Nothing beats the combination of rich chocolate and creamy peanut butter in an adorable form. The Chocolate Peanut Butter Penguins Recipe brings playful fun to your kitchen and treats with its whimsical penguin shapes and melt-in-your-mouth taste. It’s seriously a crowd-pleaser you’ll want to make again and again.

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 remember making these Chocolate Peanut Butter Penguins for the first time with my niece, and we couldn’t stop laughing at how cute they looked. Beyond the fun, they deliver big on flavor—a perfect balance of chocolate and peanut butter in every bite.

Playful Presentation: These treats look adorable as little penguins — fun to make and serve, especially for kids and holiday parties.
Decadently Simple: Using simple ingredients like Nutter Butter cookies and a smooth peanut butter-chocolate mix keeps this recipe approachable but impressively tasty.
Make Ahead Friendly: Prepare these a day in advance and let them chill overnight for the best texture and flavor melding.
Customizable: You can easily swap ingredients or decorate differently for dietary needs or personal flair.

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 brings together familiar snack ingredients that combine perfectly to create something greater than the sum of its parts. The smooth peanut butter balances the bittersweet dark chocolate, while the crunchy cookies form a stable base to hold the decorations.

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: Provides rich, meltable chocolate that firms up well to coat the cookies and hold everything together.
Creamy peanut butter: Adds creaminess and a classic flavor that pairs perfectly with chocolate.
Salted butter: Smooths the chocolate mix and adds a subtle savory balance.
Nutter Butter cookies: The peanut butter cookie base is sturdy yet tender, perfect for the penguin’s body.
Mini Nilla Wafers: Their round shape makes a perfect belly for the penguin design.
Brown Reese’s pieces: These form the wings and bring an extra peanut butter punch.
Orange Reese’s pieces (halved): Cut side down, they become the penguin's feet and nose—small details with big impact.
Candy eyes: Essential for bringing these penguins to life with a playful expression.

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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 like to personalize the Chocolate Peanut Butter Penguins Recipe depending on the occasion. Sometimes I swap dark chocolate chips for milk chocolate if I’m serving kids, or I add a dash of sea salt on top for a more sophisticated bite. You can get creative with decorations to make these penguins uniquely yours.

Variation: I once tried peanut butter cups instead of Reese’s pieces for the wings and feet, which added a richer peanut butter flavor and made the wings extra indulgent.
Dietary Modifications: Almond butter or sunflower butter work well if you need a nut-free peanut butter substitute for allergies.
Seasonal Flair: Swap candy eyes for mini chocolate chips and use red and green candies during Christmas for a festive look.

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

Step 1: Melt the Chocolate Peanut Butter Mixture

Start by combining dark chocolate chips, creamy peanut butter, and salted butter in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave for 30 seconds, stir, then continue in 10-15 second bursts stirring each time. The goal is a smooth, glossy blend without burning the chocolate. Overheating can cause it to seize, so be patient and gentle here.

Step 2: Dip & Decorate the Cookies

Using a fork, dip each Nutter Butter cookie into the chocolate mixture so it's fully coated but not dripping excessively. Place it on a wire rack or parchment-lined board. Then add a mini Nilla wafer as its “belly.” Attach candy eyes on the top half, add half an orange Reese’s piece as the nose, two halves of orange pieces for feet, and brown Reese’s pieces for wings. Having all decoration components ready before starting makes this step flow nicely.

Step 3: Chill and Set

Once all penguins are decorated, place your assembly on a wire rack in the fridge. Let them chill for at least 3 hours or overnight so the chocolate sets firm but still melts warmly in your mouth. It’s key for texture and ease of handling.

Top Tip

From my experience making these penguins, a little prep goes a long way. Setting up your ingredients and workspace before coating and decorating saves frustration and keeps things moving smoothly.

Ingredient Prep: Separate your Reese’s pieces by color and halve the orange ones beforehand to avoid scrambling mid-assembly.
Open & Ready: Pour mini Nilla wafers into a bowl and open candy eyes packaging first—there’s nothing like hunting for a missing eye halfway through!
Gentle Dipping: Don’t rush the chocolate melting step to prevent scorch—slow and steady gives a silky, lux finish.
Storage Reminder: Keep your prepared penguins chilled; warm chocolate can get messy quickly.

How to Serve Chocolate Peanut Butter Penguins Recipe

Chocolate Peanut Butter Penguins - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I usually keep the garnishes simple—those candy eyes and Reese's pieces really bring the penguins to life without the need for extra decoration. But, if I want to dress things up, some shredded coconut sprinkled around to resemble snow adds a wintry vibe perfect for holiday parties.

Side Dishes

These chocolate peanut butter penguins pair beautifully with a cup of espresso or creamy hot chocolate. For a party, I serve them alongside fresh fruit or vanilla bean ice cream to balance their richness.

Creative Ways to Present

One year I arranged these penguins on a platter shaped like an iceberg surrounded by blue-tinted coconut “ice.” Adding edible glitter gave the whole scene a magical sparkle—guests loved the playful presentation almost as much as eating them!

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

After chilling, store leftover penguins in an airtight container in the refrigerator. I find they keep well for about a week, but honestly, they rarely last that long at my house! Keeping them chilled ensures the chocolate stays firm and neat.

Freezing

I freeze extras in a single layer on a parchment-lined tray before transferring to a freezer-safe container. When I’m ready to enjoy, I thaw them overnight in the fridge to avoid condensation messing with the chocolate coating. Freezing works great for longer storage, up to six months.

Reheating

Since these are best served chilled or at room temperature, I avoid reheating. If you want a gooey chocolate and peanut butter experience, let them come to room temp naturally rather than microwaving, which can make the chocolate seize or get messy.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use milk chocolate instead of dark chocolate in the Chocolate Peanut Butter Penguins Recipe?

Absolutely! Milk chocolate is sweeter and creamier, which changes the flavor profile slightly but works beautifully if you prefer a milder chocolate taste. Just watch it closely when melting, as milk chocolate can burn more easily.

What’s the best way to prevent the chocolate mixture from seizing?

Melting the chocolate gently in short bursts with regular stirring is key. Avoid overheating and keep the microwave power moderate. Adding the butter and peanut butter first helps stabilize the mixture and prevents seizing, making the process more forgiving.

Can I make these penguins ahead for a party?

Definitely! These Chocolate Peanut Butter Penguins are perfect for making a day or two ahead. Store in the fridge in an airtight container and they will keep perfectly fresh for serving. Just bring them to room temperature before eating for best flavor and texture.

Can I substitute the Nutter Butter cookies?

You can try using other peanut butter cookies, but Nutter Butters are ideal because of their shape and sturdy texture that holds the decorations well. If you use a different cookie, make sure it can support dipping and hold up without crumbling.

Final Thoughts

This Chocolate Peanut Butter Penguins Recipe has a special place in my heart because it’s not just a treat, but a joyful experience to make—filled with laughter, hands-on fun, and tasty rewards. I hope you enjoy making them as much as I do and find that these little penguins brighten any gathering or cozy night in. Give it a try, and I promise you’ll be reaching for these charming snacks over and over again!