Holiday Reindeer Cookies are easy no-bake cookies that the whole family will love! Fun to make, and perfect for parties and cookie exchanges!
Every year we get together with some friends and bake up a storm for Christmas; Well, more like to get in the mood for Christmas. Using Nutter Butter Cookies makes this recipe super easy, because it already has the reindeer shape! I was excited to make these Holiday Reindeer Cookies – mostly because they aren’t identical to all the reindeer cookie faces you see on Pinterest, but I think they are rather unique and fun.
How to make Reindeer Cookies:
**scroll down for full ingredient list and printable directions**
- After you get all of the supplies, setup an assembly line (this will make it much easier).
- Lay out a large sheet of parchment paper; this is where the cookies will go after dipped in chocolate.
- Assemble the cookies one at a time;
- Dip peanut butter cookie into the melted chocolate and place onto the parchment paper.
- Then, dip the bottom of a pretzel into the chocolate and stick on the top of the reindeer cookie as the antlers.
- Next, dip the tips of the pretzels sticks into the chocolate and stick those against the ‘body’.
- Then, put a tiny bit of chocolate on the red candy and place it on the nose.
- Finally, set the eye candy on the top of the head to complete the reindeer cookies. Repeat for all cookies.
Tips for making Reindeer Cookies:
- When you put the antler pretzels on the top, they will not stay in position until dry. You need to prop something under the pretzel to hold it up. In this case, I just used a row of non chocolate coated Nutter Butter cookies because they were the perfect height. In about 20 minutes when the chocolate is set, you can remove and voila – they are hardened and staying in place on their own.
- Also, don’t worry too much about the legs, as long as the melted chocolate is touching the melted chocolate on the body, it will dry together. It will seem wobbly and not great while wet, but once it sets it will be perfect.
What special items do you need to make Reindeer Cookies?
- Peanut butter cookie (like Nutter Butters) for the reindeer cookies body.
- Regular mini pretzels for the antlers and pretzel sticks for the legs
- Brown candy melts or almond bark for the chocolate coating
- Eye candies for the reindeer cookie eyes
- Red M&M Candy for nose
Like holiday desserts as much as me?!?! Checkout these other delicious recipe ideas!
- Shortcut White Chocolate Peppermint Sugar Cookies
- Sugar Cookie Fudge
- Cranberry White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies
- 30+ Christmas Cookies
- Extra egg whites? I love egg white recipes and these Simple Merengue Cookies are perfect for the holidays!
- Chocolate Peppermint Cheesecake with Chocolate Ganache
- Cranberry Cheesecake (Slow Cooker)
Holiday Reindeer Cookies are easy no-bake cookies that the whole family will love! They're fun to make, and perfect for parties and cookie exchanges!
- 24 peanut butter sandwich cookies
- 2 cups melted milk chocolate (either a whole bag of morsels or about a ½ brick of almond bark, or chocolate candy melts) , melted according to package directions
- 1 TBS crisco
- 12 stick pretzels snapped in half
- 24 mini pretzels
- 24 red circular candies , I used M&Ms
- 24 eye candies
- Parchement paper for laying the cookies
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Add crisco to the bowl of melted chocolate and stir until well combined; set aside.
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Working one cookie at a time, dip a cookie into the melted chocolate (I just used a fork and tapped excess chocolate before placing on paper) and place onto the parchment paper.
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Dip the bottom of the mini pretzel in chocolate and stick on the top as the antlers.
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Dip the tips of the straight pretzels into the chocolate and stick those against the ‘body’.
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Dab a tiny bit of chocolate on the red candy and place it on the nose. Set the eye candy on the top of the head (you shouldn't have to add chocolate for this step).
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Repeat for all cookies.
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Allow at least 30 minutes to dry, but the longer the better.
- Just a tip, when you put the antler pretzels on the top, they will not stay in position until dry. You need to prop something under the pretzel to hold it up. In this case, I just used a row of non chocolate coated Nutter Butter cookies because they were the perfect height. In about 20 minutes when the chocolate is set, you can remove and voila – they are hardened and staying in place on their own.
- Also, don’t worry too much about the legs, as long as the melted chocolate is touching the melted chocolate on the body, it will dry together. It will seem wobbly and not great while wet, but once it sets it will be perfect.
Originally published Nov. 2015, updated Dec. 2019
Dorothy Reinhold
Well those are just adorable! This will be so fun to make with the kiddos!
Michelle
How cute are these?!!! I have a feeling the kids are going to love making these with their little nieces and nephews over the holidays!
Vikki
Oh how fun! These look so cute
Tiffany La Forge-Grau
These are so cute!! A lot easier than I expected as well! My nieces will be helping me make them!
Beth
We always do a big baking day each year as well! These would be so fun to make with the kids!
Sandra
This was really a huge hit with my kids!
Jacquie
These are the cutest cookies I’ve ever seen 🥰 Can’t wait to make them!