Pilgrim Hat Cookies Recipe
Introduction
Pilgrim Hat Cookies are a fun and festive treat perfect for Thanksgiving celebrations. Combining chocolate cookies, peanut butter cups, and colorful candy, these adorable hats are both visually appealing and delicious.
Ingredients
- 24 Fudge Stripe Cookies
- 24 Mini Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups (unwrapped)
- 1/2 cup yellow or orange frosting
- 24 Reese’s Pieces
Instructions
- Step 1: Arrange the Fudge Stripe Cookies with the chocolate side facing up on a clean surface or board.
- Step 2: Pipe a circle of frosting around the center of each cookie, sized about the diameter of one peanut butter cup.
- Step 3: Place a mini Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup upside down in the center of the frosting circle, pressing gently so the frosting forms a neat rim around the cup.
- Step 4: Choose the opposite color Reese’s Piece candy to the frosting (if using yellow frosting, pick orange candies), and place one on the edge of the cup to represent the buckle. If the frosting rim is not high enough to hold the candy, add a tiny dab of frosting beneath the candy to help it stick.
- Step 5: Allow the cookies to set at room temperature for about an hour before serving so the frosting can firm up.
Tips & Variations
- Use a piping bag or zip-top bag with the corner snipped for neat frosting circles.
- Try cream cheese frosting tinted with food coloring for a tangy flavor twist.
- Substitute Reese’s Pieces with M&M’s or other small colorful candies for a different look.
Storage
Store Pilgrim Hat Cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. For longer storage, refrigerate and bring to room temperature before serving. Avoid stacking to keep decorations intact.
How to Serve
Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.
FAQs
Can I use regular-sized peanut butter cups instead of mini ones?
Mini peanut butter cups work best because their size fits perfectly on the cookies. Regular-sized cups may be too large and disrupt the structure of the cookie hats.
How do I prevent the frosting from melting or sliding off?
Make sure the cookies and peanut butter cups are at room temperature before assembling, and use a frosting that is thick enough to hold the candy in place. Allowing the cookies to set for about an hour helps the frosting firm up and keep everything secure.
Print
Pilgrim Hat Cookies Recipe
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies 1x
Description
These festive Pilgrim Hat Cookies are a delightful Thanksgiving treat featuring chocolate-striped cookies topped with mini Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups and decorated with colorful frosting and Reese’s Pieces to resemble traditional pilgrim hats. They are easy to assemble, require no baking, and make a fun, whimsical addition to any holiday dessert table.
Ingredients
Cookies and Candy
- 24 Fudge Stripe Cookies
- 24 Mini Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups (unwrapped)
- 24 Reese’s Pieces
Frosting
- 1/2 cup yellow or orange frosting
Instructions
- Arrange the Cookies: Place the Fudge Stripe Cookies with the chocolate-striped side facing up on a clean flat surface or board for easy assembly.
- Pipe the Frosting Circle: Using a piping bag or a spoon, pipe a circle of frosting roughly the size of a mini peanut butter cup around the center of each cookie to create the hatband.
- Attach the Peanut Butter Cups: Place each unwrapped mini Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup upside down in the center of the frosting circle, gently pressing down so the frosting forms a neat rim around the base of the cup, securing it in place.
- Add the Buckle: Select Reese’s Pieces candies in the opposite color to the frosting (if using yellow frosting, choose orange Reese’s Pieces, and vice versa). Attach one candy on the edge of the peanut butter cup to represent the buckle. Use a tiny dab of frosting if needed to help it stick firmly.
- Let the Frosting Set: Allow the assembled cookies to sit at room temperature for about an hour to let the frosting firm up before serving for the best presentation and texture.
Notes
- For best results, use fresh, unbroken fudge stripe cookies and mini peanut butter cups that are unwrapped and at room temperature.
- Yellow or orange frosting works well for a festive look; you can pipe using a piping bag or spread with a small knife if preferred.
- If frosting is too thick to pipe smoothly, soften slightly by warming for a few seconds in the microwave.
- These cookies are best served the same day but can be stored in an airtight container for up to 2 days.
- Adjust candy colors as needed for creative variations to match different holiday themes.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Pilgrim Hat Cookies, Thanksgiving treats, holiday cookies, no bake cookies, peanut butter cup cookies
