There is nothing quite as charming and delicious during the holiday season as the Reindeer Oreo Cookies Recipe. These festive treats transform classic chocolate sandwich cookies into adorable reindeer faces, complete with chocolate-dipped coats, candy eyes, little antlers, and colorful noses. They bring so much joy and a perfect dash of whimsy to any holiday party or cozy family gathering. Best of all, this Reindeer Oreo Cookies Recipe is surprisingly simple to make, turning ordinary ingredients into extraordinary edible holiday art that everyone will adore.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Each ingredient in the Reindeer Oreo Cookies Recipe plays a special role in creating the perfect balance of flavor, texture, and festive appearance. From the rich chocolate coating to the tiny candy details, these simple essentials come together beautifully.
- 20 Double Stuffed Oreos: The star of the show providing a creamy center and chocolate cookie base.
- 15 ounces Ghirardelli dark chocolate melting wafers: For that smooth, luscious coating that makes each cookie irresistible and glossy.
- ¾ cup black candy melts: Essential for piping the delicate reindeer antlers with rich color and firm texture.
- 40 small round sprinkles or candy eyes: These create cute, expressive eyes that bring each reindeer cookie to life.
- 20 M&M candies (brown and red for noses): The perfect final touch—noses that add charm and a pop of color.
How to Make Reindeer Oreo Cookies Recipe
Step 1: Prepare Baking Sheets
Start by lining two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats to create a clean, non-stick surface for your chocolate work. This prevents sticking and makes cleanup a breeze, which is always a bonus when working with melted chocolate.
Step 2: Melt Black Candy Melts
Place the black candy melts in a heatproof bowl and microwave at half power for 1 minute. Stir well, then continue microwaving at 30-second bursts, stirring each time until completely smooth. This even melting ensures your piping will be smooth and easy to control.
Step 3: Fill Piping Bag and Pipe Antlers
Transfer the warm black candy melts into a small piping bag (a Wilton #3 tip works perfectly, or use a zip-top bag with a tiny corner cut off). Let the chocolate cool for 2 to 3 minutes so it thickens slightly, making it easier to pipe precise shapes. Carefully pipe antlers roughly 1 to 1¼ inches long by creating two small ‘V’ shapes rowed together and joined by a central line. After piping all antlers, refrigerate the tray for 10 minutes to let them firm up properly.
Step 4: Melt Dark Chocolate Wafers
Clean your mixing bowl and microwave the dark chocolate wafers at half power for 1 minute. Stir well, then continue melting in 30-second intervals until your chocolate is creamy and smooth. This luscious coating will give your Oreos a beautiful finish and help all decorations stick perfectly.
Step 5: Dip Oreos
Using a fork, dip each Oreo into the melted dark chocolate one at a time. After dipping, tap the fork gently against the bowl’s edge to remove excess chocolate for an even coat. Place each dipped Oreo carefully on the prepared baking sheets, ready for decorating.
Step 6: Decorate Cookies
Once you’ve dipped two or three Oreos, quickly begin decorating by adding the noses (M&Ms), eyes (sprinkles or candy eyes), and pre-chilled antlers onto each cookie while the chocolate is still wet. This ensures everything sticks in place perfectly. Continue this process in batches until all cookies have their signature reindeer faces.
Step 7: Set the Chocolate
Pop the decorated cookies into the refrigerator for about 15 minutes until the chocolate coating is set and firm to the touch. Then, you can proudly serve these festive beauties, bursting with holiday cheer!
How to Serve Reindeer Oreo Cookies Recipe
Garnishes
For an extra festive touch when serving your Reindeer Oreo Cookies Recipe, consider dusting with a light sprinkle of edible glitter or powdered sugar to mimic snow. You can also add festive colored sprinkles around your cookie platter to heighten the holiday mood.
Side Dishes
These cookies pair wonderfully with a warm cup of hot chocolate topped with whipped cream or a cozy mug of spiced apple cider. The rich flavors of the cookie and chocolate contrast beautifully with these warm beverages for a perfectly balanced treat.
Creative Ways to Present
Try stacking your reindeer cookies in a festive glass jar tied with a seasonal ribbon or arrange them on a decorative platter shaped like a wreath. You can also individually wrap them in cellophane bags with colorful ribbons to give as charming holiday gifts or party favors.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Keep leftover Reindeer Oreo Cookies Recipe treats fresh by storing them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to five days. The chocolate coating helps preserve freshness and prevents the cookies from softening too quickly.
Freezing
You can freeze these cookies by placing them in a single layer on a baking sheet to freeze before transferring to an airtight container or freezer bag. This helps maintain their shape and delicious taste for up to 2 months. Thaw at room temperature when ready to enjoy.
Reheating
Since these are chilled treats, they are best enjoyed cold or at room temperature. Avoid reheating, as it can melt the chocolate decorations and alter the texture, taking away from their charming appearance and crispness.
FAQs
Can I use regular Oreos instead of double stuffed for this recipe?
Absolutely! While double stuffed Oreos make the reindeer faces a bit more substantial and creamy, regular Oreos will work just fine and taste just as delicious.
What if I don’t have black candy melts for the antlers?
You can substitute with dark or semi-sweet chocolate, but black candy melts are easier to pipe and hold their shape. Alternatively, food coloring can be added to white candy melts to achieve the right color.
How do I prevent the candy melts from seizing?
Make sure to microwave in short bursts at half power and stir often. Avoid any water contact, as moisture can cause candy melts to seize and become grainy.
Can I make these cookies a day ahead?
Yes! Preparing your reindeer Oreo cookies a day ahead is perfect for busy schedules. Just store them in an airtight container in the fridge overnight and serve the next day.
Are these cookies suitable for kids to help make?
Definitely. Kids will love helping with dipping and decorating the Oreos—it’s a fun and creative holiday activity. Just be sure to supervise the use of hot melted chocolate.
Final Thoughts
This Reindeer Oreo Cookies Recipe is a delightful way to celebrate the holidays with a fun and tasty treat that appeals to all ages. It’s simple enough to make with special little helpers yet elegant enough to impress guests. I can’t wait for you to try making these cute cookies and watch the smiles they bring around your table!
Print
Reindeer Oreo Cookies Recipe
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Total Time: 55 minutes
- Yield: 20 cookies
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Dipping
- Cuisine: American
Description
These festive Reindeer Oreo Cookies are a fun and creative holiday treat made by dipping Oreo cookies in rich dark chocolate and decorating them with candy antlers, eyes, and M&M noses to resemble cute reindeer. Perfect for holiday parties or gifting, these easy-to-make cookies combine crunchy chocolate sandwich cookies with smooth chocolate coating and colorful candy decorations.
Ingredients
Cookies and Candy Coating
- 20 Double Stuffed Oreos or other chocolate sandwich cookies
- 15 ounces Ghirardelli dark chocolate melting wafers
- ¾ cup black candy melts
Decorations
- 40 small round sprinkles or candy eyes
- 20 M&M candies (brown and red for noses)
Instructions
- Prepare Baking Sheets: Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats to create a clean surface for working with the chocolate and decorating the cookies.
- Melt Black Candy Melts: Place the black candy melts in a heatproof bowl and microwave at half power for 1 minute. Stir well, then continue microwaving in 30-second increments, stirring after each, until the candy melts are smooth and fully melted.
- Fill Piping Bag: Transfer the warm black candy melts into a small piping bag fitted with a Wilton #3 tip or a zip-top plastic freezer bag with a small corner cut off. Allow to cool for 2-3 minutes so the candy thickens slightly for better control when piping detailed shapes.
- Pipe Antlers: Pipe small antlers about 1 to 1¼ inches long onto the prepared baking sheet by creating two small letter ‘V’s in a row and connecting them with a line down the center. Refrigerate the tray for 10 minutes to allow the antlers to set and harden.
- Melt Dark Chocolate: In a clean heatproof bowl, microwave the dark chocolate melting wafers at half power for 1 minute. Stir and continue microwaving in 30-second intervals, stirring after each, until the chocolate is completely melted and smooth.
- Dip Oreos: Using a fork, dip each Oreo cookie one at a time into the melted dark chocolate, then gently tap the fork against the bowl edge to remove excess chocolate. Place the dipped Oreo on the prepared baking tray.
- Decorate Cookies: After dipping 2-3 Oreos, quickly add the decorations by placing the M&M nose, two small round sprinkles or candy eyes for eyes, and the chilled chocolate antlers onto each Oreo. Repeat in batches until all cookies are dipped and decorated.
- Set the Chocolate: Refrigerate the decorated Oreos for 15 minutes or until the chocolate coating and decorations are fully set and firm. Serve immediately or store for later enjoyment.
Notes
- Use parchment paper or silicone mats to prevent sticking and make cleanup easier.
- Allow the black candy melts to cool slightly before piping to create sharper, neater antler shapes.
- If you don’t have candy eyes, small round sprinkles make a great substitute.
- Store finished cookies in an airtight container at room temperature or in the refrigerator to keep them fresh.
- Be careful not to overheat the chocolate in the microwave to prevent seizing.
