Pretzel Reindeer Cookies are the sweetest cookie project that you can make with your kids this Christmas season. Perfect for a little holiday party or watching your favorite holiday movies.
These Pretzel Reindeer Cookies differ from the ones made with rolo candy because you are actually using cookies and do not have any of that melty mess that may happen with the rolo pretzel reindeer. Lets face it, the holidays are hard, therefore anytime we can do cute, easy projects that are also delicious then we are ahead of the game.
If you want even more ways to make the season bright, check out this amazing guide.
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What We Love About This Recipe
These reindeer sugar cookies are perfect to leave for Santa. Did you know that the first mention of Santa using Reindeer to pull his sleigh was in New York in the early 1800’s. Check out these cool Santa facts.
- Less than 30 Minutes: Fresh, warm cookies in less than 30 minutes.
- Simple Ingredients: Simple and easy ingredients to make these pretzel reindeer cookies.
- Family Friendly: Kids love to help, this recipe is great for them to help with.
- Adaptable: Can make it with low calorie or gluten free ingredients if needed.
Ingredient Notes
- Butter: Room temperature, unsalted butter.
- Eggs: Should be large eggs at room temperature.
- Cocoa Powder: Try to get a good quality cocoa for these reindeer treats.
- 12-15 Hard Pretzel Twists: snapped in half.
- Black and Red Decorating Frosting: Tubes of the gel frosting are great for this recipe.
Variations and Substitutions
- Refrigerator Cookie Dough – There is no need to make the cookies from scratch, the fun is making the cookies, therefore cheat and use premade dough from the grocery store for these reindeer pretzel treats.
- Gluten Free – Gluten free cookies and pretzels can be found in the baking aisle and snack aisles of the grocery store.
How to Make Reindeer Cookies with Pretzels
These are the basic steps for making sugar reindeer cookie Please refer to the recipe card below for more detailed instructions, prep time and total time.
STEP 1: CREAM
First, in a large bowl, use an electric mixer to cream butter and sugar together. Add egg and beat some more. Next add all of the dry ingredients into the mix: flour, baking powder, cocoa powder and salt.
STEP 2: CHILL AND CUT
Then wrap the dough in plastic and refrigerate for one hour.) Next, roll out the cookie dough so that it’s about ¼ of an inch in size. Use a round cookie cutter, about 2 inches in diameter, to cut out 12-15 cookies. Place on a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Press 2 pretzel halves on the top of each cookie – these will act as the reindeer’s pretzel antlers.
STEP 3: BAKE AND DECORATE
When ready, preheat oven and bake the cookies for 7 to 9 minutes and then allow to cool completely on sheet pan and wire rack. Finally, decorate by applying icing for the face of your reindeer.
Prep and Storage Tips
HOW TO MAKE THIS RECIPE AHEAD OF TIME
The dough can be made up to twenty four hours in advance and kept in an airtight container or covered well with plastic wrap.
HOW TO STORE THIS RECIPE
Store the reindeer sugar cookies with pretzels for up to a week in an airtight container at room temperature or up to two weeks in the refrigerator.
HOW TO FREEZE THIS RECIPE
Store the sugar reindeer cookies in the freezer in a single layer with wax paper or parchment in between the layers in an airtight container in the freezer for up to two months.
Frequently Asked Questions
>If you do not have piping bags and tips, try using a zip lock bag and cut a hole in one corner.
>Stand the bags in a glass to fill them or in between decorating so that the icing stays in the right spot and does not get all over.
>Let the icing set before transferring them to a plate or tin.
Of course, you can use candy eyes and a red m&m for the red candy nose of your reindeer sugar cookies. Apply with a little melted chocolate or icing.
Indeed. If you are going to a cookie exchange or plan on making these as a holiday gift, you can double or even triple the recipe.
Make your cookies, facebook, pinterest or instagram ready by following a few simple tricks.
>Always keep your dough cold. Especially, if you are doing several batches, just take out a little at a time.
>Furthermore, roll the dough from the inside out to reduce the chance of splits and tears
>Also, do not overwork your dough. It can produce a bad cookie. Just mix until ingredients are combined and try not to overwork when rolling.
Expert Tips for Making This Recipe
- Sharp Knife: Mom can cut the mini pretzel twists with a knife for even antlers.
- Short cut tip: Try using premade cookie dough in any flavor such as peanut butter or caramel that you like and candy eyeballs for quicker cookies.
- Variation tip: Feel free to add reins out of icing on the cookies.
- Alternate ingredient: Nuts can be used for eyes and noses.
- Dietary consideration tip: Low calorie cookie ingredients can be great in this recipe. Use a one for one sugar alternative such as splenda or swerve.
What to Serve with Pretzel Reindeer Cookies
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Pretzel Reindeer Cookies
Ingredients
- ¼ cup unsalted butter, softened
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 1 cups all-purpose flour + extra for rolling
- 2 tablespoon cocoa powder
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 12-15 hard pretzels, snapped in half
- Black and red decorating frosting
Instructions
- In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to cream butter and sugar together. Add egg and beat some more.
- Next add all of the dry ingredients into the mix: flour, baking powder, cocoa powder and salt.
- Mix and knead until a cookie dough forms.
- Wrap the dough in plastic and refrigerate for one hour.
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
- Once the chilling time is up, remove the cookie dough from the fridge.
- Sprinkle a smooth surface with flour. Add flour on a rolling pin as well.
- Roll out the cookie dough so that it’s about ¼ of an inch in size.
- Use a round cookie cutter, about 2 inches in diameter, to cut out 12-15 cookies.
- Press 2 pretzel halves on the top of each cookie – these will act as the reindeer’s antlers.
- Bake for 7 to 9 minutes. Allow to cool completely.
- With a round piping tip, pipe out a red nose and two black dots (for eyes) on the reindeer.
Expert Tips
- Sharp Knife: Mom can cut the mini pretzel twists with a knife for even antlers.
- Short cut tip: Try using premade cookie dough in any flavor such as peanut butter or caramel that you like and candy eyeballs for quicker cookies.
- Variation tip: Feel free to add reins out of icing on the cookies.
- Alternate ingredient: Nuts can be used for eyes and noses.
- Dietary consideration tip: Low calorie cookie ingredients can be great in this recipe. Use a one for one sugar alternative such as splenda or swerve.
Estimated Nutritional Information
The nutritional information provided are estimates. To learn more about how I calculate this information go to www.itisakeeper.com/about-its-a-keeper/privacy-disclosure-policies/
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These are so fun and the kids really loved helping make them! Thanks.