin cups once set. You can leave these out at room temperature or keep them in the refrigerator if you want to keep them cold – we liked them room temperature better.
Nutrition
Tips to Prevent Cookie Cups from Sticking to the Pan
There’s nothing more frustrating than having your beautifully baked cookie cups stick to the pan! To ensure a smooth release every time, proper greasing of your mini muffin tin is absolutely essential. While regular non-stick cooking spray works, I highly recommend using Baker’s Joy Baking Spray. This product contains flour in addition to the non-stick agent, which provides a superior release, especially for baked goods that are prone to sticking, like muffins or cookie cups. It’s my go-to for anything baked in a Bundt pan as well! An alternative, and often even easier, solution is to use a silicone muffin pan. With a silicone pan, you can simply press up from the bottom of each cup to effortlessly pop out your cookie cups, making cleanup and removal a breeze.
Mastering Microwave Chocolate Melting
Melting chocolate in the microwave is quite simple, but success lies in taking it slow and being patient. Always use a glass or ceramic bowl, as plastic can retain heat unevenly. Start by microwaving your chocolate chips for about 45 seconds. After this initial burst, remove the bowl and stir gently. Even if the chocolate doesn’t look fully melted, stirring helps distribute the heat. If it’s still very solid, return it to the microwave for additional 20-30 second intervals, stirring thoroughly after each one. Often, chocolate appears unmelted but will become smooth with a good stir. The key is to avoid overheating, which can cause the chocolate to “seize” and become stiff and clumpy. While this recipe mixes the chocolate with peanut butter, which is more forgiving, being careful not to microwave for too long will always result in a smoother, more luscious filling.
Storage Tips for Your Cookie Cups
Once your Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookie Cups are fully set, you can store them in an airtight container. They keep well at room temperature for up to 2-3 days, though the filling might soften slightly. For a firmer texture and extended freshness, store them in the refrigerator for up to a week. We personally prefer them served slightly chilled, but they are equally delicious at room temperature. These cookie cups are also fantastic for making ahead; simply prepare and store them in the fridge until you’re ready to serve, making them an ideal treat for parties or gatherings.
Love Chocolate and Peanut Butter? So Do We! Explore More of Our Favorite Recipes!
If you’re as obsessed with the heavenly combination of chocolate and peanut butter as we are, you’re in for a treat! This dynamic duo forms the base of some of the most satisfying desserts, and we’ve gathered a list of our absolute favorites. From classic cookies to decadent pies and bars, there’s something here for every craving. Prepare to indulge!
- Reese’s Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake Mix Cookies
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie
- Rice Krispie Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
- The BEST Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Cookie
- Peanut Butter Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Peanut Butter Cookie in a Mug
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Dip
- Chocolate Caramel Peanut Butter Poke Cake
- Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
- No Bake Peanut Butter Pretzel Bars
- Loaded Reese’s Cookies
- Chewy Peanut Butter Cookies (dipped in chocolate!)
- Cake Mix Peanut Butter Blossoms
- Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Brownies
- Reese’s Chocolate Cookie Cups
- Fudge Peanut Butter Cookie Cups
- Chocolate Caramel Peanut Butter Bars
- Reese’s Peanut Butter Pudding Cookies
On a slightly different note, I often find myself trying to avoid taking my youngest one with me to the grocery store. Thanks to the convenience of modern grocery delivery and pick-up options, this isn’t too hard most of the time. However, sometimes a quick dash into the store is unavoidable, and that’s when my little one’s knack for discovery (and running away) truly shines. The other day, she spotted a bicycle and absolutely refused to leave it. I let her ride it around for a good twenty minutes before I had to physically carry her out, kicking and screaming. Yes, I was “that mom” in the store that day!
My older four children were generally much easier to take shopping. I often attribute her unique grocery store behavior to the fact that she was a baby when the pandemic started. For nearly a year, I avoided taking her out, so she never really had the chance to learn proper grocery shopping etiquette! We’re definitely still working on it, but some days are certainly more challenging than others when you’re a parent trying to navigate the aisles.
