Peanut Butter Cup Spider Cookies

Close up of a peanut butter cup spider cookie.

These easy Halloween spider cookies are buttery toffee cake mix cookies topped with peanut butter cup spiders for a fun and delicious Halloween treat!

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Keyword cake mix cookies, Halloween, Peanut Butter Cups

Prep Time 20

Cook Time 10

Cooling Time 30

Total Time 1

Servings cookies

Calories 314kcal

Author Stacey aka the Soccer Mom

Cost $10

Equipment

Baking sheet
Parchment paper
Mixing bowls
1 1/2 Tablespoon cookie scoop

Ingredients

1 box yellow cake mix 13.25 oz
1/3 cup vegetable oil
2 large eggs
16 full-size Reese’s peanut butter cups
1 cup toffee baking bits
2 Tablespoon chocolate chips
32 candy eyes 2 per cookie
Black cookie icing

Instructions

To Prep: Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and line a baking sheet with a silicone mat or parchment paper.
In a large bowl, stir together the cake mix, oil, and eggs until combined.
Fold in the toffee baking bits.
Portion out the cookie dough using a cookie scoop and place them two inches apart on the prepared pans.
Bake for 9-11 minutes, then remove from the oven and allow to cool for 5 minutes on the baking sheet.
While the cookies are still warm, gently press one peanut butter cup (wide side down) into the center of each cookie. Do not press it ALL the way into the cookies, as you want the peanut butter cup to stick out for the spider body. Since the cookies are warm, it will melt the peanut butter cups a bit so they stick to the cookies.
Once the cookies have cooled, you can begin decorating. Use the black decorating icing to pipe the spider’s legs, 4 per side of each cookie.
Melt the chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl, heating in 15 second increments, stirring between, until melted and smooth.
Use the melted chocolate to glue the candy eyes on each cookie.
Allow chocolate to cool and set for at least 30 minutes before serving or storing.

Notes

Nutrition information is provided as an estimate only.

Prep Tips:

Cake Mix: This recipe uses a 13.25-oz yellow cake mix with 1/3 cup oil. For a 15.25-oz box, increase oil to 1/2 cup. Other cake mix flavors or homemade cookie dough can also be used.
Spider Legs: Use decorating icing or melted chocolate to create the legs.
Mix-Ins: Toffee bits add extra crunch, but can be omitted or replaced with sprinkles, chopped nuts, or mini chocolate chips.
Dough Tip: If the dough feels warm, refrigerate for 20–30 minutes to help prevent spreading.
Storage: Store in an airtight container at room temperature for 3–4 days.

Nutrition