These Reindeer Cookies are the ultimate no-bake holiday recipe that combines salty pretzels and sweet frosting for a festive treat everyone will love. They are incredibly easy to assemble, making them the perfect last-minute addition to your Christmas dessert spread or a fun activity for the kids!
These easy no-bake reindeer cookies are a total game-changer for your holiday dessert board or cookie exchange and take just minutes to whip up. They are the perfect blend of salty and sweet, using simple pantry staples like mini pretzels for antlers and maraschino cherries for that iconic red nose.
The secret to getting that perfect reindeer look is using flat, crispy butter cookies as your base and a custom mix of vanilla and chocolate frosting. Since there’s no oven time required, this is a great way to get the kids involved in the kitchen without any of the holiday stress (these also make adorable classroom party treats!).
Just like our easy no bake Melted Snowman Cookies (another kid helper fav) and Christmas Butter Cookies, you can easily customize this reindeer cookie recipe with different candy eyes or even a dash of sprinkles to make each one unique for serving and gifting!
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🥘Ingredients
- vanilla & chocolate frosting- I use store bought; these are mixed together at a 1:2 ratio respectively
- prepackaged butter or sugar cookies- I use (2) Pepperidge Farm Farmhouse Thin and Crispy Butter Crisp Cookies packages (14 count each); choose a cookie that's flat and wide (at least 2-3 inches across)
- mini pretzels- for the antlers
- maraschino cherries- for the nose
- mini chocolate chips- for the eyes and mouth
See recipe card for quantities.
🔪Instructions
- Step 1: Combine frostings; then spread over cookies.
- Step 2: Place two pretzels on each cookie for the antlers.
- Step 3: Add one cherry to each for the nose.
- Step 4: Press mini chocolate chips in for the eyes and mouth.
Hint: Drain and blot the maraschino cherries before placing them on the cookies.
🥣Substitutions
- Gluten-free cookies - swap the standard butter cookies for your favorite gluten-free shortbread or sugar cookies to make this a safe holiday treat for those with wheat sensitivities
- Dairy-free frosting - use a vegan frosting or a dairy-free chocolate spread to ensure these festive treats are accessible for guests with dairy allergies
- Natural color noses - instead of maraschino cherries, use dried cranberries for a nose option free from artificial dyes
📖Variations
- Chocolate lovers - swap the butter cookies for double chocolate chip cookies and use only chocolate frosting as your base for an extra rich, decadent holiday treat
- Peanut butter twist - use a peanut butter cookie base and Nutter Butters to create a unique reindeer shape that adds a salty-sweet depth
- Gingerbread reindeer - use gingerbread men cookies turned upside down to transform a traditional classic into a modern, Pinterest-worthy reindeer design
See this Peanut Butter Clusters for another easy no bake cookie!
🍽Equipment
- medium mixing bowl
- spatula or mixing spoon
- butter knife or offset spatula
- measuring cups & spoons
- paper towels (for blotting the cherries)
🍶Storage
Store Reindeer Cookies in an airtight container for up to 3 days. You can also refrigerate for up to a week to maintain the perfect frosting texture.
Avoid stacking them directly on top of each other so the pretzel antlers and cherry noses stay perfectly in place; it's helpful to also separate rows with parchment paper.
💭Top tip
Keep in mind that the longer the assembled cookies sit, the softer they will get as they absorb oils and fats from the frosting. For the best "snap" and crunch, it is best to assemble them on the same day you plan to serve or gift them!
🗨️FAQ
You can definitely assemble these a few hours in advance, but for the best results, serve them the same day. Since the cookies naturally absorb oils and fats from the frosting, they will gradually soften the longer they sit.
While you can keep them on the countertop in an airtight container for up to 3 days, refrigerating them can help the frosting stay firm. However, be aware that moisture from the fridge can sometimes cause the pretzels to lose their crunch over time.
If the frosting has already started to set, simply use a toothpick to dab a tiny bit of extra vanilla or chocolate frosting onto the back of each mini chocolate chip before pressing it into place. This acts like edible glue to ensure the eyes and mouth stay secure--especially for gifting or transporting them to a classroom party.
🥄Related
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
🍴Pairing
These are my favorite confections to gift with Reindeer Cookies:
📋Recipe
Reindeer Cookies
Equipment
- medium mixing bowl
- spatula or mixing spoon
- butter knife or offset spatula
- measuring cups
- measuring spoons
- paper towels (for blotting the cherries)
Ingredients
- 1 cup vanilla frosting
- ½ cup chocolate frosting
- 28 butter cookies I use (2) Pepperidge Farm Farmhouse Thin and Crispy Butter Crisp Cookies packages (14 count each); choose a cookie that's flat and wide (at least 2-3 inches across)
- 56 tiny pretzel twists
- 28 pitted maraschino cherries drained and blotted
- 84 mini chocolate chips
Instructions
- Mix vanilla and chocolate frostings together until well blended.
- Arrange cookies on clean workspace; then use butter knife or offset spatula to spread frosting evenly and smoothly over each cookie.
- Add two pretzels toward the top of each cookie for the antlers.
- Place one maraschino cherry in the center for the nose.
- Arrange three mini chocolate chips, tip side down, onto each cookie for the eyes and mouth.
Notes
Please note that nutritional information is provided by a third party service and is intended for guidance purposes only. KitchenReadyBetty.com makes no claims to its accuracy.
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