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    Home » Recipes » Kid's Treats

    Snack Cake Penguins

    Published: Jul 24, '12 · Modified: Sep 22, '23 · By: Beth Klosterboer · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe

    Turn store-bought treats into adorably cute Snack Cake Penguins. They are super fun treats to serve at Christmas, for a zoo-themed party, or a wintertime event. Kids will love them.

    penguin cakes made with chocolate snack cakes like Hoho's or Swiss Rolls.

     

    Have you ever made an animal out of a paper towel tube or other cardboard tube? I saw the cutest penguin paper tube craft today. It inspired me to make these adorable chocolate penguin cakes. They will look so cute alongside my Chocolate Penguin Truffles and Penguin Pretzels.

    I figured if you could make a penguin using a cardboard tube, paper, and glue, I could create an edible version using a snack cake, candy, and frosting.

    To keep this food craft easy, I chose to use store-bought snack cakes. I used Little Debbie Swiss Rolls but Hostess HoHos or Drakes Yodels will work too.

    cute chocolate Swiss Rolls decorated like penguins.

    I used marshmallows, orange slices (gumdrops), Tootsie Rolls, candy eyes, and black licorice (optional) to decorate my sweet penguins.

    If an adult cuts out the candy, a young child could have fun decorating his/her own sweet little penguin snack cake.

    So, let's make some penguins.

    snack cake penguin ingredients including chocolate cake rolls, Tootsie Rolls, orange slices, candy eyes, and marshmallows.

    Chocolate Cake Roll Penguins

    Ingredients

    chocolate cake rolls - Little Debbie Swiss Rolls, Hostess HoHos, or Drakes Cakes Yodels
    marshmallows
    orange slices or orange gumdrops
    Tootsie Rolls
    optional black licorice laces

    Supplies

    kitchen shears or a knife
    rolling pin
    optional: mini egg-shaped or oval cookie-cutter
    optional: toothpick

    Items used to create this project can be purchased on Amazon.com. I earn a small commission when you use the Amazon links to make a purchase at no extra cost to you.

    Instructions

    making penguin cakes using Little Debbie Swiss Rolls or Ho Ho's, marshmallows, orange slices, and Tootsie Rolls.

    Decorate your penguin snack cakes.

    Flatten an orange slice into an even ¼" thickness. Using kitchen shears or a knife, cut two feet and a beak from the orange slice.

    Cut a thin slice from each end of a marshmallow. Eat the sticky center piece or save it for your hot cocoa.

    Soften a Tootsie Roll in the microwave on high for 5 seconds. (This won't be necessary if you are fortunate enough to have really soft candies.) Roll your candy out thin. Cut two wings out using a cookie cutter, kitchen shears, or a knife. Stretch the oval into a longer curved wing.

    Attach all of the candy decorations to the snack cake with frosting making sure the orange slice feet go all the way to the back edge of the snack cake or your penguins will topple over.

    Add licorice feathers by poking pieces of black licorice laces into the penguin's head. You can poke holes with a toothpick first if you need to.

    Storage

    Keep your penguins stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. While most penguins like the cold, these little guys prefer a nice balmy 65-75 degrees Fahrenheit, so keep them out of your refrigerator.

    Related Recipes

    If you are looking for more cute penguin-themed dessert ideas or other fun kid's treats, be sure to check these out.

    chocolate Nutter Butter penguins on powdered sugar snow with a blue background

    Penguin Cookies

    chocolate penguin Rice Krispie Treats

    Chocolate Rice Krispie Treat Penguins

    Turn Coca-Cola Bottles into adorable Penguins using a free printable.

    Coca Cola Penguins

    chocolate penguin box.

    Chocolate Penguin Box

    chocolate penguin cakes on a sugary snow covered ground with a blue star background.

    I created this cute wintertime scene with sugar snow and a blue paper backdrop. I love how the penguin cakes stand up in the snow.

    Recipe

    Print
    Snack Cake Penguins
    Prep Time
    10 mins
    Total Time
    10 mins
     
    Store bought chocolate rolls decorated to look like the sweetest little penguins.
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: christmas desserts, snack cake penguins, snack cakes
    Servings: 1
    Calories: 350 kcal
    Author: Beth Klosterboer
    Ingredients
    • 1 chocolate roll snack cakes Little Debbie Swiss Rolls or something similar
    • 1 orange slices/orange gumdrops
    • 1 marshmallows
    • 1 Tootsie Rolls
    • 2 edible eyes
    • frosting or use Nutella, peanut butter or melted chocolate
    • optional black licorice laces
    Instructions
    1. Flatten an orange slice into an even ¼" thickness.
    2. Cut two feet and a beak.
    3. Cut a thin slice from each end of a marshmallow.
    4. Flatten a soft Tootsie Roll then roll it out thin.
    5. Cut two wings from the Tootsie Roll.
    6. Attach the candy decorations to the snack cake with frosting.
    Recipe Notes

    Store your snack cake penguins in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. 

    • Author
    • Recent Posts
    Beth Klosterboer
    Beth Klosterboer
    Hi, I'm Beth Jackson Klosterboer, a professional chocolatier & baker, cookbook author, and event planner. I love sharing recipes for happy occasions here on Hungry Happenings. I also create easy fudge recipes to share at HowToMakeEasyFudge.com, rice krispie treat recipes at HowToMakeCerealTreats.com, and easy cookie recipes at HowToMakeEasyCookies.com
    Beth Klosterboer
    Latest posts by Beth Klosterboer (see all)
    • Mini Peanut Butter Cheesecakes - June 20, 2023
    • Homemade Chocolate Easter Bunnies - April 3, 2023
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    More adorable treats your kids will love

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      Homemade Cherry Tootsie Pop Hearts
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    • homemade chocolate-dipped marshmallow starfish s'mores topped with graham cracker crumbs with candy eyes are arranged on brown and white sugar sand.
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    About Beth Klosterboer

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

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    1. Kelly at Little Wonders' Days

      July 27, 2012 at 11:10 am

      These are very cute! Visiting from TGIF.

      Reply
    2. CuteEverything.com

      July 27, 2012 at 3:21 am

      These are adorable, I can see why you couldn't wait to share! I showed them to my daughter who loved them and when I told her they were made with Swiss Rolls she burst out in giggles! Nice job!

      Reply
    3. Sweet Bella Roos

      July 26, 2012 at 10:19 pm

      Haha these are so cute (and so clever!) Would love for you to link up at my Pin It Thursday party-- http://www.sweetbellaroos.com/2012/07/26/pin-it-thursday4/

      Reply
    4. Crafty Mischief

      July 26, 2012 at 5:31 pm

      These are the cutest little penguins ever! They make me want to throw a penguin party! 🙂

      Reply
    5. dragonswing

      July 26, 2012 at 4:50 pm

      So cute!!! I love these. OK, so if I am having a "winter wonderland" themed tea party (just so I could use these) what other food can be served? You are soooooooo creative.

      Reply
      • Beth Jackson Klosterboer

        July 26, 2012 at 5:09 pm

        Thanks. Check out my RECIPES page. You'll see pictures of all my projects including some really fun winter wonderland ideas. https://hungryhappenings.com/p/recipes.html Just click on the recipe title and you'll go to the tutorial page. Have fun!

        Reply
    6. Janine (sugarkissed.net)

      July 26, 2012 at 11:58 am

      I can't get over how cute these are! I love the setting you created for the photos too! How did you make it look like they were standing in snow?

      Reply
      • Beth Jackson Klosterboer

        July 26, 2012 at 12:12 pm

        Thanks, Janine. I sprinkled sugar on a platter and just nestled the penguins in the sugar snow. When I made the penguins, I made sure the orange slice feet covered the bottom of the snack cakes so that they could stand up all on their own.

        Reply
    7. mary lou

      July 26, 2012 at 8:29 am

      my granddaughters are going to love these...so cute...

      Reply
    8. Carole

      July 26, 2012 at 1:12 am

      Oh my! Great post. I found this through Turning the Clock Back's What's Cooking Wednesday. I have linked in a post about some home-made steak burgers I did. Have a lovely week.

      Reply
    9. Kitchen Riffs

      July 25, 2012 at 8:57 pm

      Very cute! Actually I know some Australians who celebrate "Christmas in July" (because that's when it's winter there, and some of the traditional dishes taste best) so this topic is, well, seasonal. For them. 😉 Really good stuff - thanks.

      Reply
    10. The Mandatory Mooch

      July 25, 2012 at 7:28 pm

      These little guys are too cute!! What fun!! I'd love to have you link this up to Tasty Thursdays on The Mandatory Mooch. It's a new linky party starting today. Hope to see you there. Thanks, Nichi
      http://mandatorymooch.blogspot.com/2012/07/tasty-thursdays-1.html

      Reply
    11. MissyB_in_NJ

      July 25, 2012 at 4:04 pm

      So cute!!!!!!!!! I am hosting an "Ice ice baby!" pool party for my son this weekend and these will be on the menu!!!!

      Reply
    12. The Partiologist

      July 25, 2012 at 11:23 am

      Love these little snack cakes! Every time you post a snack cake cutie, I always think...now this one is my favorite!!

      Reply
    13. commercial refrigerator repair

      July 25, 2012 at 2:53 am

      looks cute and eye candy!

      Reply
    14. BKWilliams

      July 25, 2012 at 2:40 am

      I love these! You have such a creative mind. Thanks for sharing.

      Reply
    15. Dixie n Dottie

      July 24, 2012 at 11:04 pm

      These are simply adorable! Very creative!
      http://dixie-n-dottie.blogspot.com/

      Reply
    16. Jill @ KitchenFunWithMy3Sons.com

      July 24, 2012 at 10:15 pm

      Awww...these are so cute!

      Reply
    17. Liz @ A Nut in a Nutshell

      July 24, 2012 at 2:22 pm

      Those are just super duper cute!

      Reply
    18. Rina @ Bento School Lunches

      July 24, 2012 at 1:57 pm

      They are super cute and my son love Penguins! I am definitely going to show him and thanks for the tutorial:)

      Reply
    19. Patricia @ ButterYum

      July 24, 2012 at 2:11 am

      This is such a stinking cute idea that I can hardly stand it. My oldest son (who is well into his 20s) loves these snack cakes, and he also loves penguins. Naturally, I'm going to have to make these for him the next time he comes for dinner. I think he'll get a huge kick out of them. Thanks for the great idea.

      Reply
      • Beth Jackson Klosterboer

        July 24, 2012 at 2:25 am

        I'd love to hear how your son reacts. My husband loved them. Of course he'd eat anything that combines chocolate and cake =)

        Reply
    20. Lindsay Ann @ Dollhouse Bake Shoppe

      July 24, 2012 at 1:59 am

      Eeeek, so cute hehe 🙂 They look like the daddys of my tiny little babay penguin pops, I'll have to remember to share in Dec!

      Reply
    Newer Comments »

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    Beth Jackson Klosterboer

    Welcome to Hungry Happenings!

    I'm Beth. I've been a professional chocolatier & baker for over 30 years, have written 5 cookbooks, and love creating fun food for holidays and special occasions.

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    Beth Jackson Klosterboer

    Welcome to Hungry Happenings!

    I'm Beth. I've been a professional chocolatier & baker for over 30 years, have written 5 cookbooks, and love creating fun food for holidays and special occasions.

    Read more about me →

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