Nothing beats the charm of a cute, bite-sized treat that tastes like a little party in your mouth. That’s exactly what I adore about the Chocolate Peanut Butter Penguins Recipe — a fun, playful way to enjoy classic flavors wrapped up in an irresistibly adorable package. Trust me, these penguins are as delightful to eat as they are to make!

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

Why You'll Love This Recipe

I’ve made the Chocolate Peanut Butter Penguins Recipe countless times, especially during holidays and parties, and it never fails to bring smiles. The balance of creamy peanut butter with rich dark chocolate, all wrapped in a cookie “penguin” that’s as much fun to assemble as to eat? Yes, please! Plus, these are perfect for making with kids or for gifting.

Playful Presentation: These penguins aren’t just treats—they’re little works of edible art that make snack time exciting.
Simple Prep: Using just a few ingredients and minimal equipment, you can pull these together pretty quickly.
Perfect Flavor Combo: Peanut butter and chocolate is classic, but with crunchy cookies and candy pieces, it hits every texture and taste note.
Great for All Occasions: From holiday parties to casual get-togethers, these penguins fit right in and impress every time.

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

This recipe combines a handful of simple ingredients that blend texture and flavor beautifully. Starting with Nutter Butter cookies for a peanut butter base, dipping them in a luscious chocolate-peanut butter mixture, and embellishing with colorful candies, each component brings something special.

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: Opt for good quality dark chocolate chips to melt smoothly and provide a rich coating.
Creamy Peanut Butter: Use creamy for that smooth melt and the perfect flavor pairing with chocolate.
Salted Butter: Adds silkiness to the chocolate mix and balances sweetness.
Nutter Butter Cookies: Their peanut butter flavor is the perfect “body” for your penguins.
Mini Nilla Wafers: These make adorable stomach patches and add a delicate crunch.
Brown Reese’s Pieces: The wings wouldn’t be the same without these chocolatey accents.
Orange Reese’s Pieces (halved): Cut in half, these create cute beaks and feet that bring the penguins to life.
Candy Eyes: Essential for personality—grab ready-made candy eyes or order them online for ease.

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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

I’m a huge fan of making this recipe truly mine by tweaking the candy decorations or flavor layers a bit. You can get creative with colors or swap out ingredients based on what you love or have on hand. It’s part of the fun!

Variation: One time, I swapped the dark chocolate chips for white chocolate and added a touch of green food coloring to the melted mix for a festive St. Patrick’s Day twist—so cute and yummy!
Dietary Modifications: Use dairy-free chocolate and nut butter alternatives if you need to accommodate allergies or preferences.
Seasonal Changes: Switch out candy eyes for jelly beans or use peppermint candies around Christmas for a wintery touch.
Difficulty Levels: For a quicker fix, dip only the bottom half of the cookies in chocolate, so you can skip the full coverage step but keep the penguin look.

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

Step 1: Melt the Chocolate Peanut Butter Mixture Gently

Start by combining dark chocolate chips, creamy peanut butter, and salted butter in a microwave-safe bowl. I always microwave for 30 seconds first, then stir well. After that, I heat in 10-15 second bursts, stirring after each, just until the mixture is silky and smooth. This slow approach prevents burning and keeps your mix rich and glossy—don’t rush it!

Step 2: Dip and Shake Off Excess

Using a fork underneath, dunk each Nutter Butter cookie into the melted chocolate-peanut butter mixture so it’s fully covered. Shake off the extra gently—that way you avoid messy drips and get a nice even coating. I place each dipped cookie on a parchment-lined board or wire rack to set up cleanly.

Step 3: Decorate Your Penguins

Once dipped, add a mini Nilla wafer to the lower half of the cookie as the belly patch. Stick two candy eyes above for personality, then press half an orange Reese’s piece nose-down for the beak. Below the belly, place two more orange Reese’s halves sideways to create tiny feet, and finally, attach two brown Reese’s pieces on either side for wings. This assembly step is the real joy—I love seeing each penguin take shape!

Step 4: Chill and Set

Pop your penguins into the refrigerator for at least three hours or even overnight. This helps the chocolate set perfectly firm. When you’re ready, you can serve them chilled or at room temperature—just be warned, the chocolate gets a little soft and might smear a bit, but that only adds to the indulgence.

Top Tip

Over time, I’ve learned a few insider tricks that make the Chocolate Peanut Butter Penguins Recipe foolproof and extra fun to create. Keeping your workspace prepped with all your decorations ready before the dipping starts saved me so much scrambling and dropped candies.

Organize Ingredients First: Separate brown and orange Reese’s pieces ahead, slice orange pieces before starting, and open candy eyes beforehand to streamline decorating.
Mind the Chocolate Temperature: Don’t overheat the chocolate—it's forgiving with the peanut butter and butter but burns easily. Stir often and microwave in short bursts.
Use a Wire Rack: I prefer setting dipped cookies on a wire rack over parchment so air circulates and chocolate sets evenly without sticking.
Extra Candies Ready: Always keep some spare candy pieces handy—you don’t want to run out or drop something and be stuck mid-decorating!

How to Serve Chocolate Peanut Butter Penguins Recipe

chocolate peanut butter penguins - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I love sprinkling a little powdered sugar on the serving platter to mimic a snowy scene for my Chocolate Peanut Butter Penguins. It makes them look festive and adds a delicate sweetness that complements the rich chocolate and peanut butter. For extra flair, mini peppermint sticks or a drizzle of white chocolate work beautifully as garnish.

Side Dishes

Since these are pretty rich and sweet, I often serve them alongside simple fresh fruit slices like apple or pear, which helps cut through the richness. A hot cup of coffee or a rich, bold black tea also pairs wonderfully, balancing each bite’s sweetness perfectly.

Creative Ways to Present

For special occasions, I’ve arranged Chocolate Peanut Butter Penguins Recipe treats on a festive platter with leafy greens or edible flowers to create the impression that the penguins are sliding across a frozen pond. You can also assemble the penguins on small skewers for a fun “penguin kabob” display at kids’ parties.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

After your penguins are fully set, I keep them in an airtight container in the fridge to preserve the crisp chocolate shell and prevent any melting or stickiness. They usually last up to a week without losing flavor or texture—perfect for prepping ahead or enjoying slowly.

Freezing

I’ve frozen these penguins for up to six months with great success—just place them in a single layer in a freezer-safe container. When you want to enjoy them, thaw overnight in the fridge to keep the chocolate from sweating or becoming sticky.

Reheating

No reheating needed here! Just let them sit at room temperature for 10-15 minutes before serving if you took them out of the fridge, so the chocolate softens slightly but stays intact. This way, you get the perfect melt-in-your-mouth experience without a mess.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use milk chocolate instead of dark?

Absolutely! Milk chocolate will give a sweeter, creamier coating. Just be mindful it melts faster, so keep an eye on it to avoid burning.

How do I keep the penguins from getting messy at room temperature?

Storing them in the fridge is best to keep the chocolate firm and prevent smearing. If you serve at room temp, just expect a bit of melting and enjoy the extra gooeyness!

Can kids make this recipe?

Absolutely, it’s a fantastic kid-friendly recipe! However, adult supervision is recommended when melting the chocolate and using knives to halve the Reese’s pieces.

What can I substitute for Nutter Butter cookies?

If you can’t find Nutter Butter cookies, peanut butter sandwich cookies or even graham crackers with a smear of peanut butter work well as an alternative base.

Final Thoughts

Making the Chocolate Peanut Butter Penguins Recipe has always been one of my favorite kitchen adventures because it mixes creativity with deliciousness effortlessly. Whether you’re making them with kids, preparing a fun party treat, or just indulging yourself, these penguins spread joy in every bite. Give this recipe a whirl—you’ll be smiling as much as I do every time I see those little faces come to life!