These Reindeer Cookies are perfect for the holidays! Made with just a few simple ingredients, they’re soft, chewy, and full of festive flavor, plus the kids will love helping you make them.
If you love Grinch Cookies you may also enjoy these holiday cookies. Loaded with chocolate chips, these chewy cookies are then decorated to look like Santa’s favorite pet, making them perfect for your Christmas cookie exchange.
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Christmas Cookies
While these cookies may not be the healthiest food you’ve ever put in your mouth, they do have chocolate in them and chocolate has antioxidants. So, we can pretend like it’s healthy right?
Why I Love This Recipe
These cookies are a perfect way to celebrate the holidays! These soft, chewy treats have an aroma that will make your mouth water and taste buds happy.
- Ready in under 30 minutes
- Easy to make
- Always a hit at parties
- Fills the house with a delicious aroma
If you love festive Christmas cookie recipes, you may also enjoy these Snowman Nutter Butter Cookies.
Ingredients
You only need a few simple ingredients to make this easy recipe. Most of the ingredients are common baking ingredients that you most likely already have on hand, which can help you avoid a trip to the grocery store.
- Butter: I like to use unsalted butter when I am baking homemade cookies.
- Brown Sugar: Dark brown sugar works well in this recipe.
- Chocolate Chips: I like to use semi-sweet chocolate chips for this tasty cookie recipe.
- Vanilla extract: When baking I prefer to use pure vanilla extract for the best flavor.
Substitutions
Butter: I like to use unsalted butter when baking, but salted butter can be a great swap.
Brown sugar: I used dark brown sugar because it adds a little extra moisture and sweetness, but light brown sugar can be used instead.
Variations / Options / Add-Ins
Here are a few ways that you can personalize this recipe to suit your taste buds.
Peanut Butter: Mix in 1/2 cup of creamy peanut butter for a peanut butter cookie.
Rudolph Nose: Use a red M&M to give the reindeer Rudolph’s nose.
Festive Sprinkles: Add some holiday sprinkles to the dough for a little extra festive flavor.
Equipment Needed / Helpful Tools
You only need a couple of kitchen tools to help you make these festive cookies.
- cookie sheet – I like to use a nonstick cookie sheet or baking sheet to make these adorable cookies
- wire rack – allow the cookies to cool on a wire rack to prevent the bottoms from browning too much
How to Make Reindeer Cookies
Making these cookies is so simple. Just follow the instructions below and you will have a tasty treat in no time at all.
Step 1: Preheat the oven
Heat oven to 375ยฐF and grease a cookie sheet.
Step 2: Cream together the wet ingredients
Beat butter, sugars, eggs, and vanilla in a large bowl until light and fluffy.
Step 3: Stir in the dry ingredients
Stir in flour and baking soda until well blended. Add chocolate chips; mix well.
Step 4: Place the cookie dough on the cookie sheets
Drop tablespoonfuls of dough, 2 inches apart, onto baking sheets.
Step 5: Bake the cookies
Bake for 10 to 12 min. or until lightly browned.
Step 6: Cool and decorate the cookies
Remove from oven and immediately press in the pretzel “antlers” and the M&M eyes and noses.
Serving Suggestions
I love to serve these sweet treats with our favorite holiday staples like Christmas Poke Cake or these Christmas Hot Cocoa Cookies.
Pro Tips
Here are a few tips to help you make these tasty treats.
- Place the cookie dough balls on a silicone baking mat or parchment paper for easy cleanup.
- For perfectly round cookies, use a small ice cream scoop to portion out the dough.
- Do not overbake the cookies. You want them to be lightly browned and still soft in the center.
- Instead of using M&M’s you could also use candy eyes or pipe on a face with chocolate frosting or melted chocolate.
- Mini pretzels or regular pretzel twists work best for this recipe.
FAQs
Do you have questions about this recipe? Here are the answers to the most commonly asked questions about this recipe.
ย Store these cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.ย
Yes, you can! Place the cookies in a freezer-safe bag or container for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before serving.ย
Yes, you can use your favorite premade cookie dough instead of making the dough yourself.ย
More Cookie Recipes
If you like cookies, give these recipes a try:
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๐ Recipe
Reindeer Cookies
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Equipment
- Large bowl
- cookie sheets
- Electric mixer
- cooling rack
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter softened
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 2-1/4 cups flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 cups chocolate chips
- 24 pretzels
- 24 red or brown M&Ms
- 48 brown blue, and green M&Ms
Instructions
- Heat oven to 375ยฐF.
- Beat butter, sugars, eggs and vanilla in large bowl until light and fluffy. Stir in flour and baking soda until well blended. Add chocolate chips; mix well.
- Drop tablespoonfuls of dough, 2 inches apart, onto baking sheets.
- Bake 10 to 12 min. or until lightly browned. Remove from oven and immediately press in the pretzel “antlers” and the M&M eyes and noses.
Video
Notes
- Place the cookie dough balls on a silicone baking mat or parchment paper for easy cleanup.
- For perfectly round cookies, use a small ice cream scoop to portion out the dough.
- Do not overbake the cookies. You want them to be lightly browned and still soft in the center.
- Instead of using M&M’s you could also use candy eyes or pipe on a face with chocolate frosting or melted chocolate.
- Mini pretzels or regular pretzel twists work best for this recipe.