Description
These Rudolph Peanut Butter Cookies are festive and fun treats perfect for holiday celebrations. Soft and chewy peanut butter cookies are decorated with pretzel antlers, red M&M noses, and mini chocolate chip eyes to look just like Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Easy to prepare and bake, these cookies bring a playful charm and delightful flavor to any holiday cookie platter.
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 prevent sticking and ensure 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. Add the egg and vanilla extract, then mix 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 to the wet peanut butter mixture, stirring until a uniform dough forms.
- Shape the Cookies: Roll the dough into 1-inch balls and place them evenly spaced about 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets. Press each ball down lightly with a fork to flatten the cookies slightly.
- Bake: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden and the centers are set. Remove the baking sheets and allow the cookies to cool on them for 5 minutes.
- Cool Completely: Transfer the cookies from the baking sheets to a wire rack to cool completely before decorating. This prevents the decorations from melting or sliding off.
- Decorate: Once cooled, decorate each cookie by pressing two mini chocolate chips for eyes, a red M&M for Rudolph’s iconic red nose, and insert two mini pretzels as antlers gently pressing them into the cookie dough so they stick well.
- Serve and Store: Let the decorated cookies set for a few minutes, then serve. Store any leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature to maintain freshness for several days.
Notes
- You can use either creamy or chunky peanut butter based on your texture preference.
- Make sure the butter is softened to room temperature to mix ingredients smoothly.
- If you don’t have mini pretzels, small pretzel sticks can work as an alternative for the antlers.
- Decorate cookies only after they have cooled completely to avoid melting the chocolate chips and M&Ms.
- These cookies store well at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
- For a gluten-free version, substitute all-purpose flour with a gluten-free baking flour blend.
