There’s something utterly charming about a batch of these little guys, which is why I’m excited to share my Chocolate Peanut Butter Penguin Cookies Recipe with you. The creamy peanut butter mingles perfectly with rich dark chocolate and brings these adorable penguin treats to life—trust me, they’re as fun to make as they are to eat!

A white plate holds several penguin-shaped treats stacked together. Each treat has three main layers: a smooth, dark chocolate coating forming the body, a round light beige cookie in the center as the belly, and two small white candy circles with black dots for eyes. The beak and feet are made from three small, shiny orange candies arranged in pairs at the front. The treats have small round chocolate pieces on the sides to resemble wings. The plate is set on a white marbled surface, with a white and black checkered cloth and a cooling rack holding a few more penguin treats visible nearby. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make Chocolate Peanut Butter Penguin Cookies Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Chocolate Peanut Butter Penguin Cookies Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Chocolate Peanut Butter Penguin Cookies Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

I can’t help but smile every time I make these penguin cookies. They're not just tasty; they’re a playful little project, especially when you want to impress kids (or, let’s be honest, the kid in you!). It’s such a joy to see those cute candy eyes and orange beaks come together on buttery Nutter Butter cookies dipped in velvety chocolate. Plus, they make holiday treats or party snacks instantly festive.

Playful Presentation: These penguins are made with simple ingredients yet look impressively adorable and fun on any dessert table.
Flavor Harmony: The combo of dark chocolate and creamy peanut butter creates a rich, satisfying flavor that’s addictive.
Easy Assembly: No baking required—just melt, dip, and decorate! Perfect for a quick but creative treat.
Great for Gifts and Parties: Their whimsical look makes them a fantastic homemade gift or party favor that people will rave about.

The image shows many oval-shaped treats covered in smooth dark chocolate. Each treat has a light beige round cookie placed near the bottom center to look like a belly. Two small white candy eyes with black dots are positioned near the top. An orange candy placed vertically is used for the nose in the middle of the face. Two orange candies sit near the bottom, side by side, to form feet. On each side, a single dark brown candy is attached to resemble wings. The treats are arranged closely together on a white marbled surface. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

Each ingredient in the Chocolate Peanut Butter Penguin Cookies Recipe plays a special role, from the crunchy yet creamy cookies to the smooth, flavorful coating. Buying quality chocolate chips and fresh peanut butter will make a noticeable difference, so don't skip on those little details.

Flat lay of a small heap of glossy dark chocolate chips, a small white ceramic bowl filled with creamy peanut butter, a small pile of salted butter cubes, a neat stack of Nutter Butter cookies with ridged edges, a small white ceramic bowl full of mini golden Nilla wafers, a small white ceramic bowl filled with brown Reese’s pieces, a small white ceramic bowl holding bright orange Reese’s pieces halved, and a small white ceramic bowl containing shiny white candy eyes, all arranged with perfect symmetry and balanced proportions, placed on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

Dark chocolate chips: Using dark chocolate gives a rich, slightly bitter contrast that balances the sweetness and peanut butter flavor.
Creamy peanut butter: Smooth peanut butter melts nicely and provides that classic creamy taste without any chunkiness getting in the way.
Salted butter: Adds richness and helps the chocolate and peanut butter melt together smoothly.
Nutter Butter cookies: These peanut-shaped cookies are perfect fun “bodies” for the penguins, with a solid, flavorful base.
Mini Nilla Wafers: These make the perfect “tummies” for the penguins, adding a pale contrast in the middle.
Brown Reese’s pieces: Used as wings, the brown color blends wonderfully with the chocolate.
Orange Reese’s pieces: When cut in half, these serve as the penguins’ feet and beaks—little pops of color that bring these cookies to life.
Candy eyes: Absolutely essential for giving your penguins that classic, cute expression. Opening these ahead saves so much time.

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Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

One thing I love about this Chocolate Peanut Butter Penguin Cookies Recipe is how easy it is to customize. Sometimes I swap out the dark chocolate for milk chocolate if I want it sweeter, or use peanut butter cups instead of plain peanut butter for an extra peanutty punch. Don’t hesitate to get creative!

Variation: Add a pinch of sea salt on top after dipping for a sweet-salty twist – I tried it once, and it gave the flavors a nice boost.
Dietary Adjustments: Use dairy-free chocolate chips and a nut butter alternative like almond butter to make these suitable for allergies.
Seasonal Twist: Swap the candy eyes for festive holiday sprinkles or add edible glitter for parties and special occasions.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Chocolate Peanut Butter Penguin Cookies Recipe

Step 1: Melting the Magic

Start by combining your dark chocolate chips, creamy peanut butter, and salted butter in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave the mixture for 30 seconds, then stir well. Carry on heating in 10-15 second bursts, stirring between each, until everything is completely melted and smooth. This slow approach prevents burning and keeps the texture silky, which is key to perfectly coating your cookies.

Step 2: Dipping and Decorating

Dip a Nutter Butter cookie fully into the chocolate mixture, then gently lift it out with a fork and give it a little shake to discard excess chocolate. Place it onto a parchment-lined surface or wire rack to set. While the chocolate is still soft, add a mini Nilla wafer right in the middle for the tummy. Place two candy eyes on the upper part, then press half an orange Reese's piece (cut side down) for the nose. Add two more orange halves horizontally below the wafer for feet, and finish by pressing one brown Reese’s piece on each side to form the wings. Repeat with all cookies—this step is almost like crafting tiny chocolate masterpieces!

Step 3: Chill and Serve

Pop your penguin beauties into the refrigerator for at least 3 hours or overnight. This chilling time helps the chocolate harden properly so the decorations stay put. You can serve them chilled or at room temperature—just know the chocolate gets softer at room temp, which means deliciously fudgy fingers when you snack!

Top Tip

Having made these penguins more times than I can count, I've learned a few tricks that help make the process smoother and your results fail-proof.

Prep Your Decor Ahead: Lay out all your mini Nilla wafers, candy eyes, and the sorted and halved Reese’s pieces before you start dipping. It’s much faster and less frustrating this way.
Don’t Overheat Chocolate: Chocolate can seize quickly, so short microwave bursts with constant stirring keep it smooth and melt perfectly with the peanut butter.
Use a Wire Rack: Setting cookies on a wire rack with parchment underneath helps air circulate and lets excess chocolate drip for cleaner, prettier cookies.
Extra Candies Are Your Backup: Always have a few more candy eyes and Reese’s pieces on hand—you might drop some or get perfectionist with repositioning, like I do!

How to Serve Chocolate Peanut Butter Penguin Cookies Recipe

Chocolate Peanut Butter Penguins - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I like to keep garnish simple here—just a dusting of powdered sugar looks like fresh snow and adds a festive touch. Sometimes a sprig of fresh mint or a sprinkle of crushed peanuts around the plate adds extra color and texture without overwhelming the cookies themselves.

Side Dishes

These cookies pair wonderfully with a glass of cold milk or a rich hot chocolate. I’ve also served them alongside a platter of fresh fruit for a balanced snack table when hosting kids’ parties.

Creative Ways to Present

During holiday seasons, I like to arrange these penguins standing on a bed of coconut “snow” in a shallow tray with a few candy cane “icebergs” for a whimsical winter scene. For parties, setting them on tiered cake stands or in individual cupcake liners makes a playful display that guests adore.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Once chilled, these penguins store best in an airtight container in the refrigerator—for up to a week. I’ve noticed keeping them cool maintains the crisp texture and keeps the chocolate from smudging or melting, which you’ll want to avoid if you plan to gift them.

Freezing

If you want to make a big batch ahead of time, they freeze beautifully for up to 6 months. Just freeze them in a single layer on parchment paper, then transfer to a container. I thaw mine overnight in the fridge and they come out just like fresh.

Reheating

Since they’re a no-bake treat, reheating isn’t necessary—but if you like softer chocolate, popping them in a warm room for about 20 minutes before serving does the trick without any mess.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use other types of cookies instead of Nutter Butters?

While Nutter Butters give the perfect peanut shape and flavor for penguins, you can experiment with other sturdy peanut butter or vanilla cookies. Just choose ones that will hold up well when dipped in chocolate.

What’s the best way to melt the chocolate and peanut butter without it seizing?

Microwaving in short increments (10-15 seconds) with stirring between each helps prevent overheating. Using salted butter also helps smooth out the chocolate. Avoid rushing or heating at high temperatures.

Can these penguin cookies be made ahead for a party?

Absolutely! They store well refrigerated for up to a week and freeze beautifully if you want to prepare them even earlier. Just plan for at least 3 hours chilling time to set them properly.

What if I don’t have candy eyes—can I substitute them?

You can swap candy eyes with small white and black icing dots, mini chocolate chips, or even edible markers on white chocolate discs. The goal is to keep that cute penguin expression intact!

Final Thoughts

This Chocolate Peanut Butter Penguin Cookies Recipe is one of those joy-bringing, hands-on kitchen projects that doubles as a conversation starter and crowd-pleaser. I still remember the first time I made them with my nieces—they squealed with delight over every little candy eye and orange beak! I highly recommend trying this recipe whenever you want a sweet activity with a delicious payoff. Once you do, I bet these penguins will become a beloved treat you come back to year after year.