Description
These charming No Bake Pilgrim Hat Cookies are a festive and fun treat perfect for Thanksgiving celebrations. Combining fudge-striped cookies, creamy yellow frosting, Reese’s miniature peanut butter cups, and bright orange mini M&M’s, they come together quickly without any baking required. The frosting acts as an adhesive to create adorable edible pilgrim hats that kids and adults alike will enjoy making and eating.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookies
- 12 fudge-striped cookies
Decorations
- 1/3 cup yellow frosting
- 12 Reese’s miniature peanut butter cups, unwrapped
- 12 orange mini M&M’s
Instructions
- Prepare the base: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Arrange the 12 fudge-striped cookies in a single layer with the fudge stripe facing upwards to create the foundation for the pilgrim hats.
- Pipe the frosting: Fill a piping bag fitted with a large round tip with 1/3 cup of yellow frosting. Pipe a dollop of frosting slightly larger than the bottom diameter of the Reese’s peanut butter cups onto the center of each cookie. This frosting will serve as the “hatband” to hold the peanut butter cup in place.
- Attach the hats: Press a Reese’s miniature peanut butter cup upside down (with the wider side down) firmly into the frosting dollop on each cookie. Allow the frosting to spread out around the cup, mimicking a decorative hatband.
- Add the buckle: Place an orange mini M&M gently on the yellow frosting band of each hat to resemble the traditional buckle of a pilgrim’s hat.
- Set the cookies: Transfer the decorated cookies to the refrigerator and chill for 15–20 minutes. This step allows the frosting to firm up and secure all elements in place before serving.
Notes
- Make sure to use unwrapped Reese’s miniature cups for easy assembly.
- Yellow frosting can be store-bought or homemade; a buttercream frosting works well.
- Chilling helps the frosting set and prevents the hats from sliding off.
- These cookies are best enjoyed the same day but can be stored covered in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
- For variation, substitute the orange mini M&Ms with yellow or brown candies as desired.
