Chocolate Cookies with Reese’s Pieces Bunnies

I came across this recipe from Practically Homemade on Pinterest, and I was inspired! We had recently bought a large bag of Reese’s Pieces from nuts.com, and my husband had said that we had those available for baking. The original recipe used M&Ms, but Reese’s Pieces are nearly the same and I figured I would be fine. The colors worked, but I wanted to use a chocolate cookie.

The most difficult part of this recipe was finding a pill splitter to cut the Reese’s Pieces in half. I could have just cut them, but I had read a comment about using a pill splitter and that seemed easier. I went to two stores to find a pill splitter, and I was finally able to find one when I asked someone. I guess people often get them when they pick up a prescription, so the tool was not easy to find. I was happy that I eventually found one.

I altered the recipe slightly, as I didn’t want Reese’s Pieces in the dough, so I added mini chocolate chips instead. I baked them before adding the Reese’s Pieces, as I didn’t know what would happen and how the dough would shift while baking. I had the cut Reese’s Pieces ready to go once the cookies came out of the oven, and that’s really important. These cookies are super soft and chocolatey! The Reese’s Pieces add a subtle peanut butter flavor, which is just perfect.

Chocolate Cookies with Reese’s Pieces Bunnies
12 tablespoons butter, softened
½ cup sugar
½ cup packed brown sugar
2 teaspoon molasses
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 egg
1 ⅓ cups flour
½ cup cocoa powder
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon baking soda
1 cup mini chocolate chips
Reese’s Pieces, whole and half, for decoration

In a large mixer bowl, beat the butter on medium until very creamy. Add the sugar, brown sugar, and molasses and mix on medium to combine. Add the egg and vanilla and stir to incorporate. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, salt, and baking soda. With the mixer running on low, gradually add the flour mixture; mixing until just combined. Add the chocolate chips and stir with a spatula to incorporate.

Shape the dough into 1-1/2 inch balls. Place on a parchment-covered baking sheet. Once all the cookies are formed, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30-60 minutes.

Heat the oven to 325 degrees. Line two baking sheets with silicone baking mats.

Place the chilled cookies on the baking sheet. They don’t rise a lot, so there is no need for extra space between the cookies.

Bake for about 10 minutes, until set and firm around the edges. Once the come out of the oven, immediately top the cookies with Reese’s Pieces (whole and half pieces) to resemble bunnies.

Recipe from Partylicious and inspiration from Practically Homemade