Easy Reindeer Sugar Cookies

Sharing is caring!

Reindeer Sugar Cookies. Cookie decorating is a joy with these holiday favorites! All you need is baked cookies, chocolate frosting, pretzels, vanilla wafers, and M&M’s to recreate these adorable little deer!

Reindeer Cookie Tutorial

Confession: I am a terrible cookie decorator. Which is why I always stick with super simple decorating ideas like these reindeer, my melted snowmen, or basic gingerbread men.

They are all super realistic, take minimal effort, and are still incredibly adorable.

Ingredients to make Reindeer Sugar Cookies:

Here’s the thing, like I mentioned above, I like to keep things super simple. Which means the ingredient list for this recipe is incredibly basic, and most likely all pantry staples! To make these reindeer you need:

• Sugar Cookies
• Chocolate Frosting
• Mini Pretzels
• M&M Candies
• Candy Eyes

While I like to make my own cookies and frosting, you definitely can buy the pre made stuff from the store.

A few tips before I let you go…

• Be sure to grab the mini vanilla wafers. The smaller size is perfect for little deer noses.
• Canned or homemade frosting will work with this recipe.
• Do not fret about getting perfect antlers. Break your pretzels in half and pair up similar looking styles.

Like this recipe? You will love my Melted Snowman Cookies, Gingerbread Man Cookies, and Candy Cane Biscotti! 

How to make sugar cookies look like reindeer:

1. Spread a generous amount of chocolate frosting onto your sugar cookie, trying to keep it in an even layer.
2. Place a dot of chocolate frosting onto the “m” side of either a red or brown m&m candy. Secure the candy onto your vanilla wafer for the nose and place onto your freshly frosted sugar cookie.
3. Add the eyes and pretzels for the finishing touch! You can either leave the pretzels whole or break them for a more authentic antler appearance.

Sugar cookie troubleshooting:

Making your own sugar cookies? Awesome! Let’s break down some of the more common questions I get and how to solve potential issues.

Why sugar cookies spread and lose their shape:

Most commonly the cause of cookie spreading is butter that isn’t cool. When you start a cookie recipe with warm butter it tends to spread as it bakes. To combat this, you can start with butter that has set out for only 30 minutes or you can chill your dough before baking.

My cookie is so tough and not soft, what happened?

I am so guilty of this. Especially when I first started baking. Tough cookies can be a result of overmixing or over working your dough. Once the ingredients are just combined, you should really stop mixing. Essentially… Less mixing equals a more tender cookie

I always overbake my sugar cookies!

Here’s the skinny… Most cookie recipes will tell you to bake your cookie until it is golden brown. Sugar cookies are a class all on their own. You want to take them out of the oven as soon as they are set, and not too brown.