Easy Reindeer Christmas Cookies (Great for Sharing!)
Get ready to add a dash of whimsy to your holiday baking with these adorable Reindeer Christmas Cookies. Not only are they incredibly cute, but they’re also easy to make. Perfect for Christmas parties, cookie swaps, or a fun activity with the kids, these cookies are sure to bring a smile to everyone’s face.
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Why You Will Love Making Reindeer Cookies
- These cookies are a breeze to whip up. With simple ingredients like all-purpose flour, butter, and granulated sugar, you likely have everything you need in your pantry already. The dough comes together in no time, and the decorating is where the real fun begins. Kids especially will love adding the pretzel antlers and pencil candy-drawn eyes, making each reindeer cookie a unique creation.
- Whether you’re hosting a Christmas party, attending a cookie swap, or just want to bake something special for Christmas Eve, these Reindeer Christmas Cookies are the perfect choice. They’re not only delicious but also double as festive décor for your holiday table.
- While the cuteness factor is undeniable, these cookies are also scrumptious. The combination of buttery cookie dough with the sweet crunch of pretzels and the richness of white chocolate ensures that these treats taste as good as they look. They’re sure to satisfy both your taste buds and your Instagram followers.
- Baking this Christmas Cookie recipe could become your new Christmas tradition. Imagine making these year after year, with each batch telling a story of your family’s holiday season. It’s the little traditions like this that often hold the most cherished memories.
- You don’t need any fancy kitchen gadgets to make these cookies. A mixing bowl, baking sheet, and some parchment paper are all it takes. The simplicity makes them even more appealing, especially during the busy holiday season.
- There’s room for creativity with these cookies. Feel free to experiment with different decorations. Use mini chocolate chips for chocolate chip eyes or red candies for Rudolph’s nose. Each cookie can be a unique reflection of your creativity, making the baking process even more enjoyable.
Ingredients You’ll Need
You’ll need all the ingredients in the photograph below.
How to Make Reindeer Cookies with Step-by-Step Instructions
A complete printable recipe and the measurements in both US customary and metric are available in the recipe card below.
Preparing the Cookie Dough
Start by preheating your oven to 180ºC (356ºF). In a large mixing bowl, cream together the granulated sugar and softened butter using an electric mixer until the mixture is soft and fluffy.
This is the base of your cookie dough, so make sure it’s well combined. Next, beat the egg and vanilla extract until the mixture is smooth and well incorporated.
Forming the Cookies
Once your wet ingredients are mixed, it’s time to add the all-purpose flour and salt. Mix these in with a spoon just until combined to avoid overworking the dough.
Then, transfer the dough to a working surface and flatten it into a ½-inch thick rectangle. Cut the dough into 2-inch x ½ inch rectangles, which will form the faces of your reindeer.
Baking and Cooling
Shape the rectangles into reindeer faces using your fingers. Once shaped, place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone mat.
Bake cookies for 10 minutes or until they’re lightly browned. After baking, transfer them to a cooling rack and let them cool completely before decorating. This ensures that your decorations won’t melt off!
Decorating Your Reindeer
Now for the fun part! Melt white chocolate in a bain-marie or a microwave-safe bowl in 30-second increments, stirring in between until smooth. Cut the mini pretzel twists in half for the antlers.
Make two small holes in the sides of each cookie, dip the pretzel halves in the melted chocolate, and insert them into the holes as antlers. Let the chocolate set.
Dip the cooled cookies into the melted white chocolate, covering them partially or completely, based on your preference. Place them back on the parchment paper to set.
Use red and black candy pencils to draw eyes and noses on your reindeer, bringing them to life.
Enjoy Your Creations
Once the chocolate and decorations have set, your adorable Reindeer Cookies are ready to be enjoyed.
Serve them on a platter at your Christmas party, package them up for a cookie swap, or leave them out for Santa on Christmas Eve. They’re sure to be a hit wherever they go!
Recipe Notes and Expert Tips
- Getting the Dough Right: The consistency of your cookie dough is key. If your dough is too sticky, add a little more flour, a tablespoon at a time. If it’s too dry, a splash of milk can help. You’re aiming for a pliable dough that holds its shape when molded.
- Baking Tips: Keep an eye on your cookies as they bake. Oven temperatures can vary, and you don’t want to overbake these treats. They should be lightly browned and still soft to the touch. They’ll firm up as they cool, so don’t worry if they seem a bit soft when you first take them out of the oven.
- Decorating Details: For the eyes and nose, you can get creative. While candy pencils are great for drawing, mini chocolate chips, M&M’s, candy eyes, or other small candies can work just as well. If you’re using two chocolate chips for the eyes, press them into the cookies as soon as they are covered in white chocolate so that they stick. For the antlers, you can even try chocolate-covered pretzels for extra chocolatey goodness.
- Can I Use Different Types of Chocolate for Decorating? Of course! Feel free to use milk, dark, or even colored chocolate to add your own twist to these cookies. Each type of chocolate can give a different flavor and look to your reindeer creations.
- Working with White Chocolate: Melting white chocolate can be a bit tricky as it can seize if overheated. Make sure to melt it slowly, stirring frequently. If you’re using a microwave, those 30-second bursts are crucial. Don’t rush this step, and you’ll have smooth, melt-in-your-mouth chocolate perfect for dipping.
- Making Ahead: If you’re planning ahead, you can make the cookie dough up to two days in advance. Keep it wrapped in plastic wrap in the fridge. When you’re ready to bake, let it sit at room temperature for a bit to soften, making it easier to shape.
- Other cookie flavors: Feel free to get creative with your cookie flavors! Add a little creamy peanut butter to make peanut butter cookies, or some cinnamon for a snickerdoodle flair.
How to Store Leftover Reindeer Cookies
If you’re making ahead, then here are our top tips for storing them to maximize freshness.
Room Temperature Storage
For short-term storage, an airtight container at room temperature is perfect for storing reindeer cookies.
Place a piece of waxed paper or parchment paper between layers of cookies to prevent them from sticking together. Stored this way at room temperature, your cookies should stay fresh for up to a week.
Keeping Them Crunchy
If you live in a particularly humid area, you might find that your cookies soften over time.
To combat this, you can toss a piece of bread into the container with your cookies. The bread will absorb excess moisture and help keep your cookies crisp.
Freezing for Longer
For long-term storage, freezing is an option. Once the chocolate and decorations have fully set, transfer the cookies to a freezer-safe container, again using waxed paper between layers to prevent sticking.
Frozen, your cookies will stay fresh for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to enjoy them, just let them thaw at room temperature for a couple of hours.
Avoiding Condensation
If you’re storing your cookies in the refrigerator or freezer, let them come to room temperature before opening the container. This helps prevent condensation from forming, which can make your cookies soggy.
What to Serve with Reindeer Cookies
Why not pair your Christmas cookies with one of our tasty suggestions?
Warm Beverages
A hot cup of cocoa or coffee makes an excellent companion to these sweet treats.
Nothing beats sipping on a warm beverage while the chocolatey goodness of the cookie melts in your mouth. For the little ones, a mug of warm milk or apple cider pairs just as nicely.
Ice Cream Delight
For a decadent dessert, serve your fun Reindeer Cookies with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. The contrast between the cool, creamy ice cream and the rich, crunchy cookies is truly divine.
Fruit and Cheese
Balance the sweetness of the cookies with a platter of fresh fruits and assorted cheeses. The tanginess of the fruit and the sharpness of the cheese provide a delightful contrast to the sweet cookies, making for a well-rounded snack platter.
We love making cheese balls for festive parties. Try our Mini Goat Cheese Balls (they’re super festive-looking!), Pineapple Cheese Ball, or stick with the Classic Cheese Ball Recipe!
Nutty Companions
Nuts like almonds, pecans, or walnuts not only complement the flavor profile of the cookies but also add a satisfying crunch – check out these celery reindeer with a peanut butter crunch. Whether you serve them roasted or candied, they’re sure to be a hit.
More Christmas Recipes For You To Try
- Christmas Tree Sugar Cookies
- Christmas Sugar Cookies
- How to Make Sugar Cookies Without Butter
- Candy Cane Caprese Board
- Cranberry Brie Bites
Quick and Easy Air Fryer Reindeer Cookies
Ingredients
For the cookies:
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup butter softened
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon salt
To assemble:
- 1 cup white chocolate
- ¼ cup mini-pretzels
- Red and black candy pencils
Instructions
For the cookies:
- Preheat the air fryer to 350°F/180ºC.
- Cream sugar and butter with an electric mixer until soft. Add the egg and vanilla and continue mixing until well incorporated. Add the flour and salt and mix with a spoon just until combined.1 cup granulated sugar, 1 cup butter, 1 egg, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 3 cups all-purpose flour, ½ teaspoon salt
- Transfer to a working surface and flatten to a ½ inch rectangle. Cut in 2-inch x ½ inch rectangles.
- Form the reindeer shapes with your fingers and place on the AF basket lined with paper and bake at 180ºC for 7 minutes. Transfer to a cooling rack and let them cool.
- Melt the white chocolate in a bain marie or a microwave-safe bowl in 30 second increments.1 cup white chocolate
- Cut the mini pretzels in half, make two holes in the sides of the cookies, dip the pretzel in the chocolate and place in the holes. Once they dry, dip the reindeers in the chocolate and let them cool.¼ cup mini-pretzels
- Decorate with red and black candy pencils for the eyes and nose. Serve and enjoy!Red and black candy pencils
Notes
-
- Melting Chocolate: When melting your chocolate (or chocolate candy melts), make sure to do it gently. If you’re using a microwave, those 30-second bursts are key to preventing the chocolate from burning. Stir in between each burst to ensure even melting.
- Working with the Dough: If your dough is too sticky, don’t hesitate to dust your hands and the surface with a little flour. This will make it easier to shape your reindeer cookies without the dough sticking everywhere.
- Getting Creative with Decorations: Feel free to personalize your reindeer. You can use different colored candy pencils for the eyes and nose, a red m&m for the nose, candy eyes or mini chocolate chips for the eyes, or even add little scarves using colored frosting. Remember, each reindeer can have its own personality!
- Air Fryer Settings: All air fryers are a bit different, so if you know yours runs hot, adjust the temperature slightly lower. Keep an eye on the cookies the first time you make them to get a feel for how your particular air fryer cooks.
- What if I don’t have an air fryer? No air fryer, no problem! You can bake these cookies in a regular oven. Check out our Reindeer Cookies Recipe for all of our tips and tricks!
How to Store Leftover Air Fryer Reindeer Cookies
- Airtight Containers: The key to keeping your cookies fresh is to store them in an airtight container. This prevents them from going stale and maintains their texture.
- Room Temperature is Best: Store your cookies at room temperature. They’ll stay good for up to a week, which is perfect if you’re planning to snack on them or have guests coming over.
- Freezing: If you’ve made a big batch and want to save some for later, these cookies freeze well. Just wrap them up tightly and pop them in the freezer for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to enjoy, let them thaw at room temperature.
Nutrition
Disclaimer
Please note that nutrient values are estimates only. Variations can occur due to product availability and manner of food preparation. Nutrition may vary based on methods of origin, preparation, freshness of ingredients, and other factors.
