Nutter Butter Turkey Cookies

You know those moments when you need something festive but don't have hours to spend in the kitchen? That's exactly how these Nutter Butter Turkey Cookies came to be in my life.

Last November, Amy came home from school talking nonstop about the turkey cookies her friend brought for their class party. She was so excited about them that I knew I had to figure out how to make them at home. The best part? They took me less than 20 minutes from start to finish, and both kids thought I was some kind of cookie magician.

These little turkey treats are perfect for Thanksgiving parties, school celebrations, or just a fun afternoon project with the kids. No oven required, no complicated steps, just simple decorating that even Bradley (who usually rolls his eyes at my "craft projects") actually enjoyed helping with. The peanut butter flavor from the Nutter Butters pairs so well with the chocolate, and honestly, they're almost too cute to eat. Almost.

If you're looking for more easy Thanksgiving treats, you'll want to check out my Rice Krispie Treats Recipe that's always a crowd-pleaser at our holiday gatherings.

Jump to:

• Why You'll Love These Turkey Cookies
• Ingredients For Nutter Butter Turkey Cookies
• How To Make Nutter Butter Turkey Cookies
• Storage And Keeping Your Cookies Fresh
• Tips For Perfect Turkey Treats
• Nutter Butter Turkey Cookies Frequently Asked Questions
• Recipes You May Like
• Make These Turkey Cookies Today
• Nutter Butter Turkey Cookies

Why You'll Love These Turkey Cookies

• Super quick to make - Ready in about 20 minutes from start to finish, perfect for busy holiday schedules
• No baking needed - Just melting and decorating, which means no heating up your kitchen before Thanksgiving dinner
• Kid-friendly project - Amy loves helping arrange the candy eyes and M&M noses
• Perfect for parties - These Thanksgiving turkey cookies are great for school events, potlucks, or family gatherings
• Uses simple ingredients - Everything you need is easy to find at any grocery store
• Stays fresh for days - Make them ahead without worrying about them going stale

Ingredients For Nutter Butter Turkey Cookies

Here's what you'll need to make these adorable no bake Thanksgiving desserts:

• 10 Nutter Butter cookies - The oval shape works perfectly for turkey bodies
• 6 oz. chocolate candy melts - I usually go with milk chocolate, but dark chocolate works too
• ⅓ cup red candy melts - For the turkey's wattle
• 10 orange M&M's - These become the turkey beaks
• 20 medium candy eyeballs - Available in the baking aisle

The ingredient list is short and sweet, which is exactly how I like my holiday baking. John always jokes that the shorter my ingredient list, the happier our grocery budget is!

I've made these with both name-brand and store-brand Nutter Butters, and honestly, they both work great. The most important thing is making sure your cookies are fresh and not broken.

How To Make Nutter Butter Turkey Cookies

Making these turkey cookies for kids is so simple that even if you've never decorated cookies before, you'll do great. Here's how I do it:

1. Set up your workspace by laying out a sheet of parchment paper or freezer paper (shiny side up) on your counter. This makes cleanup so much easier, and trust me, with melted chocolate involved, you'll thank me later.
2. Melt the chocolate candy melts according to the package directions. I usually microwave mine in 30-second intervals, stirring between each one, until they're completely smooth. Different brands have slightly different melting instructions, so check your package.

3. Melt the red candy melts the same way in a separate bowl. Keep them warm while you work.
4. Dip half of each Nutter Butter into the chocolate candy melts, making sure to coat about half the cookie. This creates the turkey's body. Place each dipped cookie on your prepared parchment paper.
5. Add the candy eyes immediately while the chocolate is still wet. Press two eyeballs gently into the chocolate at the top of each cookie. They'll stick right in place as the chocolate sets.
6. Place an orange M&M just below the eyes for the turkey's beak. Press it gently into the chocolate so it stays put.
7. Let the cookies dry for about 5-10 minutes until the chocolate sets completely. This happens pretty quickly at room temperature.

8. Use a pastry brush to add a generous dab of red candy melts next to the M&M nose. This creates the turkey's wattle. If you don't have a pastry brush, a small spoon works fine too.
9. Allow everything to set completely before serving or storing. This usually takes about 15 minutes total.

The first time I made these, I tried using a fork to dip the cookies, but honestly, just using your fingers works best. The cookies are sturdy enough to handle, and you get better control over how much chocolate you're applying.

Storage And Keeping Your Cookies Fresh

These Nutter Butter Thanksgiving treats stay fresh in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3-4 days. I've never had them last longer than that because they disappear so quickly!

Don't refrigerate them because the cookies can get soft and the candy melts might develop condensation spots. Room temperature is perfect.

If you're making them for a party, I usually prepare them the night before. They travel well in a single layer in a storage container with parchment paper between them.

Bradley discovered that these actually taste even better on day two because the flavors have time to settle together. Who knew my teenager would become a cookie connoisseur?

Tips For Perfect Turkey Treats

After making these multiple times for various school events and family gatherings, I've picked up a few tricks that make the process even easier.

Work quickly with the chocolate once you've dipped each cookie. The candy melts set faster than you might think, especially if your kitchen is cool. I learned this the hard way when my first batch had eyes that wouldn't stick because I was moving too slowly.

Use fresh Nutter Butters for the best results. Stale cookies can crumble when you're dipping them, and nobody wants turkey cookie casualties. Check the expiration date when you're buying them.

Keep your red candy melts warm by microwaving them for a few seconds if they start to thicken up. They're easier to work with when they're nice and fluid.

Make extra because these go faster than you expect. I always make at least 15 cookies now instead of just 10, especially if Amy's friends are coming over.

Let the kids help with the decorating part. This is such a fun activity, and the cookies don't have to be perfect to be adorable. Some of our wonky-eyed turkeys ended up being the cutest ones.

Want to get creative? Try using different colored M&M's or adding small pretzel pieces as turkey feathers before the chocolate sets completely. We tried this last year, and it looked amazing.

Nutter Butter Turkey Cookies Frequently Asked Questions

Recipes You May Like

If you enjoyed these easy no bake Thanksgiving cookies, you'll want to try these other family-favorite treats:

• Pumpkin Cookies With Orange Icing - These soft pumpkin cookies are another festive fall treat that Amy requests all season long
• Candy Corn Shortbread - A buttery shortbread that's perfect for autumn celebrations
• Carrot Cake Muffins - These moist muffins are great for Thanksgiving morning breakfast

Make These Turkey Cookies Today

These Nutter Butter Turkey Cookies have become one of our favorite Thanksgiving traditions. They're so simple that you can make them on a busy weeknight, yet special enough that everyone gets excited when they see them.

The best part about this recipe is watching the kids' faces light up when they realize they helped create something this cute. Last year, Bradley actually took some to school for his class party, which is saying something because he usually thinks my baking projects are "too much."

Whether you're making these for a classroom party, a family gathering, or just because you want something fun and festive, I think you're going to love how easy and adorable they turn out.

Give them a try this Thanksgiving season, and don't forget to save this recipe to Pinterest so you can find it again next year!

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