Peanut Butter Candy Cups

This is technically about 2-3 weeks overdue as a post about what to do with your Halloween candy. But the thing is, this is a great idea for anytime--I mean how cute are these cups? And so easy! And just as tasty with chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, M&Ms, Reece's Pieces, or mini marshmallows--all of which are in my pantry year round (is that embarrassing? Why do I feel no shame?).

So whether you bookmark this for next Halloween or make it a holiday cookie project (try using holiday colored M&Ms, etc), I highly recommend you give these a try. I found the recipe at MyRecipes--where they used storebought refrigerator peanut butter cookie dough. After much searching, I decided that the King Arthur Peanut Butter Crisscross recipe would best work in its place (since I prefer to bake from scratch--although I did adapt it slightly). If you make the dough from scratch, be aware that you will have a lot of dough--so why not put some of it in the fridge for when you need a no-effort cookie?


Peanut Butter Candy Cups
Adapted from MyRecipes (Sunset Magazine)

1 (16.5-oz.) package refrigerated peanut butter cookie dough or use the recipe below
24 bite-size chocolate candy bars or chocolate chips and/or peanut butter chips
M&Ms, Reece's Pieces and mini marshmallows for topping

Preheat oven to 350 F. Shape the peanut butter cookie dough into 1 inch balls, and place lightly greased mini muffin wells (you do not need to press into the tin--the dough will naturally bake to the shape of the cup). Bake for 10 minutes and then add the chocolate candy pieces or chocolate and peanut butter chips. Return to the oven for 5-8 minutes, or until edges of the cookies are lightly browned. Remove from oven and sprinkle the insides of the cups with M&Ms, Reeces Pieces or mini marshmallows.


Peanut Butter Cookie Dough
Adapted from King Arthur Flour Baker's Companion

1/2 cup (3 1/4 oz) shortening (I used Earth Balance)
1/2 cup (3 1/4 oz) lard*
1/2 cup (4 oz) light brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup (4 oz) dark brown sugar, packed
2 large eggs
1 t vanilla
1 cup (9 1/2 oz) smooth peanut butter (I used Jiff)
1 cup (3 1/4 oz) white whole wheat flour
2 cups (9 1/2 oz) AP flour
2 t baking soda
1/2 t salt

*If you use Crisco, you could use 1 cup (6 1/2 oz) all Crisco, but I like to avoid Crisco, and the organic Earth Balance shortening is softer at room temperature, so I used the firmer lard to help balance it out.

Whisk together the flours, baking soda and salt. Set aside.

Cream the shortening and lard together to blend and then cream in the peanut butter. When it is smooth and evenly blended, add the sugars and cream until light and fluffy. Add the eggs and vanilla and beat in. Stir in the flour mixture. Chill for 30 minutes, or until firm enough to roll into balls. Use as directed above.