There’s something utterly charming about these little treats, which is exactly why I’m excited to share my Peanut Butter Penguins Recipe with you. Between the rich chocolate, creamy peanut butter, and adorable cookie design, these penguins bring a smile before you even take a bite. Trust me, they’re delightfully fun to make and impossible not to love.

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 Peanut Butter Penguins Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Peanut Butter Penguins Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Peanut Butter Penguins Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

When I first made these Peanut Butter Penguins, I was amazed at how simple ingredients transformed into such a delightful snack. They’re a win whether you’re making them for a kid’s party, holiday treat, or just because you want a playful sweet bite at home.

Adorable Presentation: Each penguin looks like a tiny edible work of art, making snack time way more fun.
Easy to Make: The steps are straightforward, and you don’t need any fancy equipment.
Perfect Balance of Flavors: Creamy peanut butter melds beautifully with dark chocolate and the crunch of cookies.
Great for All Ages: Kids love assembling the penguins, and adults enjoy sneaking a few when no one’s looking!

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 Peanut Butter Penguins Recipe brings something special to the table. From the base chocolate coating to the tiny candy details, here’s why these ingredients are a perfect match and some tips on choosing the best ones.

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: I love using dark chocolate for a richer flavor that’s not overly sweet; it melts smoothly for easy dipping.
Creamy peanut butter: Creamy consistency helps the chocolate mixture stay luscious and smooth, sticking perfectly to the cookies.
Salted butter: Just a little butter adds silkiness to the chocolate mixture and helps balance the sweetness.
Nutter Butter cookies: These peanut-shaped cookies make the perfect penguin body — crunchy yet tender.
Mini Nilla Wafers: Used as the penguin’s "belly," their mild vanilla flavor complements the richer chocolate and peanut butter.
Brown Reese’s pieces: Ideal for penguin wings; their chocolaty coating adds texture and color contrast.
Orange Reese’s pieces (halved): Cut in half, these make cute noses and feet, adding a pop of bright color.
Candy eyes: The finishing touch — they bring each penguin to life with that playful expression.

📝

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 of the best parts about this Peanut Butter Penguins Recipe is how easy it is to personalize. I’ve made these exactly as written, but I’ve also tweaked them for different occasions or dietary needs. Feel free to get creative!

Variation: Sometimes I swap the dark chocolate for milk chocolate to satisfy sweeter cravings, and it turns out just as well.
Diet-friendly: For a lower-sugar version, use dark chocolate with higher cocoa content and look for peanut butter with no added sugar.
Seasonal touch: Around holidays, I swap the orange Reese’s pieces for red or green candies to match the theme.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Peanut Butter Penguins Recipe

Step 1: Melt the Magic Mixture

Start by placing the dark chocolate chips, creamy peanut butter, and salted butter into a microwave-safe bowl. I microwave it for about 30 seconds, then stir really well. Don’t rush this part — heating in short 10-15 second bursts with stirring in between ensures the chocolate doesn’t burn and the peanut butter blends smoothly. You want a silky, glossy mixture that you can easily dip cookies into.

Step 2: Dipping the Nutter Butters

Grab a Nutter Butter cookie and dip it into your chocolate mixture, making sure it’s completely covered. Hold it with a fork underneath, gently shake off any excess, and then set it on a wire rack or parchment-lined cutting board. I usually work on making sure all the cookies are dipped first — it keeps things organized and makes decorating smoother later on.

Step 3: Decorating Your Penguins

This is the fun part! I add a mini Nilla wafer in the center bottom to be the penguin’s stomach. Two candy eyes go at the top, and a half orange Reese’s piece forms the beak. Two more orange halves become the feet, placed neatly just below the belly wafer. Then, I press two brown Reese’s pieces on each side under the cookie's indent for wings. Having all the candies pre-sorted and ready to go really speeds this step up.

Step 4: Chill & Set

Once all your adorable penguins are assembled, pop them in the fridge for at least 3 hours to let the chocolate set properly. Overnight works even better if you have the patience! You can serve them chilled straight from the fridge, or at room temperature if you don’t mind a little chocolate smearing on your fingers. Either way, they’re delicious!

Top Tip

From making these Peanut Butter Penguins multiple times, I’ve learned a few tricks that save time and keep everything looking perfect. Take it from me — these tips will make your experience smoother and results just right.

Prep All Candy First: Before dipping any cookies, open the candy eyes, sort the Reese’s pieces by color, and halve the orange ones. It keeps the decorating flow effortless.
Don’t Overheat Chocolate: Heating in short increments stops the chocolate from burning or seizing, preserving that great silky texture.
Use a Wire Rack: Setting dipped cookies on a wire rack helps chocolate set evenly and prevents them from sticking.
Keep Extras Nearby: Always have a few more candies than recipe calls for — dropping or misplacing one is surprisingly easy!

How to Serve Peanut Butter Penguins Recipe

Peanut Butter Penguins - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I usually keep garnishes simple—sometimes a light dusting of powdered sugar around the platter adds a bit of snowy charm. If I’m feeling fancy, a few sprigs of fresh mint or edible glitter make them party-ready. But honestly, these penguins don’t need much extra—they’re cute and festive on their own!

Side Dishes

These treats pair wonderfully with hot drinks like cocoa or your favorite tea, making a cozy snack duo. I also like serving them alongside fresh fruit or a simple vanilla pudding to balance the richness.

Creative Ways to Present

For gatherings, I’ve arranged these penguins on a frosted cake platter surrounded by shredded coconut “snow” and small pinecones for a festive winter display. Another fun idea is placing each penguin in a mini cupcake liner for easy grab-and-go party favors.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Once your penguins are chilled and set, I recommend storing them in an airtight container in the fridge. From my experience, they stay fresh and firm for up to a week. Trying to keep them at room temperature is a risk—you might lose that nice chocolate snap and end up with sticky-fingered penguins!

Freezing

Yes, you can freeze these! I usually pop them into a single layer on a baking sheet first, then transfer to a freezer-safe container. They freeze well for up to 6 months. Just thaw them overnight in the fridge before serving so they maintain their shape and texture.

Reheating

Since these are mostly no-bake treats, reheating isn’t really necessary. But if the chocolate ever gets too firm in the fridge for your liking, just let the penguins sit at room temperature for about 15-20 minutes before enjoying.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use peanut butter alternatives in the Peanut Butter Penguins Recipe?

Absolutely! If you're allergic or prefer a different flavor, almond butter or sunflower seed butter works well. Just choose a creamy, spreadable version for the best dipping consistency.

How do I prevent the chocolate from melting too quickly when eating the penguins?

Serving the penguins chilled is your best bet to keep the chocolate firm. If left at room temperature too long, the chocolate softens quickly. Storing them in the fridge until just before serving helps maintain that nice snap and avoids messy fingers.

Can I make Peanut Butter Penguins Recipe ahead of time?

Definitely! These penguins make great make-ahead treats. Prepare and fully assemble them, then chill or freeze. Just remember to thaw in the fridge before serving if frozen.

What’s the best way to melt the chocolate mixture without burning it?

I recommend microwaving in short bursts — about 10 to 15 seconds at a time — stirring well between each. This gradual heating prevents overheating and keeps the mixture silky smooth.

Final Thoughts

Honestly, this Peanut Butter Penguins Recipe is one of those gems I keep coming back to, whether for a festive gathering or an everyday treat. It’s simple, fun, and brings out smiles with every step and bite. I hope you enjoy making (and eating!) them as much as I do. Go ahead, channel your inner kid, and bring these charming little penguins into your kitchen soon!