Ultimate Chewy Chocolate Reese’s Pieces Pudding Cookies: Your Holiday Baking Secret!

Discover the magic behind these incredibly thick, irresistibly chewy chocolate cookies – it’s all thanks to a simple box of instant pudding mix!

Welcome, fellow dessert enthusiasts, to what we’re unofficially calling “Cookie Week” here at The Messy Baker! You might be wondering why “unofficial.” Well, truth be told, I didn’t meticulously plan a week dedicated solely to cookies. It just… happened. As I reviewed my upcoming recipe schedule, I realized that every single dish on the horizon was a cookie recipe! With the holiday season in full swing, it felt like fate, a delightful coincidence that perfectly aligns with the festive spirit. So, embrace the delicious chaos, because this week, we’re diving headfirst into the wonderful world of cookies!

There’s something truly special about baking during the holidays. The aroma of warm spices and melted chocolate filling your home, the joy of sharing homemade treats with loved ones, and the simple comfort that a perfectly baked cookie brings. This impromptu “Cookie Week” couldn’t have arrived at a better time, serving as a delicious countdown to Christmas and an invitation to indulge in all things sweet and comforting.

I know, I know. I’ve been a little generous with the dessert recipes lately. But in my defense, it’s almost Christmas – just nine short days away! And let’s be honest, the holiday season is practically synonymous with indulgence. This is the time for celebrating, for cozying up with loved ones, and for enjoying those delectable treats we sometimes deny ourselves during the rest of the year. We’ll have plenty of time for detoxing, juicing, and embracing a lettuce-heavy diet come New Year’s Day, right? For now, let’s revel in the joy of baking and feasting on cookies!

A Sweet Exchange: The Great Food Blogger Cookie Swap

Speaking of cookies and sharing, I recently had the incredible opportunity to participate in The Great Food Blogger Cookie Swap. This isn’t just any cookie exchange; it’s an event with a heartwarming purpose: to raise money for Cookies for Kids’ Cancer. This fantastic organization is dedicated to funding new, innovative therapies in the relentless fight against pediatric cancer. It’s a cause that touches so many hearts, and being able to contribute through the universal language of cookies felt incredibly meaningful.

The concept is simple yet brilliant: you bake a batch of your favorite cookies and send them to three other food bloggers across the web. In return, you receive three different, scrumptious cookie packages from other talented bakers. It’s a wonderful way to connect with the blogging community, discover new recipes, and, most importantly, support a vital cause. The anticipation of those packages arriving in the mail was almost as exciting as the baking itself! Each delivery felt like a little Christmas morning in December, filled with delightful surprises.

Every single package of cookies I received was absolutely delicious, a testament to the passion and skill of the food blogging community. From intricate designs to unique flavor combinations, each cookie was a little work of art. My initial instinct, I confess, was to hoard all the cookies for myself – a classic cookie lover’s dilemma! But, keeping with the true spirit of the Christmas season and the generosity of the cookie swap, I decided to share the bounty with my family and friends. It was a joy to see their faces light up with each bite, knowing these treats came from fellow bakers committed to a wonderful cause.

The Crowd-Pleasing Creation: Chocolate Reese’s Pieces Pudding Cookies

In return for the delightful cookies I received, I sent my cookie swap recipients a dozen of these very Chocolate Reese’s Pieces Pudding Cookies. If there’s one recipe that has truly stolen the show this year, it’s this one. These cookies are, without a doubt, Squirrel’s and my dad’s absolute favorite. Their enthusiasm alone is enough to confirm that this recipe is a winner.

Just the other day, my dad, with his endearing simplicity, asked me if I had any more of “those brown cookies with the peanut butter pieces.” Not “chocolate cookies,” mind you, but “brown cookies.” He doesn’t necessarily know all the ingredients, but he instinctively knows he loves them. And that, to me, is the highest compliment a baker can receive. Needless to say, I’ll be making extra batches of these beloved “brown cookies with peanut butter pieces” for Christmas this year, ensuring our holiday dessert platter is well-stocked with his favorite.

The Secret to Perfection: Instant Pudding Mix

So, what’s the magic behind these cookies’ incredible texture and flavor? The secret ingredient, the one that makes them extra soft, wonderfully chewy, and intensely chocolatey, is a simple box of instant chocolate pudding mix. This unassuming ingredient works wonders, transforming ordinary cookie dough into something truly extraordinary. It imparts a super moist crumb that stays soft for days, even after the cookies have completely cooled – a characteristic every cookie lover dreams of.

But the pudding mix is just the beginning. These cookies are generously loaded with a trifecta of deliciousness: rich semi-sweet chocolate chips for that classic cocoa flavor, creamy peanut butter chips for a nutty, salty-sweet contrast, and, my personal favorite, plenty of mini Reese’s Pieces. Each bite offers a delightful explosion of textures and flavors, from the gooey chocolate to the crunchy, sweet peanut butter candy. It’s a combination that’s truly hard to resist, making them an instant favorite for anyone who tries them.

Baking Tips for Ultimate Success

One of the best things about this recipe is how easily it comes together. You can prepare the dough right in the bowl of your stand mixer, or if you prefer, a trusty hand mixer will work just as well. The process is straightforward, making it accessible for bakers of all skill levels, even during the busy holiday season. However, for truly extra-thick, wonderfully chewy cookies, I wholeheartedly recommend chilling the dough for at least 4 hours. This crucial step allows the fats to firm up, preventing the cookies from spreading too much in the oven and locking in that desirable chewiness and thickness.

If you’re pressed for time or simply prefer your cookies on the crunchier side, you absolutely can mix and bake them right away. They’ll still be delicious, just with a slightly different texture. But if that soft, dense, bakery-style cookie is what you’re after, don’t skip the chilling. When it comes to baking, keep a close eye on them. The cookies will appear slightly undercooked when you pull them from the oven, but resist the urge to bake them longer! This is the key to their incredible softness. They will continue to set as they cool on the baking sheet and then on the wire rack, firming up to the perfect chewy consistency.

Ingredients Spotlight: The Role of Each Component

Beyond the instant pudding mix, each ingredient in this recipe plays a vital role in creating the perfect chocolate peanut butter cookie. Unsalted butter and a blend of brown and granulated sugar create a rich, tender base. The combination of a whole egg and an egg yolk adds moisture and chewiness, while vanilla extract enhances the overall flavor profile.

For the dry ingredients, all-purpose flour provides structure, but it’s the cocoa powder that delivers that deep, intense chocolate flavor. Baking soda ensures a soft lift, while a touch of kosher salt balances the sweetness and brings out all the other flavors. The addition of cornstarch is another secret weapon, contributing to the cookies’ incredibly soft and tender crumb, almost like a little pillow. And for an extra boost of chocolate depth, a teaspoon of espresso powder subtly amplifies the cocoa without making the cookies taste like coffee. Finally, the generous scattering of peanut butter chips, semi-sweet chocolate chips, and mini Reese’s Pieces ensures every bite is packed with delightful surprises. This carefully crafted combination of ingredients results in a truly unforgettable cookie that’s perfect for any occasion, especially the holidays.