Nutter Butter Santa Cookies

I've said it before and I'll say it again, I'm not a baker. However, I do like giving cute edible gifts or bringing a tray of fun little treats to a party.  That's why I loved making these Santa cookies for the holidays last year.  (I got the idea when a friend had posted a similar version on her Facebook page using red colored sugar for the hat, but I decided to go with red melting chocolate on the hat and add some coconut on the beard.) 

They're perfect for a Christmas party, but require no baking and use all store bought ingredients  (My kind of baked good!)  

Here's what you need:

• Nutter Butter Cookies (could also use Pepperidge Farm Milano cookies, Vienna Fingers, or other oval-shaped cookie)
• White melting chocolate disks
• Red melting chocolate disks
• White Chocolate chips
• Mini chocolate chips
• Cinnamon Red Hots candies
• coconut flakes (or plain white sprinkles)

Here's what to do:

 1.  Dip each end of your Nutter Butter into the melted white chocolate.   I have this Wilton Electric Melting Pot and I love it ~ makes it super easy to melt your chocolate disks and then keep the melted chocolate the right temperature for dipping (even if you get slowed down by helping kids!)  

NOTE: If you're making a bunch of these, I'd recommend dipping no more than 8-10 at a time so the chocolate doesn't harden before you can sprinkle on the coconut.

2.  While the white chocolate is still "wet", sprinkle some coconut flakes on the bottom part for Santa's beard.

Top and bottom dipped in white chocolate and Santa's coconut beard in place.

3.  Let the white chocolate cool and harden while you melt your red chocolate disks.  Then quickly dip part of the top in the red melted chocolate, leaving part of the white showing.  

4. While the red is still "wet", press a white chocolate chip on the side to make the pom-pom on the end of Santa's hat.

With the hats and beards done, he's ready for the final touches.

5.  Using a bit of melted chocolate or frosting, add two mini chocolate chips for eyes and the cinnamon red hot for a nose.  ( I just used a toothpick to add a tiny bit of melted chocolate then attached the eyes and nose)

That's it!  Super cute and super easy (but lots of fun and very festive!). 

Sharing our Santas at:

Sugar and Dots
Someday Crafts 
Somewhat Simple 
Gluesticks  
Momnivore's Dilemma 
Someday Crafts Holiday
Tatertots and Jello 
Be Different, Act Normal 
I heart Nap Time 
Craft-O-Maniac 
Under the Table and Dreaming  
Brassy Apple
Sassy Sites
Skip to my Lou 
Making the World Cuter 

Five Fun Ideas for Turkey and Pilgrim Activities

With Thanksgiving right around the corner, 

I thought I'd share some fun ideas 

to make your "Turkey Day" extra special this year.  Check out these awesome Turkey and Pilgrim posts that were linked up to our Fall Fun Party.

1.  Eat or Be Eaten Turkey Toss

{ Dinosaurs and Octopuses }

You have to check out this adorable Turkey Toss game Joyce created!

I may not be able to make a turkey beanbag 
nearly as cute as this little fellow, 
but I definitely plan on letting the kids play a version 

of this game after dinner next Thursday.

( Kids always seem to still have energy even after a big meal, so they can have a fun beanbag toss while the grownups take a nap on the couch!)

2. Spin Art Turkeys

{ Dilly-Dali Art }

Wouldn't these turkeys be adorable place cards or centerpieces 
on your Thanksgiving table?

All you need are toilet paper tubes and paper plates!

 (And if you haven't tried doing spin art in an old salad spinner,
you have to let your kids give it a try.

They'll have a blast and you'll get some really fun designs.)

3. Bottle Cap Turkeys

{ Dilly-Dali Art }

Aleacia has another fun Turkey craft here.

My kids LOVE working with feathers, 
pipe cleaners and googly eyes.

If they just add some bottle caps, 
they can make these fun gobblers.

4. Chocolate Marshmallow Pilgrim Hats

 { Phaedra's Adventures }

I love serving fun little treats that look cute, 
but are simple to make.

Just dip marshmallows in chocolate, put it on a cookie 
and add a frosting buckle

to make some fantastic little Pilgrim's hats.

(In her post, Phaedra also shows how to make 
some turkey cupcakes and cookies that are a 

little more labor intensive, but super adorable!) 

5. Pilgrim Finger Puppets

 { Let Kids Create }

Save a few more toilet paper tubes 
and you can make these cute little Pilgrims

to go along with your Spin Art Turkeys.

The adults can sit back and relax while the kids 
put on a puppet show after dinner.

(Can you tell I like to relax after eating my turkey and pumpkin pie? ;)  ) 

Finally, here's one last bonus idea 

that I think is fantastic.

Thanksgiving Turkey Printable
{ Under the Big Moon }

Use this cute printable turkey and poem to spread 

Thanksgiving greetings throughout the neighborhood!

Thanks, ladies, for sharing your awesome ideas!

Our children give us a lot to be thankful for

and these cute activities and treats give us a fun way to 

come together this Thanksgiving!

Feel free to grab a featured button if you'd like

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And don't forget to swing by our Fall Fun party! 

There are ton of other great ideas and it's ongoing, 

so more ideas are linked up all the time!