How to make and decorate chocolate-covered Oreos for an extra tasty treat

• Chocolate covered Oreos can easily be made at home with just a few ingredients.
• Melt some chocolate, dip the Oreos, then decorate as needed.

The pure simplicity of Oreos is the key to their appeal; the crunchy, chocolatey cookie and the sweet, smooth cream achieve such a perfect balance that it's hard to think of any way to improve them.

That said, there is one ingredient that, when added to Oreos, makes them even more crave-worthy and indulgent: chocolate.

Give your Oreos a quick dip in a bath of chocolate, let them harden, and you're left with a flawless dessert that's also a crowd-pleasing DIY gift. To learn how to make chocolate-covered Oreos, follow these tips from chocolate sauce expert Eileen Gannon, founder of Sunday Night Foods.

How to make chocolate-covered Oreos

To make chocolate-covered Oreos that hold up to the versions sold at candy stores, you'll need just a few ingredients.

Gannon says that you can use any chocolate you like to dip your Oreos. However, she advises against using chocolate-flavored candy wafers (also known as melts). You can use these wafers to decorate but stick with chocolate that contains cocoa and cocoa butter, as these products will better cover and set on the Oreos.

What you need

• 1 package (14.3 ounces) of Oreos (or your chocolate sandwich cookie of choice)
• 16 ounces bar chocolate (dark, milk, white, or semi-sweet)
• Toppings of choice (like sprinkles, crushed cookies, crushed pretzels, or nuts)
• A small saucepan
• A small heatproof bowl (like a glass bowl, a ceramic bowl, or a metal bowl)
• Rubber spatula
• 2 forks
• A baking sheet
• Parchment paper

Instructions

1. Chop the chocolate. Chopping the chocolate into small pieces allows for quicker and more even melting, says Gannon.

2. Melt the chocolate. For the stovetop method, put 3 inches of water in a small saucepan and bring it to a simmer over medium heat. Add the chopped chocolate to the small bowl, then place it on top of the pot. Continue to stir occasionally with a rubber spatula until the chocolate is melted. If you're using the microwave, place the chocolate in a small heatproof bowl. Heat in the microwave on low for 20 seconds, then give the chocolate a stir. Continue heating in 20-second intervals (stirring after each one) until the chocolate is fully melted.

3. Get the toppings ready. If you're planning to add toppings to your dipped Oreos, do a quick mise en place by putting any dry toppings in small bowls and any wet toppings (like caramel sauce or liquid candy coating) into piping bags.

4. Dip the Oreos. Place an Oreo flat on a fork, then lower the entire Oreo into the bowl of melted chocolate until it's fully submerged. Slowly lift the fork and Oreo out of the melted chocolate, using another fork (or a small spoon, or a butter knife) to spread extra chocolate on the top of the Oreo if there are any uncovered spots. Tap the fork holding the Oreo gently on the inside of the bowl, allowing excess chocolate to drip off. This prevents the formation of chocolate drips – or feet – on the bottom of the cookie.

5. Decorate. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and place the dipped cookies on top. While the chocolate is still soft, sprinkle or drizzle on any toppings you'd like.

6. Let them set. Keep the baking sheet in the fridge to set for at least 30 minutes. You'll know that the setting process is complete when you lightly touch the top of the chocolate to see if it is firm, or when you can touch it without getting chocolate on your hands.

Quick Tip: For shinier chocolate with a better snap, try tempering. Gannon does it by adding chopped chocolate to melted chocolate, stirring until the room-temp chocolate melts, and setting the bowl over a saucepan of warm water to keep it soft and gooey enough for dipping.

Decoration ideas

Oreos can be decorated with any number of nuts, candies, dried fruits, or other favorite snacks. Try these variations:

• Oreo crumbs. Crush some additional Oreos and sprinkle the crumbs on top of white chocolate-dipped Oreos.
• Salty crunch. Top a milk chocolate-coated Oreo with crumbled potato chips, pretzels, or flaked sea salt.
• Caramel sauce. Put caramel sauce in a plastic zipper-top bag, cut off a corner, and drizzle it on a dark chocolate-coated Oreo.
• Dried fruits. Finely mince dried cherries or even freeze-dried strawberries and place them on top of Oreos coated in your chocolate of choice.
• Pecan toffee crumble. Top a milk-chocolate- or semisweet chocolate-covered Oreo with crushed toffee bits and toasted chopped pecans.
• Add color. Use pastel-colored candy melts to make pretty designs on white chocolate-dipped Oreos.

How to store chocolate-covered Oreos

Chocolate-covered Oreos can be made a few days in advance, or up to five days if the chocolate has been tempered. Gannon recommends storing them in an air-tight plastic or glass container with a lid. Keep them at room temperature away from sunlight if you've tempered the chocolate or store them in the fridge if the chocolate is untempered.

Quick tip: For a fun twist on dipped Oreos, try making chocolate-filled Oreos. Separate both halves of your Oreos, then, using a dull knife spread up to 2 teaspoons of chocolate fudge on the bottom cookie. Add the cookie top back on, then place the Oreo in the fridge for about 30 minutes to set. These filled cookies will last for up to five days in the refrigerator.

Insider's takeaway

Chocolate-covered Oreos are fun, festive, flavorful, and fairly straightforward to make at home. Just melt and temper some chocolate; use a fork to fully dip your Oreos; decorate with nuts, cookies, sprinkles, or your choice of candies and garnishes; and let them set until the chocolate becomes firm and shiny. From there, you can eat them right away. You can also store them for five days at room temperature if they're tempered, or in the fridge if they're untempered.