Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Cup Cookies are sweet, with creamy peanut butter, a touch of salt and melting chocolate in every bite. They’re wildly delicious!
Once upon a time, there were the best peanut butter cookies ever.
This story is really over, because that introduction is really all you really need to know about these cookies, to get you inspired to try them.
However, I’ll go on a bit, because after all, that’s not much of a story, is it?
Why are they the best peanut butter cookies ever?
It’s simple . . . .
With a delicate crisp exterior, a soft and chewy peanut butter cookie dough perfectly surrounds melting chocolate and melting peanut butter, in the form of a miniature peanut butter cup.
That’s right. A peanut butter cup!
It could be a Reese’s peanut butter cup, but any super delicious peanut butter cup will do — as long as they’re about the size of the Reese’s Miniatures. (Not to be confused with the Reeses “Minis.) Here’s the size you want. Trader Joe’s makes a similar one — it’s here.
It’s your choice, and I think either way, the result will still be crazy delicious. In my humble opinion, of course. 😉
How to Make Them
- The cookie dough is made by mixing together peanut butter, sugar and egg whites.
- The dough is then essentially wrapped around a mini peanut butter cup, sprinkled with salt, baked and cooled.
Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Cup Cookies are as dreamy as can be a few minutes out of the oven, when the candy oozes from its equally delicious cookie casing.
My husband thinks they’re even dreamier the next day, when the candy has cooled and re-solidified.
Personally, I think both ways are amazing.
I hope you’ll try these unbelievably divine cookies, and then let me know which way suits you — dreamy or dreamier?
It’s a win-win, for sure!
So now you might think these look and sound like the best peanut butter cookies ever, but you must make them to confirm this.
Enjoy every last crumb!
Peanut Butter Cup Cookies
Ingredients
- 30 miniature peanut butter cups (see notes)
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large egg whites
- 1 (15-ounce) container creamy, salted peanut butter
- coarse sea salt for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F, adjust two racks towards the center, and line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Set aside.
- Unwrap the (30) mini peanut butter cups and set aside.
- Add the sugar and egg whites to a medium-sized mixing bowl and use a fork to blend the two together. Add the peanut butter and stir until the mixture is very smooth.
- Use a 1-inch cookie scoop (or a teaspoon), to add dollops of dough, a few inches apart, on one of the parchment-lined baking sheets. Place one of the peanut butter cups on top of each one. Now, using the same 1-inch cookie scoop (or a teaspoon), add another dollop of the dough on top of the peanut butter cup.
- Now pick up each bundle and gently roll it between your hands, just until the sides of dough seal themselves and the peanut butter cup is totally hidden. Try to keep track of the peanut butter cup, so that you know when you place the ball down on the baking sheet, either the top or bottom is up -- the candy should not be sideways! Continue until both baking sheets are filled.
- Sprinkle each one with the coarse sea salt and then bake in the preheated 350°F oven for approximately 10 minutes, just until the cookies have flattened out and no longer look wet.
- Let them cool on the baking sheet for at least 15 minutes.
- If you don't eat them right away, once they have completely cooled, you can store them in a tightly sealed container in a cool, dark place for a few days. (They also freeze very well.)
Notes
Cooking On The Weekends is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.
Helen at Casa Costello says
I always forget how divine peanut butter is in baking – the centre of those cookies looks divine. Feel free to add this to #BakeoftheWeek too x
valentina says
Thanks so much, Helen. Will do. 🙂
jacqueline | i sugar coat it! says
Mmmmm…sinfully delicious!!
valentina says
Indeed! Just the way I like it. 😉
Emma @ Supper in the Suburbs says
Oh my gosh I know a certain gentleman who will go crazy for these!!! He is a huge peanut butter and chocolate fan 🙂 I will have to bake these for his birthday. Thanks for sharing.
valentina says
Thank you, Emma. Hope he loves them!
Dorothy at Shockingly Delicious says
OK, I think I have some mini pb cups stashed in the fridge somewhere. Must find them and try this! I am going out on a limb and saying I will like them the way Stephen likes them…solidified. I might have to taste test 4 or 5 to determine exactly, though. 🙂
valentina says
Both are divine! Thank you, Dorothy! XO
Sue Lau says
The creamy centers look so good!
valentina says
Thank you. Hope you try them! 🙂
Oana @AdoreFoods says
You’re so right! These look like best peanut butter cookies ever 🙂 Pinning to make them soon
valentina says
Thanks so much. And for the pin, too. 🙂 Enjoy!
John says
Just took a break from doing taxes to check my email, and saw this. OMG! Taxes are going to have to wait. On my way to pick up the Reese’s, ( to dangerous to keep these in my pantry) and can’t wait to bring these in tomorrow for my colleagues.
valentina says
That’s fantastic, John! A well deserved tax break, I’m sure. 🙂 Hope you loved them as much as we do!
Deb|EastofEdenCooking says
Just irresistible! Easy to make and even easier to enjoy, a winning cookie recipe Valentina!
valentina says
Aww, thanks so much, Deb! Enjoy! XO
Cakespy says
With this much delicious packed in one cookie form, I doubt anyone would miss the gluten 🙂
valentina says
It’s my favorite type of gluten free — where there was never meant to be gluten. No substitutions. 🙂 Thank you!
David says
Wow – just fantastic! My most successful gluten-free cookies have been peanut butter… This just makes everything so much better!
valentina says
THANK YOU! XOXO
Karly Campbell says
Double the peanut butter, double the deliciousness if you ask me! I need to try these ASAP!
valentina says
Thanks, Karly! Hope you LOVE them!
Peter @ Feed Your Soul Too says
These looks delicious. Hard to believe they are gluten free.
valentina says
They are my favorite type of gluten-free — no substitutions, just inherently that way. 🙂
Gwen @simplyhealthyfamily says
OH MY GOSH!! Totally and completely splurge worthy!!!
valentina says
Yes! Do it! 🙂
Ali @ Home & Plate says
Wow…those are just sinful…I’ll take a dozen please.
valentina says
If only we hadn’t eaten every last one. 😉
Sam | Ahead of Thyme says
OMG this looks amazing!!! I seriously can’t wait to make it!
valentina says
They are! IMHO 😉 Thank you!
sue|theviewfromgreatisland says
Oh wow, these would not last until they cooled in this house, so I’d have to say I prefer them warm out of the oven!
valentina says
They’re so delicious when the peanut butter is still melting! 🙂
Lynn | The Road to Honey says
Woah Nelly! These cookies look like they were sent straight down from heaven. And let me tell you. . .as a splurge I had a peanut butter cookie at Barnes and Noble before class yesterday and that cookie doesn’t even come close to being as amazing as this cookie. Now I’m sad I wasted the calories on it when I could have had this beauty.
valentina says
Thanks so much, Lynn! I say splurge again. 🙂
Christina Conte says
Simply sublime, Valentina!
valentina says
Thank you, Christina! XO
Cathy | ShePaused4Thought says
Oh my, on my next Trader Joe’s run, I am going to make these!
valentina says
Yay! You will love them! 🙂 xoxo