This recipe is pure nostalgia—straight from my mom, who has always been the family baking expert. Whether from childhood or teenage years, these little treats bring back warm memories and never fail to make people smile.
These “hamburger” cookies are simple to assemble, irresistibly cute, and perfect for cookouts, school parties, or any gathering that calls for fun, bite-sized desserts. Kids sometimes call them “Krabby Patties,” which only adds to the charm. Rest assured, vegetarian friends: there’s no actual meat here—just sweet, playful cookies.
“HAMBURGER” COOKIES
Have you ever seen a cuter cookie? They taste even better than they look. These are essentially small sugar-packed delights, and they’re as fun to make as they are to eat.
For the buns, use vanilla wafers (off-brand works great). For the “patty” use Keebler Grasshoppers. The lettuce and ketchup are piped or spread-on icing made from shortening, powdered sugar, vanilla, milk, and food coloring. You can vary the colors—red and green for ketchup and lettuce, or yellow if you prefer a cheeseburger look.
“Hamburger” Cookies
- Author: Cuts and Crumbles
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Total Time: 15 mins
- Category: Dessert
Ingredients
- 1 box off-brand vanilla wafers
- 1 box Keebler Grasshopper cookies
- 2/3 cup shortening
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 lb powdered sugar
- 2–3 tablespoons milk
- Food coloring (red for ketchup, green for lettuce; optional yellow for cheese)
Instructions
- Cream 2/3 cup shortening in a medium-sized bowl until smooth.
- Add 1 pound powdered sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla, and 2 tablespoons milk. Using a hand mixer, beat until smooth and well blended. If the icing is too thick, add up to 1 additional tablespoon of milk to reach a spreadable but still slightly stiff decorating consistency.
- Divide the icing into two equal bowls. Add food coloring to one bowl for red (ketchup) and to the other for green (lettuce). Adjust the number of drops until you reach the desired shades; red typically takes more drops than green.
- Pour the vanilla wafers into a large shallow container or pan for easier assembly. Place the Grasshopper cookies into a separate bowl or tray.
- Spread red icing on half of the vanilla wafers. Press one Grasshopper cookie into each iced wafer to form the “patty” layer.
- Spread green icing on the remaining vanilla wafers and place them on top of the Grasshoppers, creating a sandwich. Press gently so the layers stick together and the cookie resembles a small hamburger.
- If you have extra wafers and icing, make additional vegetarian-style sandwiches to snack on while assembling the rest.
- Store the finished cookies in a sealed container for at least 24 hours before serving. This step softens the vanilla wafers slightly so the cookies hold together when bitten and the filling won’t pop out.
- Enjoy! These cookies often taste even better after resting a day, and they store well for several days in an airtight container.
Recipe from my mom!
What did you think? Did these cookies make the cut or would you tweak something? I’d love to hear your variations and any tips you discovered while making them. 
