Acorn cookies are a charming fall-inspired no-bake treat that can easily steal the show on any holiday cookie tray. Perfect for Thanksgiving and Halloween festivities, these adorable little cookies are fun to create and are sure to disappear quickly at any gathering.

This culinary project is an enjoyable way to get the whole family involved, requiring very little time and effort. Plus, you can dress them up for the season using edible glitter or powdered sugar for a frosty finish!

With all store-bought ingredients, you can whip these up in no time, making them a kid-friendly kitchen activity. Let’s dive into how to make these tasty little acorns!

Ingredients

• 1 or 2 tablespoons canned chocolate frosting (or homemade)
• 24 milk chocolate candy kisses (unwrapped)
• 24 mini vanilla wafer cookies
• 24 mini semi-sweet chocolate chips
• Optional: Sanding sugar in festive colors for Halloween (like clear, white, purple, or orange) for a sparkly effect
• Optional: Powdered sugar for a snowy look

Tools Needed for Making Acorn Cookies

• A cookie sheet or cutting board as your workstation
• Wax paper or parchment paper for placing cookies to dry
• A butter knife or offset spatula for spreading frosting
• A bowl for your frosting
• A storage container for keeping your cookies fresh
• Optionally, a pastry bag with a small writing tip for frosting applications

Creative Ideas for Your Acorn Cookies

1. Apply a heavier coat of frosting on the bottom of the kiss, then roll the cookie in colorful sanding sugars after assembly.
2. Sprinkle powdered sugar over the acorn cookies for a delightful finish before serving.
3. Use larger butterscotch or peanut butter chips instead of mini semi-sweet chocolate chips for added variety.
4. Play with flavors by substituting your favorite varieties of kiss candies, such as peanut butter.
5. Add a creative green stem on top using piping icing or slice up some fresh spearmint leaves.
6. Try using different mini cookie bites instead of vanilla wafers for a unique flavor twist (chocolate, peanut butter, etc.).

Instructions

1. Start by laying out your mini vanilla wafers on a cutting board.
2. Using a butter knife or offset spatula, take a dollop of chocolate frosting and spread it on the flat side of a chocolate kiss. Press this onto the bottom of a vanilla wafer cookie.
3. As an alternative, you can use a pastry bag filled with frosting to apply it neatly to the cookies.
4. Next, take a mini chocolate chip and add a bit of frosting to its flat side. Press this chip on top of the vanilla wafer to complete your acorn cookie.
5. Repeat this process for the remaining cookies.
6. Allow them to set on a sheet lined with wax paper for about 30 minutes to let the frosting dry.
7. If you’d like to make your own chocolate frosting, simply mix 1 cup of powdered sugar with 2 tablespoons of cocoa powder. Gradually add water, teaspoon by teaspoon, until you reach a spreadable consistency. Any leftover frosting can be stored in the fridge for later use!