Making acorn cookies is a fun autumn craft I love to do with my kids every year. These Nutter Butter acorn cookies are simple to make with just 3 ingredients, and they turn out so adorable. My kids love eating the leftover Nutter Butter filling and sticking the acorns together. If you’re a peanut butter and chocolate lover, these tasty cookie acorns are sure to please!
Nutter Butter Acorns Cookies with Hershey Kisses
I make my acorn cookies with Hershey kisses and mini Nutter Butter Bites for a quick and easy hands-on craft. Simply split the Nutter Butter cookies, dip the chocolate kisses in melted peanut butter chips, and attach them as the acorn “cap.” Then, add a peanut butter chip “stem” to complete your acorn candy cookies. This is a great excuse to turn off the TV and tablets for a while and have some fun in the kitchen. These are the memories I will cherish with my kids!
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Tip for Clean, Crisp Cookies
For perfectly shaped acorn cookies, I like to slightly chill the Hershey’s Kisses and peanut butter chips before assembly. This keeps the Kisses from melting and sliding when they come in contact with the warm peanut butter mixture, and it ensures the peanut butter stem adheres cleanly.
Acorn Cookies Recipe
Equipment
- Baking Sheet
Ingredients
- 12 Nutter Butter Bites cookies *
- 24 Hershey’s Dark Chocolate Kisses **
- ½ cup peanut butter baking chips heaping and divided***
Instructions
- Gently pull the Nutter Butters in half and lay them frosting-side-up on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.12 Nutter Butter Bites cookies
- Use a butter knife to scrape off the frosting so that you have a smooth cookie surface. You can discard or eat the filling.
- Unwrap the kisses and place one next to each of the cookie halves.24 Hershey’s Dark Chocolate Kisses
- Separate 24 peanut butter chips out and place them next to the cookie halves and kisses.
- In a shallow, microwave-safe bowl, melt the rest of the ½ cup of chips in the microwave for 30 seconds and stir well.½ cup peanut butter baking chips
- If necessary, heat in 10-second increments until completely melted. Be sure to stir between heatings and don’t overheat, as they are quick to seize up.
- Dip each kiss into the melted peanut butter chip mixture and press firmly onto the smooth, frosting-free side of a nutter butter half.
- Allow your acorns to sit for about 5 minutes and then dip each peanut butter chip into the melted mixture and press it onto the other side of the cookie to make the stem.
- Place in the refrigerator to set for 10-15 minutes before serving.
Notes
- When splitting the Nutter Butters, gently twist rather than pulling apart to keep the edges smooth and reduce crumbs.
- Make sure to prep the Kisses before melting the peanut butter chips. They tend to harden quickly.
- Melt the peanut butter chips in 10-second increments, stirring between, to prevent them from burning or seizing up.
- Be careful when dipping the kisses and baking chips in the melted peanut butter chip mixture; it may be hot! You may wish to use tweezers to prevent burns.
- You can use a toothpick or small offset spatula to apply melted peanut butter chips precisely, especially for the acorn “stem.”
- If the chips start to harden, reheat them for 10 more seconds.
- Wait until the kisses have completely cooled before turning the cookies on their sides to prevent the cookies from sliding off.
- Let cookies come to room temperature after chilling; they taste softer and more flavorful.
Peanut-Free Acorn Cookies
To make these acorn candy cookies peanut-free, swap the Nutter Butters for nilla wafers, mini oatmeal cookies, or any small cookie with a smooth side. For the “stem,” replace the peanut butter baking chips with caramel or butterscotch chips for a delicious alternative everyone can enjoy.
How to Make Acorn Cookies Step-by-Step
Prep: Gather up the short list of ingredients needed to make these cookies. This will help the recipe progress more smoothly. If you like, you can chill the Hershey’s Kisses and peanut butter chips for the stems so they don’t melt during assembly.
Separate the Cookies: Gently pull 12 Nutter Butters Bites cookies in half and lay them frosting-side-up on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Use a butter knife to scrape off the frosting so that you have a smooth cookie surface. You can discard or eat the filling.
Unwrap the Kisses: Unwrap 24 Hershey’s Dark Chocolate Kisses and place one next to each of the cookie halves. Separate 24 peanut butter chips out from the bowl and place them next to the cookie halves and kisses. This will help assembly go quickly, as the melted peanut butter chips tend to harden quickly, so you need to work fast!
Microwave the Chips: In a shallow, microwave-safe bowl, melt the rest of the ½ cup of peanut butter baking chips in the microwave for 30 seconds and stir well.
Stir to Melt: If necessary, heat in 10-second increments until completely melted. Be sure to stir between heatings and don’t overheat, as they are quick to seize up.
Assemble the Acorns: Dip each kiss into the melted peanut butter chip mixture and press firmly onto the smooth, frosting-free side of a nutter butter half. Allow your acorns to sit for about 5 minutes and then dip each peanut butter chip into the melted mixture and press it onto the other side of the cookie to make the stem. You can use a toothpick or small offset spatula to help everything adhere cleanly.
Chill to Set: Place your acorn cookies in the refrigerator to set for 10-15 minutes before serving. Make sure to wait until the cookies have set before placing them on their side so they don’t deform.
How to Store and Freeze
Store leftover Nutter Butter acorn cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, or in the freezer for up to 3 months. Let thaw at room temperature before serving.
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