Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Cup Spider Cookies
Try my Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Cup Spider Cookies for Halloween! Made with almond flour, natural peanut butter, maple syrup, and healthier mini Reese’s cups. They’re fun to decorate with piped chocolate legs and perfect for parties. Crispy, chewy, and naturally sweetened—everyone will love them!
My Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Cup Spider Cookies recipe is the ultimate Halloween treat, blending spooky fun with wholesome ingredients. These chewy peanut butter cookies are made with almond flour, natural peanut butter, maple syrup, and naturally sweetened chocolate—no refined white sugar or white flour needed! What sets this recipe apart is how simple it is to make healthier versions of your favorite treats while still keeping the flavor rich and satisfying. You can pipe spider legs with melted chocolate using my easy ziploc bag technique, or let the kids get creative with decorating.
These cookies are crispy on the outside, chewy on the inside, and topped with my homemade 5-ingredient mini Reese’s cups for a treat that’s as cute as it is delicious. Whether you’re hosting a Halloween party or just craving a fun, festive dessert, these cookies are sure to be a hit with everyone, even if they don’t have gluten allergies.
Why You’ll Love This Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Cup Cookie Recipe
- Fun to Make: These spider cookies are as fun to create as they are to eat, perfect for getting kids involved in the kitchen.
- Healthier Ingredients: Made with natural sweeteners and no refined white sugar or white flour.
- Chewy & Crispy: Enjoy the perfect texture—crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside.
- Halloween Favorite: A crowd-pleasing dessert for any Halloween party, even for those with gluten sensitivities.
Ingredients & Substitutions
Here is everything you need to make the best-tasting gluten-free peanut butter cup spider cookies recipe:
Chocolate Chips: Substitute with dairy-free chocolate chips if you have dairy allergies or prefer a vegan option.
You can also use chopped dark chocolate or semi-sweet chocolate chunks. My favorites are semi-sweet chocolate chips.
Coconut Oil: Replace coconut oil with an equal amount of vegetable oil, canola oil, or melted butter if you don’t have coconut oil on hand.
Peanut Butter Cookies: If you don’t have peanut butter cookies on hand, you can use other gluten-free cookies of your choice, like almond butter cookies or oatmeal cookies.
Ensure that the cookies are roughly the same size as the peanut butter cups to maintain the spider shape.
Peanut Butter Cups: You can make my Easy Healthy 5 Ingredient Peanut Butter Cups Recipe. You can also use any store-bought mini peanut butter cup or chocolate candy that has a similar shape such as Rolo’s or chocolate truffles.
Candy Eyeballs: For the candy googly eyes you can also use white chocolate chips, M&M’s chocolate candies, or any other small candy
How to Make My Spider Peanut Butter Cup Cookie Recipe
Step 1: Prepare the Peanut Butter Cookies
If you’re making my Gluten-Free Classic Peanut Butter Cookie Recipe, bake and cool the cookies.
If you’re using store-bought cookies, skip to the next step.
Step 2: Pepare the Peanut Butter Cups
If you’re making my Easy Healthy 5 Ingredient Peanut Butter Cups Recipe, assemble and cool in the fridge or freezer. Remove the paper liners.
If you’re using store-bought peanut butter cups, skip to the next step.
Step 3: Melt the Chocolate
In a microwave-safe bowl combine the chocolate chips and coconut oil. Heat in 20-30 second intervals, stirring each time until smooth.
Pour the melted chocolate into a plastic snack or sandwich bag. Gently press out the excess air and seal the bag. Cut a small triangle from one of the bottom corners of the bag. You can also use a pastry bag with a small round decorating tip.
Step 4: Assemble the Spiders
Place your cookie on a cooling rack or sheet of parchment paper. Starting from the top center of your peanut butter cookie, pipe four spider legs on one side of the cookie. Then pipe four spider legs on the opposite side of the cookie.
Gently press a chocolate peanut butter cup on top of the cookie into the melted chocolate.
Pipe two small dots of melted chocolate on the front of the peanut butter cup and press in two candies to create the spider eyes. Repeat for all the cookies
Gluten-Free Spider Cookies Recipe Notes
Chocolate Chips and Coconut Oil: When melting the chocolate chips with coconut oil, use a microwave-safe bowl or a double boiler to melt them gently. Stir frequently to prevent burning.
The coconut oil helps make the chocolate smoother and easier to work with. If you’re using a different oil or butter, it may affect the texture slightly.
Peanut Butter Cookies: You can make my Gluten-Free Classic Peanut Butter Cookie Recipe that are naturally sweetened. Make them far enough ahead of time so they are cool before assembling spiders.
If you’re using store-bought gluten-free peanut butter cookies, make sure they are a suitable size and thickness to hold the peanut butter cup in the center.
Peanut Butter Cups: You can make my Easy Healthy 5 Ingredient Peanut Butter Cups Recipe. They’re naturally sweetened with maple syrup and your choice of chocolate chips. You can also purchase mini Reese’s peanut butter cups.
Spider Eyes: You can also use mini chocolate chips or M&M’s for the spider’s eyes. Attach them to the top of the peanut butter cup with a small amount of melted chocolate or icing.
Delicious Serving Suggestions
- Halloween Party Platter: Arrange these spooky spider cookies on a festive platter surrounded by mini pumpkins or Halloween decor for a standout treat.
- Paired with Hot Cocoa: Serve alongside a warm cup of hot chocolate or spiced cider for a cozy and fun Halloween snack.
- DIY Cookie Decorating Station: Let guests decorate their own spider cookies at a Halloween party using extra melted chocolate and candy eyes.
- Gift Idea: Wrap these cookies in a cute Halloween-themed box or bag to give as a fun, homemade treat for friends, neighbors, or teachers.
Check Out More of My Delicious Halloween Recipes:
Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Cup Spider Cookies Recipe
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup chocolate chips
- 1/2 teaspoon coconut oil
- 12 peanut butter cookies My Gluten-Free Classic Peanut Butter Cookies Recipe
- 12 peanut butter cups My Easy Healthy 5-Ingredient Peanut Butter Cups Recipe
Instructions
- If you're making my Gluten-Free Classic Peanut Butter Cookie Recipe, bake and cool the cookies.If you're using store-bought cookies, skip to the next step.
- If you're making my Easy Healthy 5 Ingredient Peanut Butter Cups Recipe, assemble and cool in the fridge or freezer. Remove the paper liners.If you're using store-bought peanut butter cups, skip to the next step.
- In a microwave-safe bowl combine the chocolate chips and coconut oil. Heat in 20-30 second intervals, stirring each time until smooth. Pour the melted chocolate into a plastic snack or sandwich bag. Gently press out the excess air and seal the bag. Cut a small triangle from one of the bottom corners of the bag. You can also use a pastry bag with a small round decorating tip.
- Place your cookie on a cooling rack or sheet of parchment paper. Starting from the top center of your peanut butter cookie, pipe four spider legs on one side of the cookie. Then pipe four spider legs on the opposite side of the cookie.Gently press a chocolate peanut butter cup on top of the cookie into the melted chocolate.Pipe two small dots of melted chocolate on the front of the peanut butter cup and press in two candies to create the spider eyes. Repeat for all the cookies.
Video
My family LOVES this recipe!! I was so surprised at how easy and stress free it is to make!
Thank you Emily for the feedback! I love this recipe too 🙂