If you’re looking for a festive, fun, and absolutely delicious treat to brighten up your holiday season, I’ve got just the thing for you! I absolutely love the way this Chocolate Reindeer Cookies Recipe turns out — they’re not only super cute but also packed with rich chocolatey goodness topped with the most playful decorations. Whether you’re baking for a party, gifting treats, or just indulging with family, these cookies are guaranteed to bring smiles all around. Stick with me, and I’ll walk you through every step so you can nail these adorable reindeer cookies with ease!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Super Simple Ingredients: You probably have most of these in your pantry already, which means no last-minute shopping panic!
- Cute and Kid-Friendly: My nieces went wild decorating these, and honestly, it’s half the fun for the whole family.
- Quick Bake Time: Ready in under 30 minutes, so you don’t have to wait forever to enjoy them.
- Perfect Holiday Gift Idea: They look so festive, you’ll want to make extra to share or even package as edible presents.
Ingredients You’ll Need
This Chocolate Reindeer Cookies Recipe gets its magic from simple, high-quality ingredients that work perfectly together — I love how the chocolate cake mix forms a soft, chewy base, and then the toppings add playful texture and color. When shopping, look for festive M&Ms and candy eyes to make that reindeer face pop!
- Chocolate Cake Mix: Using cake mix instead of scratch dough saves time and keeps cookies nice and tender.
- Eggs: These bind the cookie dough together, so don’t swap them unless your substitute is solid!
- Vegetable Oil: Adds moisture without altering the flavor—helps keep the dough soft.
- Chocolate Frosting: This is your edible glue; you can go store-bought or homemade for extra yum.
- Mini Nilla Wafers: These become the reindeer’s snout, so pick mini ones for perfect size.
- Red and Brown M&Ms: Red M&Ms are the noses, and the brown ones fill in for extras—fun and colorful!
- Candy Eyes: These give your cookies that whimsical, wide-eyed reindeer expression.
- Mini Pretzels: The star of the show – they’re the antlers! I like the classic twisty ones for the best shape.
Variations
I love making these Chocolate Reindeer Cookies my own by playing around with the toppings and even the base. Feel free to get creative — that’s the joy of this recipe! You can adapt it for different dietary needs or add your favorite flair to impress your guests.
- Gluten-Free Variation: I’ve swapped chocolate cake mix for a gluten-free brand before, and it worked like a charm without losing any flavor.
- Healthier Frosting Options: If you want to cut down on sugar, try a homemade yogurt-based frosting or cream cheese frosting instead of the classic chocolate one.
- Festive Colors: Swap out M&Ms for mini red and green candies or even edible glitter for extra sparkle at your holiday party.
- Vegan Adaptation: You can find vegan chocolate cake mixes and substitute eggs with flax eggs — I tried this for a friend’s gathering and nobody knew the difference!
How to Make Chocolate Reindeer Cookies Recipe
Step 1: Mix Your Cookie Dough
Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). In a medium bowl, combine the chocolate cake mix, eggs, and vegetable oil. Stir everything until you get a thick, uniform cookie batter — it’s thicker than typical cookie dough but that’s perfect. I always pause here to scrape the sides so nothing’s left behind; no one wants dough waste!
Step 2: Shape and Bake Your Cookies
Using a tablespoon or cookie scoop, take about 1½ to 2 tablespoons of dough and roll it into a ball. Place about 12 balls on a parchment-lined baking sheet, spacing them out a bit because they don’t spread too much. Bake for roughly 8 minutes, keeping an eye out for the tops to get crinkly — that’s the sweet spot for soft, chewy cookies. Let them cool on the pan for 2 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
Step 3: Decorate Your Reindeer
This part is my favorite—decorating! Spread a generous layer of chocolate frosting on each cooled cookie. Press one mini Nilla wafer gently onto the lower half — that’s the snout. Stick two candy eyes just above the wafer, then place two mini pretzels above the eyes to mimic antlers. For the finishing touch, attach a red or brown M&M on each Nilla wafer with a dab of frosting as the nose. Let the frosting set for about 20 minutes before serving or packaging.
Pro Tips for Making Chocolate Reindeer Cookies Recipe
- Use Room Temperature Eggs: It helps blend your batter evenly without spots or clumps—makes the texture better.
- Don’t Overbake: Those cookies bake quickly; if you wait till the edges brown, they’ll be dry. I learned the hard way!
- Careful with Frosting Amount: Too much frosting can make the pretzels slip off, so spread it evenly but not too thick.
- Let Cookies Cool Totally: Frosting melted on warm cookies turns into a mess instead of that pretty look you want.
How to Serve Chocolate Reindeer Cookies Recipe
Garnishes
I like to sprinkle a little powdered sugar lightly over the finished cookies for a snowy effect — it adds a subtle sweetness and festive touch. If you want to get extra fancy, edible glitter or tiny silver dragees can add sparkle and wow your guests.
Side Dishes
These cookies pair beautifully with a warm mug of hot cocoa or your favorite holiday spiced latte. I’ve also served them alongside a simple fruit platter to balance the sweetness at gatherings.
Creative Ways to Present
One year, I arranged a dozen of these cookies on a large platter, nestled in with pine branches and ornaments—it immediately became the centerpiece of our holiday dessert table. Wrapping a few in clear cellophane tied with red ribbon makes for perfect stocking stuffers or neighbor gifts.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
I keep leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature — they stay soft for about 3 days. If you want to keep them longer, make sure the frosting is fully set before storing to avoid stickiness.
Freezing
I’ve frozen these cookies before by stacking them with parchment paper in between layers inside a freezer-safe container. When thawed, they’re almost as good as fresh — just make sure to let them come to room temp before serving.
Reheating
To refresh refrigerated or frozen cookies, pop them in a low-heat oven (about 300°F) for 3-5 minutes. This softens them up nicely without melting the frosting too much—just watch closely!
FAQs
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Can I use a different cake mix flavor for the Chocolate Reindeer Cookies Recipe?
Absolutely! While chocolate cake mix gives that rich, classic taste, I’ve experimented with red velvet or even spice cake mixes to mix things up for the holidays — just remember it’ll change the flavor profile and look.
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What can I substitute for candy eyes in this recipe?
If you can’t find candy eyes, mini chocolate chips or white chocolate chips with a dot of melted chocolate piped on top work wonderfully. I’ve used both options when supplies ran low!
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Is it okay to make the dough ahead of time?
Yes! You can mix the dough and refrigerate it for up to 24 hours before baking. Just let it sit at room temperature a bit to soften before rolling into balls for easier shaping.
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How do I keep the pretzels from falling off?
Make sure your cookies are completely cooled before frosting and attaching pretzels. Use just enough frosting to hold them gently in place and let them set spaciously so nothing slides off. This trick really saved my decorating sessions!
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Can kids help with this Chocolate Reindeer Cookies Recipe?
Definitely! Kids love rolling dough balls and decorating these festive cookies — it’s a fun, hands-on project that lets their creativity shine. Just supervise when using the oven, of course.
Final Thoughts
This Chocolate Reindeer Cookies Recipe has become a staple in my holiday routine because it blends simplicity with so much heart and joy. I love pulling out the pretzels and tiny decorations to make those smiling reindeer faces come alive, especially with kids around. You’ll find that these cookies not only taste amazing but bring a bit of festive magic to every bite. So go ahead, give this recipe a try — I promise it’s as fun to make as it is to eat!
Print
Chocolate Reindeer Cookies Recipe
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 minutes
- Total Time: 23 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
Delightfully festive and irresistibly cute, these Reindeer Cookies are a fun and easy holiday treat perfect for Christmas celebrations. Made with a moist chocolate cake mix cookie base, topped with rich chocolate frosting, mini Nilla Wafers, candy eyes, pretzels for antlers, and colorful M&Ms as noses, these cookies are as adorable as they are delicious. Ideal for baking with kids or adding some whimsy to your holiday cookie platter.
Ingredients
Cookie Batter
- 1 box chocolate cake mix
- 2 large eggs
- 1/3 cup vegetable oil
Toppings
- 1 can chocolate frosting (or 1-2 cups homemade chocolate frosting)
- 24-28 mini Nilla Wafers
- 24-28 red and brown M&Ms
- 1 package candy eyes
- 48-56 mini pretzels
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit to get it ready for baking the cookies.
- Prepare Cookie Batter: In a medium sized bowl, combine the chocolate cake mix, eggs, and vegetable oil. Stir together until you form a thick cookie batter.
- Form Cookie Dough Balls: Scoop 1 1/2 to 2 tablespoons of dough and roll it into a ball. Repeat this process with the remaining dough to form multiple cookie balls.
- Arrange on Baking Sheet: Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper or a silicone liner. Place 12 dough balls spaced apart on the sheet.
- Bake Cookies: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for about 8 minutes or until the tops begin to look crinkly.
- Cool Slightly: Remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheet for 2 minutes to firm up.
- Transfer to Cooling Rack: Move the cookies to a wire cooling rack and let them cool completely before decorating.
- Decorate Cookies: Spread a generous layer of chocolate frosting over the top of each cooled cookie.
- Assemble Reindeer Face: Place one mini Nilla Wafer onto the bottom half of the frosted cookie as the reindeer’s muzzle.
- Add Eyes: Position two candy eyes just above the Nilla Wafer on each cookie.
- Create Antlers: Insert two mini pretzels above the eyes to resemble antlers on each reindeer cookie.
- Attach Nose: Use some frosting to stick one red or brown M&M onto each Nilla Wafer to form the reindeer’s nose.
- Set Frosting and Serve: Allow the frosting to set so the decorations hold firmly, then serve your charming reindeer cookies!
Notes
- These reindeer cookies are easy to make and perfect for festive holiday gatherings or as a fun baking activity with kids.
- You can customize the nose colors by using different colored M&Ms or candies.
- For a homemade touch, use homemade chocolate frosting in place of canned frosting.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
- Mini pretzels can be substituted with other shaped snacks if desired.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 25mg
