If you’re looking for a fun twist on a classic cookie treat, you’re in for a real delight with this Penguin Nutter Butter Cookies Recipe. I absolutely love how these little guys turn out — they’re cute, chocolaty, and perfect for a cozy afternoon snack or holiday gathering. Grab your ingredients, and I’ll walk you through how to bring these adorable penguin cookies to life. Trust me, you’ll want to make these again and again!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Easy to Make: Just a few simple ingredients and no baking needed — perfect for beginners or last-minute treats.
- Adorable Presentation: These penguins look incredibly cute and are sure to wow family and friends.
- Customizable Decorations: You can easily swap candies and colors to fit any occasion or your preferences.
- Perfect for Kids: Making these together is a fun activity that kids absolutely love joining in on.
Ingredients You’ll Need
These ingredients come together so well because each plays a key role in creating that iconic penguin look while offering a yummy peanut butter and chocolate flavor combo. When you shop, look for quality candy melts and candies for the best results.
- Nutter Butter cookies: The peanut butter flavor and unique shape provide a perfect base for the penguin body.
- Dark chocolate melting wafers: These melt smoothly and set up shiny and firm, giving the penguin a slick chocolate coat.
- White candy melts: Used for the “belly” detail; pick pure white to get that classic look.
- Orange M&Ms (regular and mini): These brighten the design and serve as feet and beak — the color just pops!
- Edible candy eyes: They bring the penguins to life — you can find these at craft stores or online.
Variations
I love mixing things up by swapping candy colors or using different cookies, and you should definitely feel free to personalize these little penguins with your favorite sweets. Making them your own is half the fun!
- Peanut Allergy-Friendly: I once made these with allergen-free cookies and sunflower seed butter, and they turned out fantastic without the nutty element.
- Holiday Themes: Try red and green candy melts instead of orange for Christmas penguins — my family went crazy for the festive twist!
- Mini Version: Smaller Nutter Butters or similarly shaped cookies make for bite-sized treats that kids adore at parties.
How to Make Penguin Nutter Butter Cookies Recipe
Step 1: Prep Your Workspace and Cookies
Start by lining a baking sheet with parchment paper — trust me, this saves you tons of clean-up hassle later. Then, get your Nutter Butters ready. Having all your candy pieces within reach will keep the assembly smooth and quick once your chocolate is melted.
Step 2: Melt the Dark Chocolate Perfectly
Pop the dark chocolate melting wafers into a microwave-safe bowl. Heat them in 30-second bursts, stirring well after each interval. This method prevents burning and ensures a silky smooth melt. When it’s fully melted, it’s ready for dipping. You’ll notice how glossy the chocolate is — that’s the secret to a pretty finish on your penguins.
Step 3: Dip and Decorate Your Penguin Bodies
Dip each Nutter Butter gently into the melted chocolate, and give a light tap to shake off any extra drip. Place them on your prepared parchment. While the chocolate is still wet, press one white candy melt onto the bottom center to mimic the penguin’s belly. Then, add two regular orange M&Ms at the base for little feet, followed by two edible eyes near the top. Finally, tuck a mini orange M&M between the eyes to create a cute little beak.
Step 4: Let the Cookies Set Before Enjoying
This is a step you won’t want to skip — let the cookies fully set at room temperature or pop the tray in the fridge for about 15 minutes. This ensures the chocolate hardens nicely and all your decorations stay in place. Patience here means your penguins won’t lose feet or eyes when you move them to a plate.
Pro Tips for Making Penguin Nutter Butter Cookies Recipe
- Chocolate Melting: Stir thoroughly between short microwave bursts to avoid clumpy or burnt chocolate — it makes dipping so much easier.
- Tap Off Excess: Gently tapping the dipped cookie helps create a smoother chocolate coat without pooling or dripping.
- Use Parchment Paper: It prevents sticking and helps your cookies set with a clean finish.
- Decoration Timing: Add your candy decorations while chocolate is still wet for the best stick — rushing this is a common mistake I learned to avoid.
How to Serve Penguin Nutter Butter Cookies Recipe
Garnishes
I often dust these cookies lightly with powdered sugar to mimic a snowy effect — it adds a charming touch, especially around the holidays. Sometimes, a few crushed nuts around the plate make a fun “ice” texture, which guests always comment on!
Side Dishes
Pair these penguin cookies with a warm cup of hot chocolate or your favorite spiced tea. I love serving them alongside a simple fruit platter to balance out the rich chocolate and peanut butter flavors.
Creative Ways to Present
I once arranged a bunch of these cookies on a blue platter with cotton candy clouds for a “winter wonderland” party theme — it was a huge hit and made the cookies feel extra special. You can also package them as gift boxes with colorful ribbons for friends and family, making a sweet and personal treat.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
I usually keep these cookies in an airtight container at room temperature, away from heat and humidity. They stay fresh for up to a week, and the chocolate maintains its lovely snap. I learned the hard way that storing them in warmer spots makes the chocolate soften and lose that perfect look.
Freezing
Freezing is totally possible! I wrap each cookie individually in plastic wrap, then place them in a freezer-safe container. When I’ve pulled them out after a couple of weeks, they thaw beautifully without any flavor or texture loss — just bring them to room temp slowly before unwrapping.
Reheating
Since these are no-bake cookies, reheating isn’t needed, but if your chocolate softens, a quick chill in the fridge will firm them back up. Avoid microwaving as it can melt the decorations and make the chocolate grainy.
FAQs
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Can I use different types of chocolate instead of dark chocolate melting wafers?
Yes! You can substitute with milk chocolate or semi-sweet chocolate chips, but I recommend adding a little vegetable shortening or cocoa butter when melting to achieve the smooth texture that melting wafers provide. This helps your penguins look professional and sets nicely without cracking.
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Where can I find edible candy eyes?
Edible candy eyes are widely available at craft stores, bakeware shops, and online. They often come in small packs and are affordable. If you’re in a pinch, you can also pipe small dots of white and black frosting or use tiny chocolate chips as makeshift eyes.
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How long do Penguin Nutter Butter Cookies stay fresh?
Stored properly in an airtight container at room temperature, these cookies stay fresh for up to one week. Make sure they’re kept away from direct sunlight or high moisture to keep the chocolate from blooming (that white dust-like appearance).
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Can kids help make this recipe?
Absolutely! This recipe is a hit with kids because of its simple assembly and adorable results. Just supervise the chocolate melting part, and let the kids handle dipping and decorating — it’s a great family-friendly activity.
Final Thoughts
This Penguin Nutter Butter Cookies Recipe has become one of my go-to treats, especially when I want to impress without spending hours in the kitchen. They’re delightful, straightforward, and always bring smiles around my table. I really hope you enjoy making (and eating!) these as much as I do — they’re such a fun way to brighten up snack time or holiday celebrations. Give them a try and share the joy with your loved ones!
Print
Penguin Nutter Butter Cookies Recipe
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 6 cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
Description
These Penguin Nutter Butter Cookies are an adorable and fun dessert perfect for winter or holiday parties. Classic Nutter Butter cookies are dipped in rich dark chocolate and decorated with white candy melts, orange M&Ms, and edible candy eyes to create cute little penguin faces. Easy to make and delightful to serve, they’re sure to be a hit with kids and adults alike.
Ingredients
Cookies
- 6 Nutter Butter cookies
Chocolate Coating
- 1 cup dark chocolate melting wafers
- 6 white candy melts
Decorations
- 12 regular orange M&Ms
- 6 mini orange M&Ms
- 12 edible candy eyes
Instructions
- Prepare the baking sheet: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent the cookies from sticking and to make cleanup easier.
- Melt the chocolate: Place the dark chocolate melting wafers in a microwave-safe bowl. Heat in 30-second intervals, stirring well between each session until the chocolate is completely melted and smooth.
- Dip the cookies: Dip each Nutter Butter cookie into the melted dark chocolate, gently tapping off any excess chocolate. Place the dipped cookies on the prepared parchment paper to set.
- Add the white belly: Place one white candy melt at the bottom center of each chocolate-dipped cookie to mimic the penguin’s belly.
- Create the feet: Position two regular orange M&Ms at the bottom edge of each cookie to represent the penguin’s feet.
- Place the eyes and beak: Add two edible candy eyes toward the top of each cookie. Place one mini orange M&M between and slightly beneath the eyes to serve as the penguin’s beak.
- Set the cookies: Allow all the decorations and chocolate coating to fully set and harden before serving or storing the cookies to maintain their shape and appearance.
Notes
- Use parchment paper to prevent sticking and facilitate easy cleanup.
- Be careful not to overheat the chocolate to avoid burning; stir thoroughly during melting.
- Allow cookies to set at room temperature or refrigerate for faster setting.
- Store the cookies in an airtight container to keep them fresh and maintain texture.
- For a fun twist, substitute dark chocolate with milk or white chocolate melting wafers.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 15g
- Sodium: 90mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
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