Winter Wonderland Reindeer Cookies: A Festive Delight for the Holidays

When the holiday season rolls around, there’s nothing more magical than baking festive treats that bring joy to family and friends. These Winter Wonderland Reindeer Cookies are not only delicious but also charmingly cute, making them a perfect addition to your holiday dessert table. 🦌✨

With buttery sugar cookie bases decorated to look like adorable reindeer faces, these cookies are easy to make and fun for all ages. Whether you’re hosting a holiday party, preparing edible gifts, or spending quality time baking with loved ones, this recipe is sure to bring cheer.

The Perfect Recipe for Reindeer Cookies

Ingredients You’ll Need

To make these festive treats, gather the following:

For the Sugar Cookies:

• 1 cup (226g) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
• 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 ½ cups (315g) all-purpose flour
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon salt

For the Decorations:

• 48 mini pretzels (to create the antlers)
• 24 red M&Ms or candies (for Rudolph’s nose)
• 48 candy eyeballs
• Royal icing or melted chocolate (to act as adhesive)
• White sanding sugar (optional, for a snowy look)

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Preparing the Cookie Dough

The foundation of these cookies is a classic sugar cookie dough. Here’s how to make it:

1. 🧈 In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugar together using an electric mixer. Beat until the mixture is light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
2. 🥚 Add the egg and vanilla extract, blending until well incorporated.
3. 🍪 In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Slowly add this dry mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing until a soft dough forms.
4. 🌀 Shape the dough into a disk, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. This helps the dough firm up, making it easier to roll and cut.

2. Rolling and Cutting

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. Lightly flour a clean surface and roll out the chilled dough to about ¼-inch thickness.
3. ✂️ Use a round cookie cutter (about 2.5 inches in diameter) to cut out circles. Re-roll any scraps of dough to make more cookies.
4. 📄 Place the circles onto the prepared baking sheets, ensuring they are about 1 inch apart to prevent sticking during baking.

3. Baking the Cookies

1. Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden.
2. 🌬️ Remove from the oven and allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

4. Decorating the Reindeer

Once the cookies have cooled, it’s time for the fun part—decorating!

1. 🍫 Melt some chocolate or prepare royal icing to use as edible glue.
2. 🦌 Gently press two mini pretzels onto the top edge of each cookie to serve as antlers.
3. 👀 Attach two candy eyeballs just below the pretzels.
4. ❤️ Use a red candy to create the reindeer’s nose in the center of the cookie.
5. 🌨️ (Optional) Sprinkle white sanding sugar over the cookies for a touch of winter sparkle.

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