Holiday gatherings wouldn’t be complete without a plate of sweet and simple treats. The good news is that you don’t need to spend hours in the kitchen or scouring your pantry for exotic ingredients to create these charming Nutter Butter reindeer cookies. With their cute antlers made from pretzels, these no-bake Christmas cookies are sure to bring joy to both kids and adults. As a bonus, they’re incredibly easy to prepare, making them perfect for even the most novice baker. If you’re a fan of peanut butter cookies, you’ll adore these adorable holiday treats that are sure to become a new tradition at your gatherings.
How to Make Nutter Butter Reindeer
Transform regular-sized pretzels into mini antlers by breaking them up slightly. If you’re limited to standard-sized pretzels, take it up a notch and break those down even more to achieve proportionate reindeer antlers atop the cookies.
Melt the chocolate chips in the microwave for about a minute, then stir in some coconut oil to create a smooth blend.
Coat the cookies with the melted chocolate mixture using a spatula or popsicle sticks, ensuring an even spread. Embellish the easy holiday reindeer cookie treats with pretzels, crimson M&Ms (for that iconic nose), and edible eyeballs. This delightful recipe for Nutter Butter Christmas cookies embodies the spirit of the season.
If the chocolate sets before you can add the decorations, simply melt a bit more to secure the candies in place. As it dries, this will hold them steady. To avoid any hiccups, work efficiently when decorating these simple yet charming Christmas treats!
Allow the easy holiday reindeer cookie treats about an hour to dry before serving. Place them on a cookie tray or baking sheet lined with wax paper or parchment paper.
How to Serve These Easy Holiday Treats
What’s more festive than a platter of adorable reindeer cookies? These sweet treats are perfect for holiday gatherings or as a special indulgence. Pair them with your favorite beverage – from steaming cups of coffee to creamy milk or even a Christmas-themed cocktail like the Grinch’s own drink. The best part? These easy-to-make reindeer cookies require no baking, making them a stress-free addition to any festive gathering. With their endearing eyes and irresistible charm, it’s no wonder this recipe stands out from the pack of no-bake cookie recipes.
Why you Add Coconut Oil to the Chocolate
When it comes to creating a smooth and glossy chocolate coating, there are two key factors at play. Firstly, adding a stabilizer helps the chocolate set and harden properly, rather than leaving it with an dull matte finish. Secondly, this addition allows the chocolate to reach its optimal consistency, making it perfect for a variety of applications.
One such application is in the realm of desserts. Coconut oil’s rapid setting properties make it an excellent choice for adding a professional touch to treats like Nutter Butter reindeer, chocolate-dipped strawberries or Magic Shell – the kind of chocolate that sets instantly when touched to ice cream. Its fast-setting nature also makes it ideal for creating a stable and durable coating.
If you don’t have coconut oil on hand, or prefer not to use it, there are several alternatives you can employ. Olive oil, melted butter, or cocoa butter all work as effective substitutes, provided the same amount is used. This ensures that your chocolate coating maintains its desired consistency and appearance.
Easy Holiday Reindeer Cookie Treats FAQs
While it’s best to enjoy these Christmas cookies fresh and on the same day, sometimes making treats in advance is necessary for holiday gatherings. Fortunately, these adorable cookies with eyes can be stored for up to five days if kept in an airtight container at room temperature. If you’re planning a party or want to keep them out of reach from little hands, this window allows for some flexibility. Just be prepared for them to vanish quickly, especially if you have kids helping with the treats!
Holiday Reindeer Cookie Recipe
Easy Holiday Reindeer Cookie Treats
These festive Nutter Butter reindeer cookies are a cinch to whip up and require minimal ingredients, making them an ideal Christmas treat for holiday gatherings. Whether you’re a peanut butter aficionado or just looking for a quick and easy cookie option, these no-bake wonders won’t disappoint. With only 29 minutes of prep time required, you can have your 32 cookies ready in under an hour and a half – perfect for parties or Santa’s stocking!
Instructions
To start crafting our reindeer-themed treats, let’s begin by dividing the mini pretzels in half and then snapping off their edges to create a rustic ‘antler’ look. Set these aside along with the edible eyeballs and red M&M’s, which we’ll use later. Next, melt 1 cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips in the microwave for 1 minute, stirring every 30 seconds until smooth and fully melted. Stir in an additional tablespoon of coconut oil to create a silky consistency. Now, grab a Nutter Butter cookie and dip its face into the melted chocolate mixture. Use an icing spatula to smooth out any excess chocolate before placing it onto a large tray or surface for decoration. Repeat this process with each cookie until they’re all coated in the rich chocolate goodness.Once our reindeer cookies are adorned with their chocolate ‘fur,’ quickly add the pretzel ‘antlers’ and edible eyeballs to the wet chocolate, taking care not to disturb the design. Allow these creations to sit for at least 1 hour to dry completely. Finally, once they’re fully set, arrange your reindeer treats on a festive plate or holiday platter and indulge in their sweet and crunchy goodness.
Notes
A clever trick to keep in mind is that if your melted chocolate has a chance to dry out before you can add your desired decorations, you can easily revive it by melting a small amount of additional chocolate chips. This ‘glue’ can be used to reattach any dried or separated chocolate pieces, allowing you to continue with your decorating process as planned.
