Soft Peanut Butter Reese's Pieces Cookies

Soft peanut butter Reese's Pieces cookies loaded with candy and packed with rich peanut butter flavor. Thick, tender, and easy to make!

I've said it before and I'll say it again: I think my homemade peanut butter cookie recipe is just about perfect.

It's one of those recipes I don't like to mess with. The cookies are rich, packed with peanut butter flavor, and have exactly the texture I want in a traditional peanut butter cookie.

So, when I decided to make a batch of Reese's Pieces cookies, it took a little courage to start tinkering with a recipe I already loved.

But here's the thing: I wasn't looking for my usual peanut butter cookie.

The Perfect Peanut Butter Cookie

I've always called my original peanut butter cookie "perfect," which is quite the claim, right? And it is.

But this time? Well, I wanted something softer. I wanted a thick, tender cookie loaded with colorful Reese's Pieces—one that didn't need the traditional criss-cross pattern on top.

So, I made a few small changes to my tried-and-true recipe. I shifted the balance of brown and granulated sugar, pulled back on the flour, and added a little cornstarch for tenderness.

The result?

Oh, my word.

I ate the first cookie while it was still slightly warm because I couldn't wait. It was super soft, packed with peanut butter flavor, and loaded with Reese's Pieces.

Turns out, even a recipe I call "perfect" can have a very delicious cousin.

Soft Peanut Butter Cookies Loaded with Reese's Pieces

If you're a fan of peanut butter and chocolate, you're going to love these simple cookies.

The dough is thick and rich, thanks to a generous amount of creamy peanut butter. Brown sugar helps keep the cookies soft, while a little cornstarch gives them a tender texture.

And, of course, there are plenty of Reese's Pieces folded into the dough.

Because this is a firmer peanut butter cookie dough, the cookies won't spread much on their own. You'll want to gently press the dough balls with your palm before baking. No criss-cross pattern required!

Ingredients for Soft Peanut Butter Reese's Pieces Cookies

You will find a full printable recipe card at the bottom of this post, but here's a quick look at what you'll need. These are simple ingredients you might already have in your pantry or refrigerator.

• ½ cup room temperature butter (4 ounces)
• ½ cup shortening
• 1 ¼ cups packed light brown sugar
• ¾ cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 2 cups creamy peanut butter
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 1 ½–2 cups Reese's Pieces

How to Make Soft Peanut Butter Reese's Pieces Cookies

These come together quickly and easily.

Step One: Prepare the Dough

Place the softened butter, shortening, brown sugar, and granulated sugar in a large mixing bowl. Beat until light and creamy.

Add the eggs and vanilla extract and mix well.

Add the creamy peanut butter and continue mixing until everything is fully incorporated.

Step Two: Add the Dry Ingredients

Add the salt, baking soda, cornstarch, and flour. Mix only until the dough comes together.

Fold in the Reese's Pieces. If you like, save a handful of candies to press into the tops of the cookies before baking.

Step Three: Chill the Dough

Cover the dough and chill for about 30 minutes. This helps the cookies hold their shape as they bake.

While the dough chills, preheat your oven to 350°F and prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Step Four: Scoop and Shape the Cookies

Scoop the dough into balls and place them on the prepared baking sheet, leaving space between the cookies.

Gently press each dough ball with the palm of your hand to form a thick disk. Don't flatten them completely.

Press a few extra Reese's Pieces into the tops, if desired.

Step Five: Bake

Bake at 350°F for 11–12 minutes.

The edges should look set, but the centers might still look slightly soft when you remove the cookies from the oven. That's okay!

Allow the cookies to rest on the baking sheet for 10–15 minutes. They'll continue to set as they cool while staying wonderfully soft in the center.

Serve and Enjoy!

What to Expect from These Cookies

Expect a thick, soft peanut butter cookie with plenty of peanut butter flavor.

These aren't crisp peanut butter cookies, and they don't have the firmer texture of my traditional criss-cross cookies. The centers stay tender and soft, which is exactly what I was hoping for when I adapted my original recipe.

The Reese's Pieces add little pops of chocolate and peanut butter flavor, along with a slight candy crunch.

And if you're anything like me, you'll probably eat the first one while it's still warm.

Variations on These Reese's Pieces Cookies

This soft peanut butter cookie dough makes a great base for other mix-ins, too.

Add chocolate chips: Fold in about a cup of milk chocolate or semi-sweet chocolate chips along with the Reese's Pieces. Chocolate and peanut butter are always a winning combination.

Use peanut butter chips: Replace the Reese's Pieces with peanut butter chips for an extra-peanut-buttery cookie. You could also use half peanut butter chips and half chocolate chips.

Load them with chocolate and peanut butter: Add chocolate chips along with the Reese's Pieces for an even richer cookie.

Use mini Reese's Pieces: If you can find them, mini Reese's Pieces will distribute more evenly throughout the dough, giving you bits of candy in nearly every bite.

Can I Freeze the Cookie Dough?

Absolutely! In fact, that's exactly what I did with part of this batch.

Scoop and shape the dough into balls, then gently flatten them into thick disks before freezing. Place them on a baking sheet and freeze until solid, then transfer the frozen cookie dough to an airtight freezer bag or container.

You can bake the cookies straight from frozen. Simply add a couple of minutes to the baking time and watch the centers closely.

Frequently Asked Questions

More Peanut Butter Recipes to Try

If you love peanut butter as much as I do, I've got plenty of other peanut butter treats for you to try!

My Homemade Peanut Butter Cookies are the original recipe that inspired these softer Reese's Pieces cookies.

For a fun bite-sized treat, check out my Peanut Butter Cookie Cups. And if you love the combination of peanut butter and marshmallow, don't miss my Fluffernutter Cookie Cups.

Add a few more of your strongest PB recipes here—I'd keep it to four or five total.

That's It for These Soft Peanut Butter Reese's Pieces Cookies!

I wasn't sure I wanted to tinker with my favorite peanut butter cookie recipe, but I'm so glad I did.

These soft Reese's Pieces cookies turned out exactly as I'd hoped: thick, tender, loaded with peanut butter flavor, and filled with colorful candies.

Sometimes it's okay to mess with perfection.

Especially when Reese's Pieces are involved.

See you at the oven!

Thanks for Stopping By!

If you make this recipe and enjoy it please leave a comment or review. Before you go, why not pin some photos to your Pinterest boards?

Janice Thompson is a professional baker, cake designer, and author with over 20 years of experience creating unique cakes and desserts. She’s the creator of Out of the Box Baking, where she shares her favorite doctored cake mix recipes, tutorials, and baking tips. Learn more →