Turn an ordinary chocolate brownie-mix cookie into an adorable Rudolph cookie using mini pretzels, chocolate chips, and red M&Ms. These cheerful reindeer treats are an easy, festive snack that’s perfect for holiday parties and baking with kids.
I didn’t plan these reindeer cookies ahead of time – they were a happy accident. I pulled a batch of brownie-mix cookies from the oven and spotted mini pretzels in the pantry. I pressed a couple of pretzels, two chocolate chips and a red M&M into the warm cookies and suddenly had a tray of playful Rudolphs. They’re quick to make and great for last-minute holiday baking.
Why You’ll Love this Recipe
With just a few pantry ingredients and a little creativity, you’ll have charming holiday cookies in no time. They’re wonderfully approachable for beginners and a fun, supervised activity for children. The decorations are forgiving, so every cookie comes out full of personality.
Ingredients
- One batch of brownie-mix cookies (use your favorite boxed or homemade brownie-cookie recipe)
- Mini pretzels (for antlers)
- Chocolate chips (for eyes)
- Red M&Ms (for noses)
Instructions for Rudolph Cookies
- Prepare the brownie-mix cookie dough and bake according to the recipe you’re using.
- Right after you remove the cookies from the oven and while they are still warm and soft, gently press the garnish onto each cookie:
- 2 pretzel pieces for antlers
- 2 chocolate chips for eyes
- 1 red M&M for the nose
- Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet until they are firm enough to transfer, then move them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Tips & Tricks
- Work quickly but gently when pressing the candies into the cookies. Warm cookies accept the toppings best.
- Place chocolate chips with care; if they begin to melt from your fingers or from the cookie heat, they can smear if moved again.
- The position of the eyes really changes the expression. For a friendly look, place the chocolate chips fairly close together with the red nose centered just beneath.
Substitutions
If you prefer, use candy googly eyes instead of chocolate chips for a whimsical look. If you can’t press decorations into warm cookies, you can attach them after cooling using a small dab of icing or melted chocolate as “glue.” Both approaches work well.
How to Serve Rudolph Reindeer Cookies
These cookies look delightful on any holiday platter. For a vintage vibe, arrange them on an old cookie sheet lined with crumpled parchment and scatter a few festive candies around the tray. They also make a fun centerpiece for a cookie board shared with friends and family.
Equipment
No special equipment is required—just your usual cookie-baking tools: baking sheet, mixing bowl, spoon or scoop, and a wire cooling rack. If you like, use small tongs or the back of a spoon to help place tiny decorations neatly.
Storage
Because of the pretzel “antlers,” these cookies can be a bit fragile. Layer them carefully in a wide, shallow airtight container with parchment between layers to avoid crushing. They keep at room temperature for about three days. For longer storage, you can freeze them flat with parchment between layers and thaw gently before serving.
Other Christmas Cookie Recipes
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- Never Fail Fudge
- 5-Minute Microwave Condensed Milk Fudge
- Chocolate Marshmallow Log
- Cranberry Lemon Bars
- Jam Sandwich Cookies (a shortcut recipe)
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- Snowflake Cookies
- Glazed Fresh Apple Cookies
- Easy Frosting for Sugar Cookies
- No-Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies
- Brownie Mix Cookies
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These reindeer cookies are included in a holiday cookie collection—if you enjoy making holiday treats, collect a few favorite recipes and keep them handy for celebrations, gifting, or baking with kids.
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If you make these Rudolph cookies, share a photo with family and friends—they’re a simple, joyful way to add personality and festive cheer to holiday baking.
Rudolph Cookies
A fun, quick way to turn brownie-mix cookies into festive reindeer using pretzels, chocolate chips and red candies.
Ingredients
- 1 batch brownie-mix cookies
- Mini pretzels
- Chocolate chips
- Red M&Ms
Instructions
- Mix and bake brownie-mix cookies according to the recipe you’re using.
- When cookies are freshly out of the oven, gently press on two pretzels for antlers, two chocolate chips for eyes, and one red M&M for a nose.
- Cool on the pan briefly, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.