These adorable reindeer cookies start with store-bought Milano cookies, so there's no baking and absolutely no arguing with cookie dough. Pretzel antlers, candy eyes, and M&M noses turn them into an adorable Christmas treat in just a few minutes. They're easy enough for kids to help with and festive enough for cookie trays, parties, or leaving out for Santa. Best of all, the oven gets the night off.
Table of Contents
This post may contain affiliate links. If you grab something through them, I earn a small commission-at no extra cost to you-and I appreciate it more than good coffee.
🥰 Is this easy reindeer cookies recipe for you?
- You want maximum Christmas cute for minimum kitchen effort.
- You want something easy enough for kids to help decorate without having to call in a trauma scene cleanup team.
- You need a fun addition to Christmas cookie trays, classroom parties, or holiday get-togethers.
- You firmly believe pretzels, Milano cookies, and M&Ms count as crafting supplies in December.
🧾 Ingredients
You only need a handful of easy-to-find ingredients to turn store-bought cookies into a small herd of edible reindeer. Here's what to grab before Rudolph starts making demands.
- Milano cookies - The long oval shape is perfect for reindeer faces, plus we're letting Pepperidge Farm handle the baking. Very efficient and easy on the electric bill.
- Small pretzel twists - Break these into pieces to make the antlers. Embrace imperfection. Reindeer aren't known for symmetry.
- White chocolate or candy melts - This is our edible glue for holding the whole thing together.
- Brown and red M&M's - Brown for the regular herd and red for Rudolph, obviously.
- Candy eyes - Because without these, they're just cookies wearing pretzels.
- Decorative sprinkles - Optional, but Christmas has never been particularly interested in restraint.
📖 Recipe
No-Bake Reindeer Cookies
Print Pin Recipe Rate RecipeIngredients
- 15 Pepperidge Farm Milano cookies, 1 package
- 30 pretzels, plus extra for breakage
- 30 candy eyeballs
- 15 mini M&M candies
- ½ c white chocolate chips, or almond bark
Instructions
- Make the antlers. Carefully break the pretzels into antler-ish shapes. They do not have to match perfectly. Actual reindeer aren't out there measuring theirs with a ruler, either. You'll need two pieces for each cookie.
- Get the cookies ready. Arrange the Milano cookies on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Put them face-down for now since we're attaching the antlers to the back first.
- Melt the white chocolate. Microwave the white chocolate chips in 30-second intervals, stirring well after each one, until melted and smooth. Spoon it into a piping bag fitted with a small tip. No piping bag? A zip-top bag with the tiniest corner snipped off works just fine.
- Give them antlers. Pipe two dots of melted white chocolate near the top of each cookie and press a pretzel antler into each one. Add a little extra chocolate around the pretzels if they need more support. It's on the back, so nobody will know. Christmas secrets are still secrets.
- Let them set. Leave the cookies alone for about 10 minutes, or until the chocolate is firm and the antlers aren't trying to wander off. Gently flip the cookies over.
- Add the eyes. Use tiny dots of melted white chocolate to attach two candy eyes to each reindeer. Googly and slightly unhinged is completely acceptable.
- Add the noses. Attach a mini M&M near the bottom of each cookie with another dot of melted chocolate. Use red for Rudolph or brown for the rest of the herd.
- Let everything harden. Give your reindeer another 10 to 15 minutes for the chocolate to set completely. This is not the moment to poke them repeatedly to see if they're ready. We both know you're going to, but I've done my duty by warning you.
- Serve. That's it. You have a herd of no-bake reindeer cookies and haven't turned on the oven once. Christmas miracle achieved.
Notes
- Handle the reindeer by the cookie base rather than by the pretzel antlers to avoid breakage.
- Use tweezers for the candy eyes if your fingers suddenly become the size of Christmas hams when dealing with tiny decorations.
- The cookies on sticks were made by gently inserting extra long toothpicks in the center. It's a pain and if you're not shooting images for your food blog I suggest you don't bother. 🤣
Nutrition Facts
Nutrition information is estimated as a courtesy. If using for medical purposes, please verify information using your own nutritional calculator. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
This recipe has been tested several times. If you choose to use other ingredients, or change the technique in some way, the results may not be the same.
Love this recipe?
Subscribe to the free membership group and never miss another recipe!
🔪 How to make no-bake reindeer cookies
These no-bake reindeer cookies come together faster than you can untangle a string of Christmas lights. Here's how to assemble your herd.
- Prep the antlers. Break or cut the pretzels into antler shapes, then melt the white chocolate until smooth.
- Attach the antlers. Use a little melted white chocolate to secure two pretzel pieces to the back of each Milano cookie. Let them set until firm.
- Add the eyes. Pipe two small dots of melted white chocolate onto the front of each cookie and press the candy eyes into place.
- Add the nose. Attach a red or brown M&M with a dab of melted white chocolate, then let the cookies sit until everything is completely set.
The eyelashes were added to some of the reindeer with edible marker after the chocolate was completely hardened.
😱 What can go wrong (and how to fix it)
🦌 The pretzels keep breaking. They are tiny salted drama queens. Break or cut them gently and make a few extras because casualties are inevitable.
🦌 The antlers keep falling off. Use a little more melted white chocolate on the back of the cookie and let it set completely before flipping the cookie over to decorate the face.
🦌 The white chocolate is too thick. Warm it for another few seconds and stir well. If it gets overheated, it can seize, so short bursts are your friend here.
🦌 The eyes or M&M noses slide out of place. The chocolate is probably too warm. Let it cool and thicken slightly before attaching the decorations.
🦌 The cookies crack while you're working. Milano cookies can be a little delicate, so handle them gently and avoid pressing too hard when adding the pretzels or candy.
🦌 The reindeer look slightly deranged. Excellent. That's character. Candy eyes have never once respected the laws of facial symmetry.
👩🏻🍳 FAQs
Absolutely! Make them a day or two ahead and store them in an airtight container at room
temperature. Single-layer storage is best, but if layering the reindeer cookies is necessary,
use a sheet of parchment to separate the layers.
Yes. Any firm, oval-shaped cookie will work. Choose one that is sturdy enough to support
the pretzels, like Nutter Butters or Keebler Vienna Fingers.
Can I use icing to attach the decorations instead of using melted chocolate?
You can… BUT (!!!) Melted chocolate will harden more firmly and do a much better job of
holding the antlers, eyes, and noses in place. I tried using both decorators icing and royal
icing when testing this, but the cookies were much more fragile.
🍽 More Christmas cookie recipes
🏡 These easy reindeer cookies are proof that Christmas treats don't require an afternoon of baking and a kitchen dusted in flour. A package of Milano cookies, a few pretzel antlers, and some candy decorations are all it takes to put an entire herd on your cookie tray. Make a few Rudolphs, give everybody slightly questionable googly eyes, and then go watch a Hallmark movie. Flannel shirt guy is waiting.
Comments
No Comments