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.
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.
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.
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.
Little Debbie Swiss Rolls, ...Shop on Amazon 
Hostess HoHos, Chocolate, 1...Shop on Amazon 
Orange Slice Wedges Candy 1...Shop on Amazon
SweetGourmet Black Licorice...Shop on Amazon
Candy Molds N More Edible R...Shop on Amazon
Jet-Puffed Marshmallows (12...Shop on Amazon Instructions
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.
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
- 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
-
Flatten an orange slice into an even ¼" thickness.
-
Cut two feet and a beak.
-
Cut a thin slice from each end of a marshmallow.
-
Flatten a soft Tootsie Roll then roll it out thin.
-
Cut two wings from the Tootsie Roll.
-
Attach the candy decorations to the snack cake with frosting.
Store your snack cake penguins in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
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Kelly at Little Wonders' Days says
These are very cute! Visiting from TGIF.
CuteEverything.com says
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!
Sweet Bella Roos says
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/
Crafty Mischief says
These are the cutest little penguins ever! They make me want to throw a penguin party! 🙂
dragonswing says
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.
Beth Jackson Klosterboer says
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!
Janine (sugarkissed.net) says
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?
Beth Jackson Klosterboer says
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.
mary lou says
my granddaughters are going to love these...so cute...
Carole says
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.
Kitchen Riffs says
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.
The Mandatory Mooch says
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
MissyB_in_NJ says
So cute!!!!!!!!! I am hosting an "Ice ice baby!" pool party for my son this weekend and these will be on the menu!!!!
The Partiologist says
Love these little snack cakes! Every time you post a snack cake cutie, I always think...now this one is my favorite!!
commercial refrigerator repair says
looks cute and eye candy!
BKWilliams says
I love these! You have such a creative mind. Thanks for sharing.
Dixie n Dottie says
These are simply adorable! Very creative!
http://dixie-n-dottie.blogspot.com/
Jill @ KitchenFunWithMy3Sons.com says
Awww...these are so cute!
Liz @ A Nut in a Nutshell says
Those are just super duper cute!
Rina @ Bento School Lunches says
They are super cute and my son love Penguins! I am definitely going to show him and thanks for the tutorial:)
Patricia @ ButterYum says
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.
Beth Jackson Klosterboer says
I'd love to hear how your son reacts. My husband loved them. Of course he'd eat anything that combines chocolate and cake =)
Lindsay Ann @ Dollhouse Bake Shoppe says
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!