These cute little pretzel reindeer treats are perfect for the holidays! And it makes a fun indoor activity to do with the family and kids.
Or maybe you want to give them as a Christmas gift, instead of a classic plate of fudge, sugar cookies, or gingerbread cookies? You could put this outside of a gingerbread house as well along with some fun little Oreo turkeys. Or maybe if you have a Christmas movie family night where you watch Rudolf the Red Nose Reindeer you can surprise your kids with these little treats afterward.
These pretzel reindeer are so easy to make and there are 3 options or styles that you can do. The Rolo pretzel reindeer, Oreo pretzel reindeer, and Reese’s peanut butter cup pretzel reindeer. If I can do it, you can do it. Let’s get started!
Gather the ingredients
In order to make these amazing little pretzel reindeer you need just a handful of ingredients:
- Pretzels – The thin ones work the best.
- Double stuffed Oreos – The standard Oreos have too narrow of a gap in between each cookie.
- Rolos – You can use store-bought Rolos or these homemade Rolos.
- Mini Reese’s Peanut butter cups – Or you can make homemade peanut butter cups using a mini-muffin pan and paper cups.
- Red hots or Red M&Ms – Or just buy both so you have options.
- Candy eyeballs – You can find them online, or check your local supermarket in the baking aisle where they carry the sprinkles.
- Chocolate – Chocolate chips, candy melts, chocolate bars, etc. Or you can use frosting as well. This will be the “glue” for the eyes and nose.
Tools
- Piping bag or a plastic bag or a little brush
- Knife
- Sheet pan lined with parchment paper or a silicone mat
- Bowl
How to make Rolo Pretzel Reindeer (option 1)
Begin by taking several full pretzels and cutting them in half. They will probably break on you, but don’t worry about it, you should be able to get some nice halves. These will be used for all three options.
The first option is a Rolo pretzel reindeer. Preheat the oven to 350 F/176 C. Take a sheet pan and line it with a piece of parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
Then place down several full pretzels. On top of the pretzels add unwrapped Rolos. Heat in the oven for a minute or two, just so the Rolos can get soft. Don’t forget about them!
Take two candy eyeballs and place them on the top of the Rolo. The melted chocolate from the Rolo will keep them in place. Then add a nose. You can use a red hot candy sprinkle or a red M&M. My favorite are the red hots.
Now just stick in a couple of pretzel “antlers” into the sides of the Rolo. You can experiment with different pieces of pretzel to get the type of antler design that you like.
Once done, place the pan in the fridge so the Rolos and can harden. They only need to be in there for about 15 minutes, and then they will be done.
How to make Oreo Pretzel Reindeer
The second option is the Oreo pretzel reindeer, or it also looks like a dog as well, haha. These ones are similar to the Oreo turkeys.
Begin by melting some chocolate either in a microwave-safe bowl in the microwave with bursts of 30 seconds and then stirring, and repeating until melted, or do it on the stovetop using the double-boiler method. Place in a piping bag or leave it in a bowl and use a brush or lollipop stick or just a small spoon. You can also use a sandwich bag and just snip off the corner. Or if you want to use frosting, skip this step.
TIP: If you have microwave-safe disposable piping bags, you can just place the chocolate or candy melts in there, and microwave for 25 seconds, then massage the bag and repeat until melted.
Add some chocolate to the top of the double stuffed Oreo. Then gently insert the antler pieces, remember, gently. Its okay if the back of the Oreo breaks, you can re-attach it.
Then pipe a little chocolate on the bottom of the Oreo and place a Rolo. Next, place some chocolate on top of the Rolo and add either a red hot or an M&M for the nose. Add chocolate and place the candy eyes, or you can just leave the chocolate for the eyeballs.
NOTE: I get candy eyeballs at my supermarket in the baking section, they can be found at Walmart, Target, etc. also online.
Place them in the fridge to set for 15 minutes.
How to make Peanut Butter Cup Pretzel Reindeer
The third option are the mini Reese’s peanut butter cup pretzel reindeer. Take the peanut butter cup and unwrap it.
TIP: It works best if the peanut butter cups are chilled first.
Press in the pretzel antlers to each side, they should stick find on their own, if now, add a little bit of the melted chocolate.
Now add little amounts of chocolate on top of the peanut butter cup for the eyes and the nose. Then place the candy eyeballs and the red hot or red M&M.
Place them in the fridge to set for about 15 minutes.
And there you go, you have three different styles or options of pretzel reindeer that you can make. I told you they were easy! Enjoy.
How long do these last?
Pretzel reindeer will last a few weeks if stored in the fridge in an airtight container or even longer. Once set, they can also be stored at room temperature, as long as the house isn’t super warm. The shelf-life for these is fairly long.
Here are some other recipes that you may like:
Strawberry Cheesecake Mousse Chocolate Cups
Star Wars Death Star Peanut Butter Cups
Pretzel Reindeer (3 options)
Equipment
- Piping bag or a plastic bag or a little brush
- Knife
- Sheet pan lined with parchment paper or a silicone mat
- Bowl
Ingredients
- 40 Pretzels – Use the thin kind
- 10 Double stuffed Oreos
- 20 Rolos
- 10 mini Reese’s peanut butter cups either milk chocolate or dark
- 30 Red hots or Red M&Ms
- 60 Candy eyeballs
- 1/4 cup Chocolate or frosting – Candy melts work great
Instructions
- Begin by cutting the pretzels in half, don't worry if some break, completely, you can use the broken pieces for a different style of the antler. Leave 10 whole pretzels.
- To make the Rolo pretzel reinder. Preheat the oven to 350 F/176 C. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Take a pretzel and add a Rolo to the center or near the bottom and place on the pan.Bake in the oven for 1 to 2 minutes, just so the Rolos get soft
- Now press the candy eyeballs into the top of the Rolo. They will stick no problem to the chocolate.Place a red hot for the nose or you can use a red M&M. Add the pieces of pretzel for the antlers. Just stick them right into the chocolate part of the Rolo.Once you are done, place the pan in the fridge so they can set. They only need 15 to 20 minutes in the fridge.
- To make the Oreo pretzel reindeer, take the chocolate and melt it in the microwave or use the double boiler method on the stovetop.Or if you have a microwave-safe piping bag, you can just melt them in that in the microwave. Use bursts of 25 seconds and then massage the bag, and repeat until all melted.
- Add some chocolate to the top of the Oreo. Then gently insert the antler pieces. It's okay if the back of the Oreo breaks, you can re-attach it.Add a little chocolate on the bottom of the Oreo and place a Rolo. Then place some chocolate on top of the Rolo and add either a red hot or an M&M for the nose. Add chocolate and place the candy eyes.Place them in the fridge to set for 15 minutes.
- To make Peanut butter cup pretzel reindeer, unwrap a mini-peanut buttercup and then press in the pretzel antlers.If you need to, you can pipe a little bit of the chocolate as well to help keep the antlers in place.Then add the chocolate for the nose and eyeballs and put those in place. Set in the fridge to set.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
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