Description
These Peanut Butter Reindeer Cookies are as adorable as they are delicious! Soft peanut butter cookies are decorated to resemble reindeer with pretzel antlers, candy eyes, and a bright red candy nose. Perfect for holiday baking with kids or festive cookie exchanges!
Ingredients
Units
Scale
For the cookies:
- 1/2 cup (115 g) unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup (125 g) creamy peanut butter
- 1/2 cup (100 g) granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup (100 g) packed brown sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 1/4 cups (160 g) all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp salt
For decorating:
- Mini pretzels (for antlers)
- Candy eyes
- Red candy-coated chocolates (e.g., M&Ms for the nose)
Instructions
1. Make the cookie dough:
- In a large bowl, beat the butter, peanut butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar together until creamy.
- Mix in the egg and vanilla extract until combined.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until a soft dough forms.
2. Chill the dough:
- Cover the dough and refrigerate for 30 minutes to make it easier to handle.
3. Preheat the oven:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
4. Shape the cookies:
- Roll the dough into 1-inch balls and place them on the prepared baking sheets about 2 inches apart. Flatten each ball slightly with your hand or the bottom of a glass.
5. Bake the cookies:
- Bake for 8–10 minutes, or until the edges are set. The cookies will be soft but will firm up as they cool.
6. Decorate the cookies:
- While the cookies are still warm, press two mini pretzels at the top of each cookie to create antlers. Add two candy eyes and a red candy nose.
- Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
7. Serve and enjoy:
- Arrange the cookies on a festive platter or package them as holiday gifts.
Notes
- If the candy eyes or noses don’t stick well, use a small dab of melted chocolate or icing as glue.
- For a nut-free version, substitute sunflower seed butter for peanut butter.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.