Description
Delight in these festive Pumpkin Patch Cookies, perfect for Halloween! Soft and chewy peanut butter cookies topped with colorful chocolate-coated Oreos and sprinkled with crushed cookies create a fun and tasty treat that’s great for parties or seasonal celebrations.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp cornstarch
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ¼ tsp baking powder
- â…› tsp fine sea salt
Wet Ingredients
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- ¾ cup creamy peanut butter
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Topping
- Purple gel food coloring (or any color of choice)
- Halloween sprinkles or purple sanding sugar
- 33 Hershey’s Hugs or Kisses, unwrapped
- 2-3 Oreos, crushed for crumbs
Instructions
- Prepare the Baking Sheet: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper to ensure the cookies don’t stick and are easy to remove after baking. Crush 2-3 Oreos into small crumbs and set aside for later use.
- Make the Cookie Dough: In a medium bowl, combine 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour, 2 tsp cornstarch, ½ tsp baking soda, ¼ tsp baking powder, and ⅛ tsp fine sea salt. In a separate large bowl, beat ½ cup softened unsalted butter and 1 cup granulated sugar until creamy. Add 1 large egg, ¾ cup creamy peanut butter, and 1 tsp vanilla extract and mix well. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture and blend until a smooth dough forms.
- Shape the Cookies: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Use a spoon or cookie scoop to form dough balls and place them evenly spaced on the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake the Cookies: Bake for approximately 12-15 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden but the centers are still soft. Remove cookies from the oven and let them cool completely on a wire rack.
- Melt and Color the Chocolate: Gently melt the 33 Hershey’s Hugs or Kisses and add purple gel food coloring (or your preferred color) to the melted chocolate. Stir until you achieve a smooth, vibrant colored coating.
- Coat the Oreos: Dip each Oreo into the colored melted chocolate, coating it thoroughly. Place the coated Oreo on the lined baking sheet.
- Decorate the Toppings: Sprinkle the crushed Oreo crumbs and Halloween sprinkles or purple sanding sugar on top of the coated Oreo while the chocolate is still wet to help them stick and add festive flair.
- Assemble the Cookies: Once the cookies have completely cooled, gently press one coated Oreo onto the center of each peanut butter cookie to form the ‘pumpkin patch’ appearance.
- Chill the Cookies: Place the assembled cookies in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to allow the chocolate to fully set and firm up before serving.
Notes
- Be sure to let the cookies cool completely before adding the chocolate-coated Oreos to prevent melting.
- You can customize the look by using different colored gel food colorings and sprinkles based on the holiday or event.
- Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for up to a week.
- For a peanut allergy-friendly version, substitute peanut butter with sunflower seed butter or another nut-free alternative.
