Every December, the baking side of me appears and takes over the kitchen. Now that I have a 6-year old, it's WAY more fun to show her how to do everything and have her feel like she's a part of the festivities! These cookies are literally the easiest thing to make and soooooooo fast, which is great if you don't have a lot of time, but you still want to have fun with your kiddos!
WHAT YOU NEED:
Peanut Butter Cookie Mix (any kind will do)
Chocolate Covered Pretzels
Candy Eyeballs
Red M&M's or Cinnamon Imperials (found in the sprinkles aisle)
And that's all folks!
WHAT TO DO:
- Prepare the Peanut Butter Cookie mix and get ready to throw them in the oven. I like to use a mix because it makes it super fast and easy, but if you have your own amazing recipe for peanut butter cookies AND you have the time, then go for it! I find peanut butter works best for these cookies, but feel free to experiment with oatmeal or sugar cookies too. It is fun for the kids to help mix the batter and make little balls of cookie dough to place on the cookie sheet. NOTE: Once you have placed balls of cookie dough on the cookie sheet, use your thumb to gently press down on the bottom of the ball to make an oval shape. (This will be the chin of the reindeer.) Don't make it too flat, just enough to make the shape of the reindeer face.
- Bake the cookies for the appropriate amount of time and as they bake, prepare all your decorations so that RIGHT WHEN THE COOKIES COME OUT OF THE OVEN you can decorate them. This is the best part for the kiddos! The key is to "work fast".
- Pull the cookies out of the oven and slide them off of the hot cookie sheet onto a cold work surface.
- Immediately place 2 chocolate covered pretzels into the top of the cookies to make them look like antlers. Gently push down to secure them in the cookie.
- Place 2 candy eyeballs into the middle of the cookie and gently push down so they set.
- Put a red M&M or red Cinnamon Imperial (or whatever candy you would like) into the bottom of the cookie to make the nose.
- I like to them put the cookies on a plate and stick in the fridge to harden. This keeps the chocolate from melting into the hot cookie and sets all the candies. You can keep them in there for 10 minutes to an hour.
- Serve and enjoy the cookies. Everyone will ❤️ LOVE❤️ your reindeer cookies because they are the cutest!!!! and they taste soooooo delicious!
- If there are any leftover, store cookies in a container and eat randomly throughout the month of December.
ADDING INGREDIENTS AND MIXING IS PRETTY EXCITING!
BE SURE TO SUPERVISE WITH THE HOT OVEN!
THIS IS THE BEST PART....BE SURE TO DO THIS RIGHT WHEN THEY ARE TAKEN OUT OF THE OVEN!
ALSO, BE SURE THE INGREDIENTS MAKE IT TO THE COOKIE, AND DON'T GET LOST IN SOMEONE'S MOUTH ALONG THE WAY!
SO PROUD OF THE FINISHED PRODUCT! THEY COULDN'T BE CUTER....COOKIES AND CHILD!
HAVE FUN BAKING!