Easy No Bake Spider Cookies will be a hit with both kids and adults this Halloween. These highly addictive gluten-free Halloween cookies combine Reese's peanut butter cups and rice krispies for a cute treat all can enjoy!
Prepare everything first. Line two cookie sheets with wax paper, unwrap peanut butter cups, and measure peanut butter and cereal. Set aside.
In a medium saucepan, over medium heat, combine the corn syrup and brown sugar. Bring just to boil, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and stir in peanut butter and vanilla.
Immediately stir in cereal and drop 1 ½ inch balls on lined cookie sheets. TIP: Using a medium cookie scoop makes this very easy, but you can also roll balls with your hands. Place ball on cookie sheet, flatten slightly with fingers, and immediately press peanut butter cup on top, pushing down slightly.
Once all the cookies are formed, refrigerate the cookie sheets for a few minutes to set chocolate. Meanwhile, melt chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl for 30 seconds - 1 minute, stirring every 15 seconds.
Use a toothpick dipped into melted chocolate to paint on 8 spider legs. Then use the toothpick to place small chocolate dots on peanut butter cups where eyes will go. Use chocolate dots to "glue" eyeballs on.
Refrigerate pans for 5-10 minutes to harden chocolate and then store cookies in airtight container.
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Notes
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Which brand of Rice Krispies (puffed rice cereal) are gluten free?While are crisp rice cereal is often referred to as “Rice Krispies,” the Kellogg’s brand that makes this IS NOT gluten-free. For gluten-free rice cereal, use brands such as Aldi, Malt-O-Meal, Wegmans, or Erewhon.
Are Reese’s peanut butter cups gluten-free?Yes, miniature wrapped peanut butter cups, which are need for this recipe are gluten-free. However, unwrapped minis and seasonal shaped ones, such as pumpkins, are not.
Can you freeze these spider cookies?Yes. Assemble them with the peanut butter cup and refrigerate briefly to set the chocolate on top the rice krispie bottom. Transfer the undecorated cookies to large plastic freezer bags and freeze up to 3 weeks.A day or two before serving, remove the spider cookies from freezer to come to room temperature. Finish decorating with eyes and legs, then set chocolate decorations by refrigerating for a few minutes.
EXPERT TIPS AND TRICKS
Assembling the cookies goes fast and has to be done while everything is warm (similar to Rice Krispie treats), so line two cookie sheets with wax paper, unwrap peanut butter cups, measure peanut butter and cereal before starting recipe.
Using a medium cookie scoop (1.5 tablespoon size) really simplifies making quick, even-sized balls.
Once the rolled ball is placed on cookie sheet, immediately top with peanut butter cup (kids can help with this task). The peanut butter cup needs to be placed on the warm rice krispie base so the chocolate will melt slightly and adhere to it.
Once the cookies are assembled with peanut butter cup, you can decorate with legs and eyes as you have time.
It’s okay if you don’t get them decorated all at one time. I did about half and finished the rest later. Just remelt bowl of chocolate in microwave when you’re ready to decorate again.