Easy No-Bake Nutter Butter Turkey Cookies: Your Perfect Thanksgiving Treat!

Looking for a fun, festive, and incredibly easy dessert to delight your guests this Thanksgiving? These adorable Nutter Butter Turkey Cookies are the answer! Combining the beloved flavor of Nutter Butter cookies with chocolate, candy corn, and a few simple decorations, these no-bake treats are designed to look just like cute little turkeys. They’re not only a fantastic addition to your dessert table but also make charming place settings or edible table decor that will bring smiles to everyone, especially the little ones!

What Are Nutter Butter Turkey Cookies?

Nutter Butter turkey cookies are a whimsical and delightful dessert crafted by transforming classic Nutter Butter cookies into festive turkeys. This creative project is ideal for Thanksgiving, fall gatherings, or any holiday occasion where you want to add a touch of edible charm without the hassle of baking.

The magic behind these treats lies in their clever construction. The distinctive peanut-shaped Nutter Butter cookie forms the body of our turkey. For the vibrant tail feathers, we use colorful candy corn, ingeniously supported by a chocolatey Fudge Stripe cookie base. Tiny candy eyeballs and a small piece of candy for the beak bring our turkey’s face to life, while a dab of red frosting creates the characteristic wattle. Each component is carefully affixed with melted chocolate, acting as a delicious and sturdy adhesive.

The beauty of this recipe is its adaptability. There are numerous ways to customize these turkeys to suit your taste, available ingredients, or dietary preferences. I’ll share a variety of fun variations and substitution ideas below, ensuring you can create your perfect flock of Nutter Butter turkeys!

One of the best aspects of these turkey cookies is that they are entirely no-bake, simplifying the preparation process significantly. All you need is a microwave to melt the chocolate, making assembly a breeze. This ease of creation makes them a fantastic activity for kids, who will love helping to “glue” the candy pieces onto the cookies. Don’t be fooled by their kid-friendly appeal, though – adults adore these charming and delicious cookies just as much, making them a welcome and memorable addition to any Thanksgiving feast!

Nutter Butter Turkey Cookies Ingredients

Gathering your ingredients is the first step to creating these delightful Nutter Butter turkey cookies. Most items are readily available at your local grocery store, and some can even be swapped out based on what you have on hand or any dietary needs. Here’s what you’ll need for a batch of 12 festive turkeys:

• 12 Nutter Butter cookies: These iconic peanut-shaped cookies are perfect for the turkey bodies, offering a delicious peanut butter flavor and a convenient base. Generic brand equivalents work just as well!
• 12 Fudge Stripe cookies: These chocolate-coated shortbread cookies serve as the base for the feathers, with their distinctive hole providing a stable spot for the Nutter Butter.
• 84 candy corn: You’ll need 7 candy corn per turkey to create a colorful, fanned tail. This amounts to a total of 84 for a dozen cookies.
• 24 candy eyeballs: These add a charming, expressive touch to your turkeys, two per cookie.
• 12 harvest candy corn (orange tips only): The orange tips of these larger, tri-colored candy corn are ideal for creating the turkey’s beak.
• Red cookie icing: A small tube of red cookie icing is essential for drawing on the wattle, that distinct red flap under the turkey’s beak.
• 1 cup milk chocolate chips: Melted chocolate chips act as the “glue” to hold all the components together, providing both adhesion and a delightful chocolatey flavor.

How to Make Nutter Butter Turkey Cookies (Step-by-Step)

Creating these delightful Nutter Butter turkey cookies is a straightforward and fun process, perfect for an afternoon activity with the family. Just follow these simple steps:

1. Melt the chocolate: Begin by adding your milk chocolate chips to a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on high for 1 minute. Remove, stir well, and if needed, continue microwaving in 30-second increments, stirring after each, until the chocolate is completely smooth and melted. Be careful not to overheat it, as chocolate can seize up. (In a 1000W microwave, mine usually takes just 1 minute).

2. Add eyes and beak to Nutter Butters: Using a toothpick or a small dab tool, apply a tiny amount of melted chocolate to the back of two candy eyeballs. Press them firmly onto the wider end of a Nutter Butter cookie, spaced appropriately. Next, attach the orange tip of a harvest candy corn (for the beak) just below and between the eyes using another dab of melted chocolate. Repeat this process for all 12 Nutter Butter cookies, creating their adorable faces.

3. Attach Nutter Butter to Fudge Stripe base: Flip a Fudge Stripe cookie over so the chocolatey, flat side is facing up. Using your finger or a spoon, drizzle a ring of melted chocolate around the hole in its center. Carefully set a decorated Nutter Butter cookie (face down, so the “turkey’s body” is facing away from you) onto this chocolate ring, pressing gently but firmly to ensure it adheres. The Nutter Butter should stand upright, with the Fudge Stripe forming a stable base behind it. Repeat for all remaining cookies.

4. Create the candy corn feathers: Now it’s time for the vibrant tail! Apply a generous dollop of melted chocolate to one side of the pointed tip of a candy corn (a toothpick works best for precision). Press this chocolate-covered tip onto the exposed top half of the Fudge Stripe cookie, positioning it behind the Nutter Butter. Start with a candy corn in the top center, then add three on each side, fanning them out slightly to create a full tail. If a candy corn piece slides down, it likely means you need to apply more chocolate or press it more firmly onto the cookie. Don’t be afraid to add extra melted chocolate if needed – it’s your adhesive!

5. Add the wattle: To complete your turkey, add a small, squiggly dab of red cookie icing. Start it from about the center of the candy corn beak and let it extend just slightly below, mimicking the turkey’s wattle. This adds that perfect final touch!

6. Allow chocolate to set: Once all your turkeys are assembled and decorated, let them sit undisturbed at room temperature for about 20-30 minutes to allow the melted chocolate to fully harden. If you’re in a hurry, you can speed up this process by carefully placing them in the refrigerator for 10-15 minutes.
7. Serve and enjoy: Once set, your adorable Nutter Butter turkey cookies are ready to be served! Enjoy them immediately, or store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week.

• Nutter Butter Snowmen: Perfect for winter, these sweet snowmen are another charming no-bake project.
• Nutter Butter Acorn Cookies: A delightful fall-themed treat that celebrates the harvest season.

What to Serve With Nutter Butter Turkeys

Nutter Butter turkey cookies are incredibly versatile and can be served alongside a wide array of both sweet and savory treats. They’re sure to be a festive and talked-about addition to your Thanksgiving dessert table, holiday snack spreads, or even as individual gifts. Here are some of my favorite pairings to complement their nutty, sweet flavor:

Pumpkin or Apple Pie Bars

Introduce classic fall flavors to your spread with rich and spiced pumpkin pie bars or sweet, cinnamony apple pie bars. These traditional autumn desserts offer a delightful contrast to the peanut butter taste of the Nutter Butter cookies, creating a well-rounded seasonal offering.

Caramel Corn or Popcorn Mixes

For a textural contrast, serve your turkey cookies with a bowl of homemade caramel corn or a festive popcorn mix. The sweet and salty crunch of popcorn makes an excellent companion to the smooth cookies and can be easily served in individual bags or decorative bowls for guests to enjoy.

Fruit and Cheese Platter

To balance the sweetness of the cookies, a refreshing fruit and cheese platter is an excellent choice. Crisp apple slices, juicy pear wedges, and mild cheeses like cheddar, brie, or goat cheese create a sophisticated palate cleanser that complements both the peanut butter and chocolate flavors.

Mini Pumpkin Cheesecakes or Cheesecake Bites

Elevate your dessert spread with rich and creamy mini pumpkin cheesecakes or bite-sized cheesecake delights. The smooth, tangy flavors of cheesecake, especially with a hint of pumpkin spice, pair beautifully with the sweet and nutty turkey cookies.

Hot Chocolate or Apple Cider

Warm beverages are a must for any holiday gathering. Serve your Nutter Butter turkeys with mugs of rich hot chocolate or spiced apple cider. These comforting drinks enhance the cozy holiday atmosphere and perfectly complement the sweetness of the cookies.

For the adults who enjoy a little extra warmth, consider offering boozy options like my Salted Caramel Whiskey Hot Chocolate or a spiked Caramel Apple Hot Cider. These festive cocktails are sure to be a hit!

Recipe Pro Tips For the Best Nutter Butter Turkey Cookies

• Keep your chocolate warm: If your melted chocolate starts to thicken or harden while you’re assembling, don’t fret! Simply pop it back into the microwave for about 15-30 seconds, stir, and it should return to a smooth, workable consistency. For a batch of 12 cookies, however, it usually stays fluid enough without needing to be rewarmed.
• Don’t skimp on the chocolate “glue”: The most crucial tip for this recipe is to use a sufficient amount of melted chocolate for adhesion and to press the pieces together firmly. If your candy corn feathers are falling or sagging, it’s a sign that you didn’t use enough chocolate or didn’t press the tip securely onto the Fudge Stripe cookie. Add a little more chocolate to the tip and gently hold it in place for a few seconds. You shouldn’t need to “prop up” your cookies or the candy corn while they cool and set, as firm attachment with enough chocolate should prevent sagging.
• Pre-cut your beaks: If using harvest candy corn for the beaks, pre-cutting all the orange tips before you start assembling can streamline the process significantly.
• Organize your workspace: Lay out all your ingredients and components before you begin melting chocolate. This ensures a smooth assembly line, especially if you have little helpers!

Nutter Butter Turkey Storage Tips

To keep your adorable Nutter Butter turkey cookies fresh and looking their best for as long as possible, proper storage is key:

• Airtight container at room temperature: Once the chocolate has fully hardened, transfer your cookies to an airtight container. Store them in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. They will remain fresh and delicious for up to one week.
• Ensure full setting before storage: It’s critical that all the melted chocolate and icing have completely hardened before you stack or store the cookies. This prevents any decorations (like the candy corn feathers or eyeballs) from sliding, detaching, or sticking to other cookies.
• Lay flat with wax paper: For best results and to preserve their delicate decorations, arrange the cookies in a single layer if possible. If you need to stack them, place a sheet of wax paper or parchment paper between each layer to prevent sticking and protect the integrity of the turkeys.
• Avoid refrigeration unless speeding up setting: While refrigeration can speed up the setting process initially, prolonged storage in the fridge can sometimes cause the cookies to become hard or dry out faster. Room temperature storage is generally best for maintaining their texture and flavor.

• Thanksgiving Chocolate Covered Oreos: Transform classic Oreos into festive bites with chocolate and autumn sprinkles.

Final Thoughts

These adorable Nutter Butter turkey cookies are truly the perfect no-bake Thanksgiving treat, cherished by both kids and adults alike! They offer a delightful combination of flavors and textures, with the satisfying crunch of Nutter Butter cookies, the rich taste of chocolate, and the festive colors of candy corn.

The simple assembly process, using melted chocolate as the “glue” for candies, cookies, and icing, makes this a wonderful and engaging activity for the whole family. Even the youngest chefs can lend a hand, making precious memories in the kitchen during the holiday season.

Whether you’re looking for a charming centerpiece for your dessert table, a unique and personal place setting for each guest, or simply some cute edible table decor, these Nutter Butter turkey cookies are sure to impress. They’re more than just a sweet treat; they’re a fun tradition in the making that will add a touch of whimsy and joy to your Thanksgiving celebration for years to come!