Lunch Lady Peanut Butter Cookies

by Erin

Big, chewy peanut butter cookies just like you remember from school lunches! These come with the added bonus of Reese’s pieces mixed in.

Peanut Butter Honey Cookies

Jump to recipe

Before I baked these, Brent saw the bag of Reeses Pieces and said, “what is this?” in an accusatory tone. He is on a diet right now, preparing for Medical Officer basic training in July and keeping unhealthy things away has been key.

Actually, the key has been to hide the goodies so that I don’t have to be completely on his diet as well. I need fat and sugar!!

Reeses Pieces Peanut Butter Cookies

That’s where these cookies come in to play. They are sooo soft. They may be undercooked but I wouldn’t have them any other way. That peanut butter-honey mixture is essential and then the Reeses Pieces seal the deal.

Elle’s New England Kitchen made a huge batch (75!) of medium sized (3 inch) cookies from the original recipe. But I can only hide so many cookies around here, so I took a chance and halved the recipe (with a little extra flour). Making large cookies this version came out to 2 dozen ridiculously good cookies.

Lunch Lady Peanut Butter Cookies

BTW, I think I have a serious addiction to baked goods – I continue to turn on my oven despite the ongoing heat vs A/C battle. (Totally worth it.)

Post updated 5/28/20, photo above is the original.

Peanut Butter Honey Cookies

LUNCH LADY PEANUT BUTTER COOKIES

Print
Yield: 2 dozen Cooking Time:
Nutrition facts: 200 calories 20 grams fat

Ingredients

PEANUT BUTTER MIXTURE

  • 1 cup creamy peanut butter
  • 4 Tbsp (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 1/4 cup honey

COOKIES

  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 3/4 cup (1-1/2 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 1/4 cup shortening, room temperature
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 2 eggs, room temperature
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 cups Reeses Pieces

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line your baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats, set aside.
  2. In a medium bowl, blend together all of the peanut butter mixture ingredients until smooth. Set aside.
  3. In another medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
  4. In a large bowl, cream the butter, shortening, and both sugars until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, beating well after each one, then add vanilla and peanut butter mixture. Add the flour mixture by the cupful and beat at low speed until fully mixed. Stir in the candy by hand.
  5. Using a 1/4 cup scoop, place balls of dough about 2 inches apart on your baking sheet.
  6. Bake for 11-13 minutes (they will still be pale, with a touch of golden brown on the bottom edges). Allow to cool for 10 minutes, then move to a cooling rack using a spatula. Let cool completely and then store in an airtight container.
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Source: Adapted from Elle’s New England Kitchen.

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19 comments

Heart-Shaped Reese’s Stuffed Cookie for Two February 23, 2023 - 4:22 pm

[…] all the peanut butter cups for Valentine’s Day you should also consider making my Lunch Lady reese’s pieces peanut butter cookies, chocolate reese’s pieces cookies if you prefer more chocolate, or even a reese’s […]

Reply
englan sanchez January 10, 2023 - 10:42 am

I’m confused on the amount of butter 4 tbsp is not 1/2 a stick and 3/4 cup is not 1.5 sticks.

Reply
Erin January 10, 2023 - 11:55 am

The sticks of butter I use are 1/2 cup (8 Tbsp), so that’s how it works out for me!

Reply
Karen May 28, 2020 - 3:57 pm

I bake all summer. I can’t help myself. And anything with Reese’s Pieces sounds amazing.

Reply
Nancy March 10, 2012 - 12:45 pm

Better than my moms!

Reply
Joan January 2, 2012 - 5:29 pm

AWESOME cookies!!!!!

Reply
spiffycookie January 2, 2012 - 6:07 pm

I’d have to agree. One of my favorites!

Reply
Sook November 16, 2011 - 1:10 pm

Hey, Erin! I stumbled upon this post! :) Gave you a big thumb up! :)

Reply
spiffycookie November 16, 2011 - 1:13 pm

Thank you so much! I love these cookies.

Reply
Angie @ Bigbearswife July 8, 2011 - 1:42 pm

Peanutbutter cookies are quite wonderful!

Reply
carri July 6, 2011 - 9:47 am

I can’t wait to try these!

Reply
spiffycookie July 6, 2011 - 9:49 am

Oh my goodness you’ll love them!

Reply
Tara @ Chip Chip Hooray June 10, 2011 - 2:13 pm

Ohhh, my heavens. Now, I loved your skillet chicken recipe. Parmesan-roasted broccoli? Fabulous. But you know what? I love me some baked goods. I need my fat and sugar too.

Yum.

Reply
spiffycookie June 11, 2011 - 6:25 am

They were very very amazingly good!

Reply
briarrose June 10, 2011 - 10:32 am

I try to rationalize my summer baking by doing it first thing in the morning before the temperature soars. ;)

Such yummy looking cookies. Peanut butter heaven.

Reply
spiffycookie June 11, 2011 - 6:25 am

Definitely peanut butter heaven.

Reply
Elle June 10, 2011 - 10:08 am

Oh my gosh, they look fantastic! Just like mine did, which has now given me a huge craving to make them again. They really are my favorite cookie, even topping the ever loved chocolate chip. Halving the batch was a good idea, since the regular size makes so many!

Thanks for the shout out! :)

Reply
spiffycookie June 11, 2011 - 6:25 am

No problem, thanks for the recipe!

Reply
Molly at Duchess of Fork June 10, 2011 - 8:26 am

Is there anything better than a peanut butter cookie? I think NOT!

Reply

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