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Easy Thanksgiving Cookie Recipe
Ash Tyrrell

Easy Thanksgiving Cookie Recipe

I still remember the first time I made these little cornucopia cookies for my family's Thanksgiving table, and I honestly couldn't believe how easy they were. I didn't turn on my oven once, my kids helped me assemble every single one, and we still had dessert on the table in under twenty minutes.
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Total Time 20 minutes
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 package 14 ounces Golden Oreo sandwich cookies — I use the golden ones because the vanilla flavor pairs better with the crunchy bugle than classic chocolate Oreos
  • 1 bag of Bugles corn snacks — these become the "horn" of the cornucopia so I always buy a bit extra since not every piece curls perfectly
  • 1 bag of mini M&M's — I like using the fall-colored mix for a more festive look though plain works just as well
  • Extra frosting optional — I save this from cookies that don't separate cleanly, since it works as edible glue for the M&M's

Method
 

  1. I gently twist each Golden Oreo apart instead of pulling it, which keeps the frosting layer intact on one side. I set the plain cookie halves aside to snack on later, since only the frosted half gets used in the finished cookie.
  2. On the frosted half of each cookie, I press a Bugle into the icing at an angle so it looks like the curved opening of a cornucopia. I always keep a handful of extra Bugles nearby since some break or don't curl the way I want.
  3. I press mini M&M's into the frosting around the base of the Bugle, building outward so it looks like the candy is spilling out of the horn. I like mixing in a few extra colors here to make each cookie look slightly different.
  4. If any M&M's feel wobbly, I dab a little leftover frosting underneath with my fingertip or a toothpick. This little trick keeps everything in place even if the cookies get jostled on the way to a gathering.
  5. I let the finished cookies sit for about five minutes so the frosting firms back up around the candy. After that, they're ready to arrange on a platter and bring straight to the table.

Notes

  • I always buy one extra box of Oreos because a handful will crack no matter how carefully I twist them.
  • I keep my Bugles in their bag until I'm ready to assemble, since they go stale and lose their crunch fast once exposed to air.
  • I arrange my M&M's by color before I start so I'm not digging through the bag mid-assembly.
  • I let my kids handle the M&M placement while I manage the Bugles, since it keeps little hands busy without the risk of broken cookies.
  • I make a few extra as backups because the first couple I assemble are never my prettiest.