Nutter Butter Referee cookies are a delightful twist on the classic Nutter Butter cookie, whimsically transformed into adorable referee characters. Dipped in a rich white coating and embellished with chocolate stripes and candy eyeballs, these treats are not just visually appealing but also fun to make. Whether it’s for a game day gathering or a kids’ party, these cookies are sure to kick excitement into action and satisfy your sweet tooth!

Table of Contents

Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Ingredients You’ll Need
How to Make Nutter Butter Referees
Storing & Reheating
Chef’s Helpful Tips
Nutter Butter Referees

I first discovered how fun it was to create Nutter Butter Referees when I sought a playful treat to bring to a family event. Everyone loved the cute designs, and I found myself sharing the process with friends and family, sparking joy and laughter. The combination of the beloved peanut butter flavor with a sweet chocolatey twist is an absolute crowd-pleaser. Plus, they’re simple to make and require minimal ingredients. This recipe is ideal if you’re looking for something quick and delightful to whip up. I invite you to try these cookies that not only look amazing but taste incredible too!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Simple & Quick: Ready in just 30 minutes, making them perfect for last-minute gatherings.
Irresistible Flavor: The classic peanut butter cookie flavor pairs beautifully with creamy white chocolate.
Eye-Catching Appeal: These cookies transform into adorable referees that steal the show.
Flexible Serving: Perfect for parties, game days, or as a whimsical afternoon treat!
Kid-Friendly Fun: Kids love getting involved, making these an entertaining baking activity.

Ingredients You’ll Need

12 Nutter Butter cookies: These are the base of our fun treat, providing a delightful peanut butter flavor.
3 ounces white almond bark or white candy melts: Used for coating the cookies to create a smooth referee uniform. You can substitute with white chocolate if preferred.
⅓ cup black candy melts: Necessary for piping the stripes on the uniform and creating fun facial features.
24 candy eyeballs: These little decorations add character to our referee cookies. Feel free to use chocolate chips as an alternative for eyes.

How to Make Nutter Butter Referees

Melt White Coating: To kick things off, melt the 3 ounces of white almond bark or white candy melts according to the package instructions, stirring until it’s smooth and creamy. This will serve as the base for your cookies.

Dip Cookies: Next, grab those 12 Nutter Butter cookies and dip each one halfway into the melted white coating. Allow any excess coating to drip off, and then place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet to set. This stage creates the referee uniform that brings these cookies to life!

Melt Black Candy: In a separate bowl, melt the ⅓ cup of black candy melts. Once melted, transfer it into a piping bag fitted with a small tip (like Wilton #3). This will allow for precise piping to create the referee stripes.

Pipe Stripes: After you’ve placed the cookies on the baking sheet, use the piping bag to add fun, thin stripes across each cookie. You can make them vertical or horizontal, just like real referee uniforms!

Add Candy Eyeballs: Take your 24 candy eyeballs and dab a tiny amount of the melted black candy onto the back of each eyeball. Carefully place the eyes onto your cookies. This step gives your referees their cute, whimsical expressions!

Finish with Faces: Finally, using the remaining black candy melts, pipe small mouths and hair onto the cookies for added personality. Now, let the cookies sit at room temperature or pop them into the fridge briefly until the coating becomes firm.

Storing & Reheating

To store your Nutter Butter Referees, keep them in an airtight container at room temperature for about a week. If you want to preserve their freshness a bit longer, refrigerate them in a sealed container for up to two weeks. You could also freeze these cookies for up to three months! For freezing, layer them between sheets of parchment paper in an airtight container. When you’re ready to enjoy them again, let them thaw at room temperature. Just note that the texture may slightly change after freezing, but I recommend giving them a quick 5-10 second zap in the microwave to refresh that delightful softness.

Chef’s Helpful Tips

Always ensure the Nutter Butter cookies are fully coated, but don’t let the excess coating pool, as this may create a less appealing finish.
If the black candy melts harden while piping, simply reheat them gently to maintain a fluid consistency.
For a richer flavor, you can mix in a few drops of vanilla extract to the melted white coating before dipping.
Let the cookies cool completely for the best texture before storing—this prevents any sticking that might make them cumbersome to enjoy later.

These Nutter Butter Referees are not just fun to make; they also open the doors to creativity! You can have fun experimenting with different colors and designs. Want to make a baseball umpire or a football referee? Just switch up the colors!

Recipe FAQs

Can I use milk chocolate instead of white chocolate?

Absolutely! While this recipe highlights white chocolate for its creamy sweetness, you can create your own twist by using milk chocolate or dark chocolate. Just remember, the final appearance will differ, but the flavor will still be delicious!

How do I store leftover cookies?

Store your leftover Nutter Butter Referees in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week. If you’d like to keep them longer, refrigerating them will help, giving you an extra week, or you could freeze them for a few months.

Can I use different kinds of cookies?

Yes! Although Nutter Butter cookies provide a delightful peanut butter flavor, you could experiment with other types of cookies—like Oreos for a different flavor profile or even shortbread if you fancy a buttery base.

How can I make these gluten-free?

To make gluten-free Nutter Butter Referees, just swap out the Nutter Butter cookies for gluten-free sandwich cookies. Ensure that all candy melts and other ingredients used are also certified gluten-free.

Once you try making Nutter Butter Referees, you’ll likely discover a new favorite treat. Enjoy the appealing look and joyful atmosphere they create at your gatherings—and don’t forget to get everyone involved in the fun of decorating. Happy baking!

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📖 Recipe Card

Nutter Butter Referees

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Author: Danae
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Yield: 12 servings 1x
Category: Desserts & Appetizers
Method: No-Bake
Cuisine: American

Print Recipe

Description

Nutter Butter Referees are a fun and tasty treat that combines crispy nutter butter cookies with creamy candy melts, making for an irresistible dessert that is perfect for parties or game days. Easy to prepare and truly delightful to taste, these cookies are a wonderful way to impress your guests while crafting something homemade.

Ingredients

Scale

12 nutter butter cookies
3 ounces white almond bark or white candy melts
⅓ cup black candy melts
24 candy eyeballs

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Instructions

Melt the white almond bark or white candy melts until smooth, according to package directions.
Dip each Nutter Butter cookie halfway into the melted white coating to create the referee uniform. Allow excess to drip off, then place on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
Melt the black candy melts and put them into a piping bag fitted with a small tip. Pipe thin stripes onto the white coating.
Attach each candy eyeball to the cookies with a dab of melted candy. Use the black candy melts to pipe mouths and hair.
Let the cookies sit at room temperature or briefly refrigerate until the coating firms.

Notes

White almond bark or candy melts can be found in most baking aisles at the grocery store.
If the melted candy becomes too thick, warm it slightly in the microwave to keep it workable.
Make sure the cookies are completely cool before adding the candy toppings.