Jack 'O' Lantern Cookies

No-bake Halloween cookies that look like tiny jack-o-lanterns. Chocolate wafer cookies sandwiched with peanut butter, dipped in orange-tinted vanilla almond bark, and decorated with black licorice faces. Kids love making these because the assembly is the whole project.

Melt the almond bark following package directions and tint it orange with paste food coloring. Paste coloring is a must here since liquid food coloring can seize the melted candy coating. Use tongs to dip each sandwich cookie, shake off the excess gently, and set on a wire rack over waxed paper to catch the drips.

Work quickly once the almond bark is melted. It starts to thicken as it cools, and thick coating looks lumpy instead of smooth. Press the licorice face pieces on while the coating is still wet so they stick.

Kitchen Tips

• Cut the licorice into triangles for eyes and nose, and thin strips for the mouth before you start dipping. Having everything prepped speeds up the decorating.
• Use paste or gel food coloring, never liquid. Liquid coloring seizes the almond bark and makes it grainy.
• If the coating gets too thick while working, reheat gently for a few seconds to thin it back out.
• Let cookies cool completely before stacking. The coating needs to fully harden or the faces will smear.

Variations

• Use Oreos instead of chocolate wafer cookies for a thicker, crunchier sandwich.
• Swap black licorice for chocolate chips or mini M&Ms for the face decorations.
• Make ghost shapes by skipping the orange coloring and using plain white almond bark.