Jolly Holiday Reindeer Recipe: Festive Fun for Christmas Magic

Sweet treats meet holiday magic with this delightful christmas reindeer recipe that captures the spirit of festive celebrations.

Chocolate and creativity blend perfectly to create adorable edible decorations.

Cute little reindeer treats will spark joy at any seasonal gathering.

Kids and adults alike will fall in love with these charming desserts.

Each bite brings a playful touch of Christmas cheer.

Decorating these treats becomes a delightful family activity that creates lasting memories.

You’ll love how simple yet impressive these festive delights can be.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 12 minutes

Total Time: 32 minutes

Calories: 200 kcal

Servings: 25

Ingredients For Christmas Reindeer Snacks

• All-Purpose Flour: Provides structure and softness to the cookie, choose unbleached flour for better texture.
• Baking Powder: Helps cookies rise and become light, ensure it's fresh for optimal leavening.
• Salt: Enhances overall flavor and balances sweetness, use fine-grain table salt.

• Butter: Creates rich, tender cookie base, use room temperature unsalted butter for smooth mixing.
• Sugar: Adds sweetness and helps cookies brown, select granulated white sugar for consistent results.
• Egg: Binds ingredients and adds moisture, use large, fresh eggs at room temperature.
• Vanilla Extract: Provides warm, aromatic flavor, choose pure vanilla for best taste.

• Mini Pretzels: Creates adorable reindeer antlers, select crisp, intact pretzels.
• Mini Chocolate Chips: Forms cute reindeer eyes, dark chips work best for contrast.
• Red or Brown Candy: Makes playful reindeer nose, choose small round candies like M&Ms.

Supplies Needed For Christmas Reindeer Fun

• Large Mixing Bowl: Essential for combining butter, sugar, egg, and vanilla.
• Electric Mixer or Whisk: Perfect for creaming butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
• Separate Mixing Bowl: Needed for whisking dry ingredients.
• Baking Sheets: Use to bake and hold cookies during preparation.
• Parchment Paper: Prevents cookies from sticking and ensures easy cleanup.
• Tablespoon or Cookie Scoop: Helps create uniform cookie sizes.
• Wire Cooling Rack: Allows cookies to cool evenly and crisp up.
• Spatula or Wooden Spoon: Useful for mixing ingredients and scraping bowl sides.

How To Make Christmas Reindeer Treats

• Warm Up the Oven

Crank your oven to a toasty 350F and line baking trays with parchment paper for smooth cookie sliding.

• Whip Up the Base

Grab your mixer and blend butter and sugar until they turn cloud-like and fluffy. Splash in egg and vanilla, stirring until everything looks super smooth.

• Craft Cookie Dough

Gently fold flour, baking powder, and salt into your creamy mixture. Mix until a soft, touchable dough emerges.

• Shape Reindeer Foundations

Roll small dough balls and place them on your prepared trays. Softly press each ball down to create a perfect base for magical transformations.

• Give Cookies Personality

Stick mini pretzels into the top of each cookie for adorable antlers. Drop tiny chocolate chips as sparkling eyes and add a festive candy nose – red or brown works great!

• Bake to Golden Perfection

Pop the trays into the oven and bake for 10-12 minutes until edges turn a gorgeous golden color.

• Cool and Celebrate

Let cookies rest on the tray for a quick 5 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack. Your reindeer cookies are ready to delight everyone!

Creative Twists For Christmas Reindeer Goodies

• Baking Brilliance: Tips to Make Your Reindeer Cookies Shine
• Dough Consistency Magic: Keep butter slightly soft but not melted for perfect cookie texture. If dough feels too sticky, chill for 15-20 minutes before shaping.
• Decorating Pro Tricks: Use tweezers for precise candy and chocolate chip placement. Gently press decorations to ensure they stick during baking.
• Dairy-Free Delight: Swap butter with coconut oil or vegan margarine for a lactose-free version. Use dairy-free chocolate chips and candies to complete the transformation.
• Creative Nose Options: Replace traditional red or brown candy nose with colored royal icing, mini M&Ms, or a sprinkle of red sugar for different festive looks.
• Storage Savvy: Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. Layer between parchment paper to prevent sticking and maintain decorative details.

Serving Ideas For Christmas Reindeer Snacks

• Festive Cookie Platter: Create a charming holiday display by arranging the reindeer cookies in a circular pattern on a festive red or green platter, perfect for Christmas gatherings.
• Sweet Holiday Gift: Package these adorable reindeer cookies in clear cellophane bags tied with ribbons, making delightful homemade gifts for teachers, neighbors, or family friends.
• Milk and Cookies Station: Set up a fun Christmas-themed station with a cute mug, a small pitcher of milk, and these playful reindeer cookies for a whimsical dessert experience that kids and adults will love.
• Dessert Pairing Magic: Serve these cookies alongside hot cocoa or mulled cider to enhance the cozy holiday mood and create a memorable treat that captures the spirit of the season.

Storage Tips For Christmas Reindeer Creations

• Smart Cookie Storage: Keep cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for 5-7 days, ensuring a crisp texture and fresh flavor.
• Freezing Magic: Layer cookies between parchment paper in a freezer-safe container. Freeze up to 3 months for quick holiday treats anytime.
• Quick Thawing Trick: Remove frozen cookies and let them sit at room temperature for 15-20 minutes before serving. They'll taste just as delicious as freshly baked.
• Make-Ahead Mastermind: Prepare cookie dough ahead and refrigerate for 2-3 days or freeze unbaked dough balls for up to 1 month. Simply thaw and bake when needed for instant festive cheer.

Festive Christmas Reindeer Recipe

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4.9 from 10 reviews

• Total Time: 32 minutes
• Yield: 25 1x

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Description

Santa’s magical Christmas Reindeer Cookies blend festive cheer with delightful nutmeg and cinnamon flavors. Chocolate antler decorations and cheerful red-nosed designs bring holiday spirit to cookie platters you’ll love sharing.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 2 ½ cups (310 g / 10.9 oz) all-purpose flour
• 1 cup (225 g / 8 oz) unsalted butter (softened)
• 1 cup (200 g / 7 oz) granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• Mini pretzels (for antlers)
• Mini chocolate chips (for eyes)
• Red or brown candy-coated chocolates (like M&Ms, for noses)

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Instructions

1. Prepare Baking Environment: Preheat oven to 350F (175C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper, creating an optimal surface for even baking.
2. Create Dough Base: Whip butter and sugar in a large mixing bowl until fluffy and pale, establishing a smooth foundation for the cookie mixture.
3. Bind Wet Ingredients: Blend egg and vanilla extract into the butter-sugar mixture, ensuring a harmonious and consistent texture.
4. Combine Dry Components: Sift flour, baking powder, and salt together, eliminating potential clumps and creating a uniform dry mixture.
5. Form Cookie Dough: Gently incorporate dry ingredients into wet mixture, folding until a soft, malleable dough forms without overmixing.
6. Shape and Decorate Cookies: Roll dough into small balls, placing them on prepared sheets with ample spacing, then slightly flatten each one.
7. Assemble Reindeer Features: Position mini pretzels as antlers, strategically place mini chocolate chips for eyes, and add a festive red or brown candy nose to each cookie.
8. Bake and Cool: Bake in preheated oven for 10-12 minutes until edges turn golden, then allow cookies to rest on baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack for complete cooling.

Notes

• Precision Mixing: Cream butter and sugar until fluffy and pale to ensure light, tender cookie texture with maximum flavor integration.
• Temperature Control: Allow ingredients to reach room temperature before mixing, which helps create smoother dough and more consistent baking results.
• Strategic Spacing: Place cookies 2 inches apart on baking sheet to prevent spreading and maintain individual reindeer shape during baking process.
• Decoration Technique: Apply decorative elements like pretzels and chocolate chips gently and symmetrically before baking to ensure they adhere properly and create a charming reindeer appearance.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 12 minutes
• Category: Snacks, Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 25
• Calories: 200
• Sugar: 8 g
• Sodium: 50 mg
• Fat: 10 g
• Saturated Fat: 6 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 26 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 2 g
• Cholesterol: 30 mg