- 1 12-ounce package of white candy melts
- 1 12-ounce package of peanut butter candy melts
- 1 10-ounce package of milk chocolate melting wafers
- 1 10-ounce package of dark chocolate melting wafers
- 24 Oreo cookies
- 1 package of black “Red Vine” licorice
- 48 “large” eyeball candies
- 24 orange mini M&Ms
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Follow the package instructions to heat and melt the candy melts - use separate bowls for each flavor/color. You may need to reheat the candy melts while working - microwave in 15-30 second increments.
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Use a fork to dip a cookie into the melted background color, coating both sides. Tap off the excess candy and place cookie on a sheet of parchment paper. We made a variety of color combos - start by dipping six cookies into each color.
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Leave cookies to harden completely.
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Prepare the licorice by cutting each piece into smaller pieces, about 3⁄4” long. Pick up one piece of licorice - use scissors or a knife to cut small slits into the licorice, keeping the very end intact. Press down on the intact end of the licorice to “feather” out the cut strips.
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Choose a secondary color for each cookie. Dip the cookie about halfway into the secondary color. Rotate your hand and dip the other side of the cookie again, angling it so that there is overlap on one side and an open V (revealing the base color) on the other side.
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While the secondary candy coating is still wet, place the licorice fluff to form the feather tufts behind the eyes.
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Place the eyeballs at the base of the licorice and finish with an orange m&m to make the nose.
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Continue varying the base and secondary coatings to make a variety of owls.
Storage:
Candy coated cookies will stay fresh in an airtight container for 1-2 weeks.
Notes:
Do not get any water into the candy melts and do not overheat - the candy will seize up and turn hard and brittle.
The milk chocolate and dark chocolate offer a nice variety of flavor, but they do not appear super different once the owls are dipped and decorated.
Be sure to tap off as much excess candy from the base coat as you can. If the base coat is too thick, it tends to make for a bulky and messy finished cookie once you start getting the next coat on there.
Use latex gloves to prevent getting fingerprints on the candy coating when you’re dipping them. You can also make colorful owls by using colored candy melts.
It’s important to prepare the licorice tufts before dipping the cookies in the secondary color so that they are ready to pop onto the cookie before the candy hardens.
Candy melts are available at local craft stores and even many grocery stores.