Easy No-Bake Oreo Turkey Cookies: The Ultimate Kid-Friendly Thanksgiving Treat!
Get ready to gobble up the cutest and easiest no-bake Thanksgiving dessert you’ll ever make! These delightful Oreo Turkey Cookies are an absolute game-changer for your holiday festivities. Perfect for busy parents, enthusiastic kids, and anyone looking for a fun, stress-free treat, these cookies require no baking, no mixing, and absolutely no complicated measurements. In just about 10 minutes of active prep time, you’ll have an adorable flock of turkey cookies ready to charm your Thanksgiving guests!
Isn’t it amazing how incredibly cute these Turkey Cookies are? And the best part is their undeniable simplicity! Forget turning on the oven, hauling out heavy mixers, or even needing a single measuring cup. This recipe is designed for maximum fun and minimal fuss, making it a fantastic activity to do with children. Your kids will adore helping assemble these little characters, and your guests will be utterly enchanted by their festive charm. They’re so fast and enjoyable to create that they’re guaranteed to be a hit with everyone!
While this recipe prioritizes ease, you certainly have options for personalization. For instance, if you’re a fan of from-scratch baking, you could absolutely use Homemade Vanilla Frosting to construct these turkeys. It’s a wonderful choice, especially if you happen to be making Frosted Sugar Cookies and have some leftover frosting on hand. However, for ultimate convenience and speed – which is often crucial during the busy holiday season – store-bought frosting in a tube works perfectly. You only need a tiny amount, so embracing this shortcut won’t compromise the quality or appeal of your adorable turkey cookies!
Why You’ll Adore These No-Bake Oreo Turkey Cookies
These delightful cookies are more than just a sweet treat; they’re an experience waiting to happen! Here’s why they’re sure to become a staple in your Thanksgiving traditions:
- Unbelievably Cute: Prepare for an onslaught of “oohs” and “aahs”! These little turkeys are simply irresistible. Their whimsical appearance instantly brightens any dessert spread and adds a playful touch to your elegant Thanksgiving table. They’re perfect for decorating, gifting, or just bringing a smile to everyone’s face, especially the little ones. They even make fantastic photo opportunities for your holiday memories!
- Absolutely No Baking Required: This is a huge win during the bustling holiday season! When your oven is already packed with the main course and classic pies, these no-bake cookies come to the rescue. There’s no need to preheat, bake, or cool anything. It’s truly an assembly-only recipe, which means less stress for you and more time to enjoy with family and friends. Anyone, regardless of their baking prowess, can master these!
- Effortlessly Easy & Fun: With a handful of readily available, store-bought ingredients, you simply put them together to create something truly fun and festive. The steps are so straightforward that even young children can take the lead (with a little supervision, of course!). It’s a fantastic way to get kids involved in holiday preparations, fostering their creativity and giving them a sense of accomplishment. Plus, the quick turnaround means instant gratification for impatient little hands!
Gather Your Simple Ingredients
For the exact measurements and full recipe details, please be sure to scroll down to the bottom of the post for the COMPLETE PRINTABLE recipe card.
Here’s what you’ll need to create your adorable Oreo Turkey Cookies. Most of these items can be found at your local grocery store, making this a super accessible recipe:
- Oreo Cookies: The star of the show! You can use classic original Oreos or go for Double Stuffed for a little extra creaminess, which can sometimes make it even easier to insert the candy corn feathers. Any flavor of Oreo works, so feel free to experiment with Golden Oreos for a different color base!
- Candy Corn: These iconic autumn candies form the vibrant “feathers” of our turkeys. Their triangular shape and festive colors are perfect for this role.
- Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups: Mini or snack-size Reese’s cups are ideal for the turkey’s body and head, providing a delicious peanut butter chocolate base. Make sure they’re unwrapped and ready to go!
- Candy Eyes: These edible googly eyes bring your turkeys to life with a quirky, fun personality. Look for them in the baking aisle or craft stores.
- Red M&M’s: A single red M&M perfectly represents the turkey’s wattle (the red fleshy appendage under its beak). If you don’t have red, you could use a small piece of orange candy corn, a dab of red frosting, or even a small orange or yellow Reese’s Pieces candy for a different colored wattle.
- Melted Chocolate or Vanilla Frosting (in a tube): This acts as our edible “glue” to hold all the components together. Melted chocolate provides a strong, quick-setting bond, while store-bought vanilla frosting in a tube is incredibly convenient for precise piping. You only need a small amount, so a single tube is usually plenty!
Step-by-Step: Crafting Your Oreo Turkey Cookies
Making these adorable turkey cookies is a breeze! Follow these simple instructions for perfect results every time:
- Prepare the Oreo Feathers: Carefully twist off the top of each Oreo cookie. You want to end up with one side that has just the chocolate cookie wafer and the other side with all the delicious cream filling. Arrange the cream-filled halves on a baking sheet or tray lined with parchment paper, cream-side up. This will be the base for your turkey’s “feathers.”
- Assemble the Feather Fan: Take your vanilla frosting (either from a piping bag or a Ziploc bag with a snipped corner) and pipe a thin line of frosting across the top, curved edge of the cream filling. Gently press four pieces of candy corn into this frosting line, with the white tips facing outwards and slightly embedded into the frosting. These will be your turkey’s vibrant tail feathers. Pipe another small line of frosting directly over the white tips of the candy corn to help secure them even further. Finally, carefully place the plain chocolate cookie wafer (the one you twisted off earlier) back on top, gently pressing down just enough for the frosting to make contact and start to set, sandwiching the candy corn in place.
- Attach the Turkey Body: Unwrap your mini Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. On the flat base of each Reese’s cup, pipe a small dot or dab of frosting. Carefully place the Reese’s cup onto the bottom center of the Oreo cookie (the side with the feathers), ensuring it stands upright. The frosting will act as glue, securing the body.
- Add the Eyes: Using your frosting again, pipe two tiny dots onto the upper, wider part of the Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup – this is where your turkey’s eyes will go. Gently press two candy eyes onto these frosting dots. Watch your turkey come to life!
- Create the Beak and Wattle: For the beak, you can use either frosting or a tiny dab of melted chocolate. Dip one end of a red M&M into your chosen “glue” and gently place it onto the Reese’s cup, just below the eyes. Press it gently and hold for a minute or so to ensure it begins to harden and stay in place. The red M&M adds that classic turkey wattle detail.
- Chill to Set: Once all your turkeys are assembled, place the entire tray into the refrigerator for 15-20 minutes. This chilling time allows the frosting and melted chocolate to firm up completely, ensuring all the pieces are securely attached and your turkey cookies are sturdy enough to handle and enjoy.
Expert Tips & Creative Suggestions
Want to make your Oreo Turkey Cookies even better? Here are some invaluable tips and ideas for customization:
- Frosting vs. Melted Chocolate – The “Glue” Debate: You truly can use either for most steps of this recipe. I find that frosting works exceptionally well for attaching the candy corn “feathers” as its white color blends seamlessly with the Oreo cream filling, making it less visible. For the beak, however, melted chocolate often sets up faster and provides a slightly firmer hold, which can be beneficial for those delicate M&M wattles. Feel free to mix and match or simply use whichever adhesive you prefer and have on hand. A piping bag (or a Ziploc with a corner snipped) makes application much cleaner.
- Optimal Storage for Freshness: These festive treats are wonderful for making ahead! Once fully set, store your Oreo Turkey Cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5-6 days. If your home is particularly warm, or if you prefer them firmer, you can store them in the refrigerator. This makes them a perfect make-ahead dessert for your Thanksgiving gathering, saving you precious time on the big day.
- Get Creative with Candy Substitutions: Don’t limit yourself to the exact candies listed! Many delightful substitutions can achieve a similar charming effect. Rolo candies, for example, can be an excellent stand-in for Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, offering a different flavor profile. For the “beak” and “wattle,” consider using Reese’s Pieces in red, orange, or yellow, or even a small triangle of orange candy corn. Butterscotch chips or peanut butter chips could also work for a beak, adding a subtle flavor twist.
- Explore Different Cookie Bases: While Oreos are classic, you’re not strictly bound to them! This concept can be adapted to almost any cookie. Even a homemade Chocolate Chip Cookie would make a fantastic base. If using a flat cookie like a chocolate chip or sugar cookie, simply pipe a circle or line of frosting on top, arrange your candy corn feathers directly onto it, and then attach the Reese’s cup and other facial features. They will be just as adorable and delicious!
- Involve the Kids: This is a perfect activity for little helpers! Kids can unwrap candies, twist Oreos (the best part!), and gently press on candy eyes and M&M beaks. It’s a wonderful way to create family memories and teach simple kitchen skills.
- Make Ahead Magic: As mentioned, these cookies store beautifully. Prepare them a day or two before Thanksgiving, store them, and you’ll have one less thing to worry about on your busy holiday cooking schedule.
More Delightful Fall & Thanksgiving Recipes
Looking for more inspiration to round out your autumn and holiday menu? Check out these other fantastic recipes that are perfect for the season:
- Sweet & Salty Turkey Pretzels
- Harvest Fall Snack Mix
- Irresistible Mini Pecan Pie Bites
- Classic Homemade Pumpkin Pie
- Homemade Pumpkin Pie Spice Blend
- Charming Pilgrim Hat Cookies
Oreo Turkey Cookies
Erin Sellin
10 minutes
20 minutes
30 minutes
12
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Ingredients
-
12 Oreo Cookies (original or double-stuffed) -
3 Tablespoons vanilla frosting (store-bought in a tube or homemade) -
12 mini peanut butter cups (unwrapped) -
48 pieces candy corn (4 per cookie) -
24 candy eyes (2 per cookie) -
12 red M&M’s (or similar small red candy) -
1 Tablespoon melted chocolate (optional, for beak stability)
Instructions
-
Carefully twist off the top chocolate wafer from each Oreo cookie. You should have one half with the cream filling and one plain chocolate wafer. Lay the cream-filled halves on a parchment-lined tray.
-
Pipe a small line of frosting along the curved top edge of the cream filling. Insert 4 pieces of candy corn into the frosting, with their white tips facing out, creating a fan of “feathers.” Pipe another thin line of frosting over the base of the candy corn for extra stability. Gently place the plain chocolate wafer back on top, pressing lightly to secure the feathers.
-
Unwrap the mini peanut butter cups. Apply a dab of frosting to the flat bottom of each peanut butter cup and press it onto the bottom center of the Oreo (below the feathers) to form the turkey’s body.
-
Pipe two tiny dots of frosting onto the top part of the peanut butter cup where the eyes should be. Gently press the candy eyes into place.
-
For the wattle (beak), dip one side of a red M&M into frosting or melted chocolate and place it just below the candy eyes on the peanut butter cup. Hold it gently for a moment to help it set.
-
Place all assembled cookies in the refrigerator for 15-20 minutes to allow the frosting/chocolate to fully set, ensuring your turkeys are sturdy.
Nutrition
Serving:
1
g
|
Calories:
116
kcal
|
Carbohydrates:
19
g
|
Protein:
1
g
|
Fat:
4
g
|
Saturated Fat:
1
g
|
Polyunsaturated Fat:
3
g
|
Sodium:
67
mg
|
Fiber:
1
g
|
Sugar:
15
g
Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should only be used as an approximation.
Additional Info
Erin Sellin
10 minutes
20 minutes
30 minutes
Dessert Recipes, Kid-Friendly Treats
American
12
116
Like this recipe? Leave a comment below!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are answers to some common questions you might have about making these charming Oreo Turkey Cookies:
- Can I make these ahead of time for Thanksgiving? Absolutely! These cookies are perfect for making 2-3 days in advance. Once they are fully set in the refrigerator, store them in an airtight container at room temperature or in the fridge. This makes holiday prep so much easier!
- What if I can’t find candy corn? No problem! You can get creative with other candies for the feathers. Try using autumn-colored M&M’s, small chocolate-covered sunflower seeds, or even thin slivers of orange or yellow fruit leathers. For a homemade touch, you could even pipe on colorful frosting “feathers” using different shades.
- Can I use a different type of cookie? While Oreos are ideal because of their cream filling for holding the feathers, you can certainly adapt this recipe. Flat cookies like chocolate chip cookies, sugar cookies, or even graham crackers can work. You’ll just need to use frosting as your main adhesive to attach the candy corn directly to the cookie’s surface before adding the body and face.
- How do I pipe the frosting without a piping bag? A simple trick is to scoop your frosting into a small Ziploc bag. Snip off a tiny corner of the bag with scissors, and voilà – you have an instant piping bag that offers great control for those small frosting dots and lines!
- Are these allergen-friendly? The base recipe contains gluten (Oreo), dairy (Oreo filling, frosting, Reese’s), and nuts (Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups). For a gluten-free option, use gluten-free sandwich cookies. For a nut-free version, substitute the Reese’s cups with a nut-free chocolate candy or even a marshmallow. Always check ingredient labels carefully for specific dietary needs.
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