The holiday season is officially here and I could not be more excited! All of the decorations have been taken out, holiday gifts are beginning to be purchased and baking is in full swing. What am I kidding… baking is in full swing at all times of the year. But it’s the season of Christmas cookie baking… the best kind! These reindeer cookies feel like the most appropriate thing to be making this time of year – join me in making this festive treat!
This recipe is based off of my Peanut Butter Cookie Recipe that I posted recently! It is the most festive way to amp up that recipe to delight small children and adults alike 🙂 I’m a grown woman and I get immense amounts of joy looking at these cute little reindeer cookies! I know you will too.
Christmas sprig
What Makes These Reindeer Cookies Healthy
Beyond these cookies being absolutely adorable, I have some even better news for you… these cookies are pretty darn healthy! The Peanut Butter Cookie Recipe is actually gluten free, dairy free and refined sugar free, though we are adding some gluten and refined sugar with the pretzels and M&Ms (but it is a very small amount!). Compared to your classic peanut butter cookie recipe that is often loaded with sugar, white flour, butter and the like, this is a much healthier option. And your kiddos won’t even know it’s a healthy version – they taste just as delicious!
plate of reindeer cookies
How to Make This Recipe Gluten Free
To make this recipe gluten free simply use a gluten-free pretzel twist, like these from Snyder’s of Hanover! If you have celiac disease or are strict about being gluten free make sure to also use a gluten-free oat flour for the peanut butter cookie dough. And then voila! Gluten-free reindeer cookies!
A Fun Baking Activity With Your Kids
I don’t have kids, just a fluffy old woman dog without opposable thumbs (I love you little Maiya 🙂 ), but I can imagine this recipe would be super fun to make with kids! The peanut butter cookie dough is simple to make and easy to mix. And the real fun comes in making the littler reindeer heads!
picking up a reindeer cookie
How to Make Reindeer Cookies
These cookies are super simple to make! Start by mixing together your peanut butter cookie dough ingredients in a single bowl.
peanut butter cookie ingredients
Once your dough is made, you’ll roll it into balls slightly larger than a golf ball and begin decorating! Start by pressing down on the ball to flatten it just a bit and shape it into a rounded triangle to mimic the shape of a reindeer head. Then press 2 pretzel twists into one side of the rounded triangle, for the antlers. Finally, press 2 brown M&Ms in for eyes and 1 red M&M for a nose. Check out the how-to video in the recipe box for a quick demo!
sheet of reindeer cookies
These little reindeer cookies are perfectly festive for the holidays and made with super simple ingredients! Snag some peanut butter cookie dough, some pretzel twists and M&Ms and voila, you have yourself some merry little reindeer cookies.
- 1 cup salted creamy peanut butter
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup coconut sugar
- 1/4 cup oat flour
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 26 pretzel twists
- 26 brown M&Ms
- 13 red M&Ms
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
Prepare a batch of peanut butter cookie dough by mixing all the peanut butter cookie ingredients in a bowl.
Roll into balls slightly larger than a golf ball.
Press the balls down using your hands and shape into a reindeer head (rounded triangle).
Press 2 pretzel twists into the top of the reindeer head.
Press 2 brown M&Ms into the dough for eyes.
Press 1 red M&M into the dough for a nose.
Place on a lined baking sheet.
Bake for 10 minutes or until the bottom of the cookies is turning golden brown.
Let cool before enjoying!
Recipe Video
PER COOKIE
166 cals ~ 10g fat ~ 13g carb ~ 6g protein ~ 2.5g fiber ~ 6g sugar
Want Another Healthy Cookie Recipe?
Check out this recipe for Double Chocolate Oatmeal Breakfast Cookies! They are made with 5 clean ingredients and are so healthy that you can meal prep them for a quick on-the-go breakfast.
