Pilgrim Hat Cookies are adorable no-bake Thanksgiving treats made from Fudge Stripe cookies, peanut butter cups, and Reese’s Pieces to look like classic Pilgrim hats!

Looking for more ways to level up your Thanksgiving dessert spread? Be sure to try my Rolo Turkey Pretzels and Nutter Butter Acorns too!

Why you’ll love this recipe:

Thanksgiving is all about coming together, giving thanks, and — of course — sharing delicious food. While the turkey and stuffing might steal the spotlight, dessert is where you can really get creative. One of the easiest (and most adorable) Thanksgiving desserts to make? Pilgrim Hat Cookies!

These charming little treats look like tiny Pilgrim hats and are as fun to make as they are to eat. The best part? They’re completely no-bake, which means you can whip them up in minutes — even when your oven is already busy with pies and casseroles.

Ingredients you’ll need:

Fudge Stripe cookies
White chocolate chips
Creamy peanut butter
Miniature Reese’s cups
Reese’s pieces

Pilgrim Hat Cookies are a simple, festive dessert made to resemble the iconic black hats worn by the Pilgrims. They’re typically made using fudge-striped cookies as the hat’s brim and mini peanut butter cups as the top of the hat. A little chocolate holds everything together, and a Reese’s Pieces candy creates a buckle to complete the look. They’re cute, bite-sized, and perfect for both kids and adults to enjoy.

There’s a lot to love about these little cookies:

They’re quick and easy. When you’re juggling multiple holiday dishes, a no-bake dessert is a lifesaver.
They’re great for kids. Little hands can easily help decorate the hats, making them a fun Thanksgiving activity for the whole family.
They double as décor. Place them on your dessert table, use them as edible place cards, or wrap them up for party favors — they add instant Thanksgiving charm anywhere.
They’re a crowd-pleaser. Who can resist a peanut butter and chocolate combo?

How to make the best Pilgrim Hat Cookies:

Place Fudge Stripe cookies upside down on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat and set aside for later.
In a microwave safe bowl, combine the white chocolate chips and peanut butter, then microwave in 30 second intervals, stirring in between until melted and smooth.
Transfer the melted chocolate and peanut butter into a ziploc bag and let it cool for about 5 minutes, then carefully cut a small piece off one end. The bag should feel cool to the touch when it’s ready for use.
Pipe the white chocolate peanut butter in rings around the centers of the cookies, making a small circle about the size of a Reese’s miniature cup.
Place the miniature peanut butter cups on top with the larger side facing down. Lightly press it down to allow the white chocolate peanut butter to ooze out from the bottom, forming a band around it.
Add a dot of melted chocolate and peanut butter onto each Reese’s Pieces candy, then place on the band to make a buckle.
Allow the chocolate to set completely before serving. You can transfer to the refrigerator for 15 minutes to speed up the process.

When Thanksgiving rolls around, I’m all about gratitude, family, and — of course — dessert! If you’re looking for a fun and easy sweet treat to share at your holiday table, Pilgrim Hat Cookies are a must-try. They’re adorable, festive, and require no baking at all — which means more time for family and less time in the kitchen.

Thanksgiving is about more than food — it’s about joy, creativity, and togetherness. Pilgrim Hat Cookies capture all of that in one adorable little bite. They’re proof that even the simplest recipes can bring big smiles and sweet memories to your holiday celebration.

My top tips:

FUDGE STRIPES: If you want to switch things up, feel free to use different chocolate cookies for the base, Oreos work great too!
MELTING CHOCOLATE: Rather than melting the white chocolate and peanut butter to keep the hat intact and form a band, you could go for some colored frosting or just melt some regular chocolate chips or colored candy melts.
PIPING: I recommend letting the chocolate and peanut butter cool just a bit before piping the rings onto the cookies. This just prevents the chocolate from running everywhere without holding shape.
REESE’S CUPS: Both dark chocolate and milk chocolate Reese’s miniature cups are great options, and you could even use a Rolo if you prefer. Either way, you’ll want to unwrap the candies before you start assembling these cookies because the chocolate sets quickly.
REESE’S PIECES: Depending on how quickly your chocolate sets up, you may need to add a little chocolate onto each Reese’s Pieces candy to get it to stick. Instead of Reese’s Pieces, try a colored m&m or yellow candy corn pieces for the buckle on the hat.
CHILLING: If you’re impatient like me, you can transfer these cookies into the refrigerator for 15 minutes to make the chocolate set faster. The white chocolate peanut butter will harden so the hat holds its shape.

Looking for more no bake peanut butter and chocolate treats? Check these out!

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