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Sometimes the simplest recipes are the ones that come out the best and that’s certainly true of this no bake pilgrim hat cookies recipe! You only need five ingredients to make this Thanksgiving treat. This easy yet festive treat is something you can make in just a few minutes, getting the kids to help out, too, if you like. The tasty combination of flavors is so good – you have chocolate, peanut butter and fudge flavors in there.
This cute idea is perfect for your Thanksgiving table this year. The little bites look just like pilgrim hats and everyone is going to want to eat at least one.
You might also like this Thanksgiving charcuterie board, Thanksgiving turkey cookies, or prosecco punch for your Thanksgiving meal.
Why You’ll Love It
Super-easy: Pilgrim hat cookies are incredibly simple to make, and you can assemble these sweet treats in mere minutes.
Full of flavor: The combination of white and dark chocolate chips, peanut butter, M&Ms, and fudge stripe cookies ensures a wonderful flavor.
Ideal for Thanksgiving: Pilgrim hat cookies make a tasty change from all the turkey-themed treats and look so cute on your holiday cookie plates.
No Bake Pilgrim Hat Cookies Ingredients
A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
White chocolate chips: To melt and stick the hat brims to the tops.
Peanut butter: Adds a lovely nutty taste.
Reese’s dark chocolate miniature cups: A dark chocolate peanut butter cup makes the top of the pilgrim hat.
Fudge stripe cookies: For the pilgrim hat brims.
Mini M&Ms: For the buckle on the hat band.
How to Make No Bake Pilgrim Hat Treats
For more detailed instructions with weights and measurements, jump to the printable recipe card.
Melt the chocolate chips: Melt the white chocolate chips with the peanut butter in a microwave safe bowl or measuring cup in the microwave, then transfer the mixture into a piping bag (I use these!) or Ziplock bag.
Prepare the cookies: While the white chocolate mixture cools a bit, put the fudge stripe cookies face down (chocolate side up) on a parchment paper lined baking sheet.
Assemble the pilgrim hats: Pipe white chocolate mixture on each fudge stripe cookie and then press a Reese’s mini cup on to each until some of the white chocolate peanut butter mixture comes through and looks like a hat band. Add a mini M&M on to each one to look like a buckle.
Let them set: Let the pilgrim hat cookies set completely, then serve.
Substitutions and Variations
White chocolate chips alternative: Sub colored frosting, colored candy melts or dark chocolate chips for the white chocolate chips and peanut butter mixture.
Another kind of cookie: Thin mints would also be good in place of the fudge stripe cookies, or you can use another type of cookie.
A different flavor: A few drops of vanilla extract or pinch of cocoa powder added to the peanut butter mixture would taste good.
Reese’s cups: Use dark chocolate or milk chocolate Reese’s cups or even Rolos.
Mini M&Ms: Draw on your own buckle on this fun treat using colored candy melts or yellow or orange frosting.
Serving Suggestions
Appetizers: Enjoy this garlic herb bread wreath to start your meal.
Main course: Sweet onion honey glazed ham and smoked turkey breast are delicious food options for Thanksgiving.
On the side: You can’t go wrong with sweet potatoes with candied maple pecans or how about gouda cream cheese corn?
Dessert: These pilgrim hat cookies make a great dessert, perhaps paired with candy corn, orange Reese’s pieces or candy cane shortbread.
How to Store Pilgrim Hat Cookies
Store: Keep leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks or in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks.
Freeze: Freezing these makes the cookies mushy, so I wouldn’t recommend it.
Top Tips
Let the white chocolate chip mixture cool: It will be too runny to pipe immediately, so let it cool slightly first.
Speedy setting: These pilgrim hats set faster in the refrigerator, so pop them in there if there’s space.
Double up: Pilgrim hat cookies are really popular so you might want to make extra.
Pilgrim Hat Cookie FAQs
Yes, keep them in an airtight container in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
I’d recommend using smooth peanut butter, just to make sure no chunks block the piping bag.
Definitely. They’ll have so much fun helping you make pilgrim hat cookies!
Thanksgiving Pilgrim Hat Cookies
Pilgrim Hat Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 Cup white chocolate chips
- ½ Cup peanut butter
- 24 mini peanut butter cups, Reese’s dark chocolate
- 24 cookies, Keebler fudge striped
- Mini M&Ms, red, yellow and orange
Instructions
- Line a large chopping board or baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Melt the white chocolate chips with the peanut butter in the microwave on a low or defrost setting until smooth, stirring often.
- Transfer the mixture into a piping bag and twist it shut. Let it cool for 5 minutes before snipping a little piece of the tip off. The piping bag should be cool to the touch when you’re ready to use it.
- Put a fudge striped cookie on the prepared baking sheet or chopping board, stripe side facing down.
- Pipe the white chocolate mixture into the middles of the cookies, making a circle about the size of a Reese’s miniature cup.
- Now add a miniature peanut butter cup on top upside down (with the large side facing down). Press it down and let the white chocolate peanut butter come out from the bottom to form a band.
- Add an M&M onto the band to make a buckle.
- Repeat until they’re all made. Let the pilgrim hat cookies set completely before serving.
Notes
Speedy setting: These pilgrim hats set faster in the refrigerator, so pop them in there if there’s space.
Double up: Pilgrim hat cookies are really popular so you might want to make extra.
Nutrition
Whip up a batch of these super-simple pilgrim hats with fudge stripe cookies. They’re quick and easy to make and the combination of peanut butter and chocolate is always great. Since all the ingredients are readymade grocery store items, there isn’t much to do apart from melt the chocolate chips and assemble them.
Other Recipes to Try
- These frosted cranberry cookies are gorgeous and perfect for the season.
- You might also like devil’s food cookies.
- Bacon-wrapped green bean bundles are a pretty side dish idea.
- This turkey breast dinner is really simple to make (and all made on one sheet pan).
- Candied pecans are another good idea for Thanksgiving – add them to a salad or press them onto a cheese ball.
Bella Bucchiotti
Bella Bucchiotti is a Canadian-based syndicated food, travel, and lifestyle writer, photographer, and creator at xoxoBella. She founded xoxoBella in 2015, where she shares her love for food, dogs, sustainability, fitness, crafts, outdoor adventures, travel, and philanthropy to encourage others to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places, and stand for a cause. Bella creates stress-free and family-friendly recipes for weeknight dinners and festive feasts.
These no-bake pilgrim hat cookies were a huge hit with my kids—they loved helping out!
These cookies are so cute and clever. I will be making them this year!