Description
These Rudolph Peanut Butter Cookies are a festive and fun holiday treat featuring creamy peanut butter cookies decorated to resemble Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer with pretzel antlers, a red M&M nose, and mini chocolate chip eyes. Perfect for holiday parties and family gatherings, these soft and chewy cookies combine classic peanut butter flavor with a playful twist.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Dough
- 1 cup peanut butter (creamy or chunky)
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Decorations
- 24 mini pretzels (for antlers)
- 24 red M&Ms (for Rudolph’s nose)
- 48 mini chocolate chips (for eyes)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper to ensure the cookies don’t stick and for easy cleanup.
- Make the Dough: In a large mixing bowl, beat together the peanut butter, softened unsalted butter, and granulated sugar until the mixture is smooth and creamy, about 2 minutes. Then add the egg and vanilla extract, mixing well until fully combined.
- Add Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add these dry ingredients into the wet mixture, stirring just until combined to form the cookie dough.
- Shape the Cookies: Roll the dough into 1-inch balls and place them on the prepared baking sheets, spacing each about 2 inches apart. Gently press each ball down slightly using a fork to flatten them.
- Bake: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden. Remove the baking sheets from the oven and let the cookies cool on the sheets for 5 minutes to set before transferring to wire racks to cool completely.
- Decorate: Once the cookies have fully cooled, decorate each cookie by pressing two mini chocolate chips for eyes, a red M&M for Rudolph’s nose, and two mini pretzels for the antlers into the cookie surface. Press gently so the decorations stick firmly.
- Serve and Store: Allow the decorated cookies to set for a few minutes, then serve. Store any leftover cookies in an airtight container at room temperature to keep them fresh.
Notes
- You can use either creamy or chunky peanut butter based on your preference.
- Pressing the cookies down with a fork helps them bake evenly and creates a nice texture.
- If you don’t have mini pretzels, you can substitute with pretzel sticks broken into smaller pieces for antlers.
- Make sure the cookies are completely cooled before decorating to prevent melting the candy decorations.
- These cookies can be kept at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
