If you love Christmas cookies but not the baking part, then you’ll adore these Nutter Butter reindeer cookies! This easy no bake recipe looks cute and festive, and it’s so simple even the kids can help. With no oven required (just a microwave) they’re quick and convenient to make.
Why You’ll Love These Reindeer Decorated Cookies
Nutter Butter reindeer cookies are a festive holiday treat made by decorating Nutter Butter peanut butter cookies to resemble a reindeer face. These no bake Christmas treats are kid-friendly, and perfect for holiday parties or gift exchanges!
The process is simple and customizable: you can use any melted chocolate you want to serve as the “glue” and get creative with decorations. My must-haves are M&M noses, candy eyes, and some pretzel twists for the antlers!
These reindeer cookies are loved for their playful appearance and the combination of sweet and salty flavors. Perfect for making with children, these cute treats add a fun, festive touch to holiday dessert tables!
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Ingredients Needed
- 12 Nutter Butter cookies (or generic brand equivalent peanut butter sandwich cookies)
- 12 red M&Ms (or a similar candy)
- 24 candy eyeballs (or mini chocolate chips)
- 24 mini pretzel twists
- ½ cup milk chocolate chips (or another of choice)
Ingredient Tips and Substitutions
- For a non peanut-based cookie option, use Vienna Fingers, Milanos, or wafers. While it’s not quite the same, it’s a workable equivalent if you have a peanut allergy
- In place of a red M&M you can use red hots, or other similar round, red candies
- If you can’t find mini pretzel twists you can use full sized ones and break them in half to create an “antler” look
- While any chocolate works for the “glue” you will see it a little bit, particularly around the pretzels. That’s why I opt for milk chocolate, since it matches better, but honestly anything is fine! Peanut or butterscotch chips would also be a great choice, or you can use frosting if you don’t want to melt anything (it just doesn’t set up as hard)
- If you want to dip your cookies to coat them completely in chocolate before decorating, you can also do that (I just find it messy and not worth the extra time, but if you enjoy the look, go for it)!
How to Make Nutter Butter Reindeer Cookies
- Add your chocolate chips to a microwave safe bowl, then melt by heating on high in 30-second increments, stirring between each, until fully melted and smooth. Line a flat work surface with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat
- Use a toothpick (or similar fine point) to dab a little melted chocolate on the back of 2 candy eyes, and press them onto the front of the Nutter Butter. Repeat for all cookies
- Next, add melted chocolate to the back of an M&M (you can use the toothpick here, or just gently dip the candies), and then press the chocolate onto the bottom of the Nutter Butter to form the nose. Repeat for all cookies
- Dip the bottom third of two pretzel twists into the chocolate, then lay them down on a flat surface so the dipped bases touch, forming a ‘V’ shape. Then press the Nutter Butter cookie top onto them (the un-coated two thirds of the pretzel should stick out over the sides of the cookie). If you want to hide the chocolate better, you could also apply them to the bottom of the cookie instead; I like them both ways honestly!
- Allow the chocolate to fully harden (20-30 minutes at room temperature, or 10-15 minutes in the fridge or freezer)
- Enjoy immediately, or store in an airtight container at room temperature in a cool, dark place for up to 1 week
More Nutter Butter No Bake Cookie Recipes
- Nutter Butter Snowmen
- Nutter Butter Acorn Cookies
Recipe FAQs
Are Nutter Butters Unhealthy?
Nutter Butters, like many packaged cookies, are a treat that contains sugar, fats, and calories.
While they are made with real peanut butter, they are best enjoyed in moderation as part of a balanced diet.
Is Nutter Butter Real Peanut Butter?
Yes, Nutter Butter cookies use real peanut butter in their creamy filling, making them a popular choice for peanut butter lovers.
What Is In The Middle Of A Nutter Butter?
The filling of a Nutter Butter is a smooth, peanut butter-flavored creme made with real peanut butter to provide its iconic taste.
Is Nutter Butter Owned By Oreo?
Both Nutter Butter and Oreo are owned by Mondelēz International, under its Nabisco brand, making them part of the same snack family.
Is A Nutter Butter A Wafer?
Nutter Butter is not classified as a wafer.
It is a peanut-shaped sandwich cookie with a crunchy peanut butter cookie exterior and creamy peanut butter filling.
Tips For Decorating The Reindeer Cookies
- If your chocolate starts to harden while decorating, you can re-warm it in the microwave for about 30 seconds to loosen it back up. However, I have no issues getting a dozen cookies done before it starts to set up
- Make sure to put your pretzel antlers down on a flat surface and then add the cookie to them. If you try to just place the pretzels on top of the cookies, they tend to fall since they don’t have enough support until the chocolate sets. The direction (face up or face down) that you place the cookie determines which side of the finished product the antlers will be on (on top or on the bottom)
Storage and Serving Suggestions
- Make sure the cookies are fully set, then store them in an airtight container in a cool, dark place at room temperature for up to one week. Use a sheet of wax paper in between layers if you need to stack them for best results
- Serve your Nutter Butter reindeer on a holiday cookie tray, in individual tins or bags for gifting, or use them as decorative cupcake toppers for a fun presentation!
- Pretzel Wreaths
Final Thoughts
These adorable peanut butter reindeer cookies are the perfect no bake treat for your Christmas party and the holiday season! With pretzel antlers and red noses just like Rudolph, they’re a classic snack that’s loved by kids and adults alike.
The best part is, these Christmas reindeer cookies don’t take long to assemble, and they’re so easy that the kids can help decorate them too. If you’re in a time crunch on Christmas Eve, they work as a perfect choice to leave out for Santa!
So, get into the holiday spirit with no oven required, and whip up a batch of these adorable reindeer cookies, which look just like a reindeer’s head, for a sweet holiday treat!
Nutter Butter Reindeer (No Bake Cookie Recipe)
Equipment
- Toothpick (or similar)
- Parchment paper (or silicone baking mat)
Ingredients
- 12 Nutter Butter cookies (or generic brand equivalent)
- 12 red M&Ms (or a similar small red candy)
- 24 candy eyeballs (or mini chocolate chips)
- 24 mini pretzel twists
- ½ cup milk chocolate chips (or another chocolate of choice)
Instructions
- Add your chocolate chips to a microwave safe bowl, then melt by heating on high in 30-second increments, stirring between each, until fully melted and smooth. Line a flat work surface with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat½ cup milk chocolate chips
- Use a toothpick (or similar fine point tool) to dab a little melted chocolate on the back of 2 candy eyes, and press them onto the front of the Nutter Butter. Repeat for all cookies24 candy eyeballs, 12 Nutter Butter cookies
- Next, add melted chocolate to the back of an M&M (you can use the toothpick here, or just gently dip the candies), and then press the chocolate onto the bottom of the Nutter Butter to form the nose. Repeat for all cookies12 red M&Ms
- Dip the bottom third of two pretzel twists into the chocolate, then lay them down on a flat surface so the dipped bases touch, forming a ‘V’ shape. Then press the Nutter Butter cookie top onto them (the un-coated two thirds of the pretzel should stick out over the sides of the cookie). If you want to hide the chocolate better, you could also apply them to the bottom of the cookie instead; I like them both ways honestly!24 mini pretzel twists
- Allow the chocolate to fully harden (usually 20-30 minutes at room temperature, or 10-15 minutes in the fridge or freezer)
- Enjoy immediately, or store in an airtight container at room temperature in a cool, dark place for up to 1 week
Notes
- For a non peanut-based cookie option, use Vienna Fingers, Milanos, or wafers. While it’s not quite the same, it’s a workable equivalent if you have a peanut allergy
- If you can’t find mini pretzel twists you can use full sized ones and break them in half to create an “antler” look
- If you want to dip your cookies to coat them completely in chocolate before decorating, you can also do that (I just find it messy and not worth the extra time, but if you enjoy the look, go for it)!
- Make sure to put your pretzel antlers down on a flat surface and then add the cookie to them. If you try to just place the pretzels on top of the cookies, they tend to fall since they don’t have enough support until the chocolate sets. The direction (face up or face down) that you place the cookie determines which side of the finished product the antlers will be on (top or bottom)
- Exact nutritional values will vary based on brand and flavor of ingredients, any swaps or additions, and quantity consumed, so please consider this a guideline only
Nutrition
