Christmas Rudolph’s Red Nose Cookies

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These Christmas Rudolph’s Red Nose Cookies they are just too cute to take seriously.

Little chocolate reindeer faces with pretzel antlers and bright red noses staring up at you like hey, eat me already.

The first time I brought them to a Christmas party people went wild.

Kids were losing their minds, adults were pretending they were grabbing one “for the kids” and I was over there eating one straight off the tray like I had no self control whatsoever.

They are just soft, chewy chocolate cookies dressed up like Rudolph.

You stick on red M and Ms for the nose, pretzels for antlers, and candy eyes to bring them to life.

They taste like classic hot cocoa in cookie form and decorating them is honestly half the fun.

If you have kids around they will absolutely take over the decorating part whether you want them to or not.

Ingredients

1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup all purpose flour
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup mini chocolate chips
24 red M and Ms
48 mini pretzel twists
48 candy eyes

Why These Ingredients Just Work

Softened butter makes everything rich and chewy. Sugar keeps the edges a little crisp. The egg holds it all together.

Vanilla gives that warm cozy flavor. Flour keeps them sturdy but still soft. Cocoa powder is where that big chocolate hit comes in.

Baking soda helps them puff a bit. Salt keeps them from being too sweet.

Mini chocolate chips make every bite extra loaded.

The M and M is the nose, the pretzels are the antlers, and the candy eyes are what make you feel guilty destroying their little faces.

How I Make Them

I preheat my oven to 350 and line a baking sheet with parchment so nothing sticks.

I grab a big bowl and cream the butter and sugar with my mixer for a couple minutes until it looks pale and fluffy. That little step right there is the secret to chewy cookies.

Then I beat in the egg and vanilla for like thirty seconds.

In another bowl I whisk the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt.

I slowly add that into the wet ingredients and mix just until it is combined. If you keep mixing after that the cookies get tough and nobody wants that.

Once it looks like a proper cookie dough I fold in the mini chocolate chips.

I use a cookie scoop and roll the dough into little balls. I flatten them slightly with my fingers because you need a flat surface for the reindeer faces.

I space them out a couple inches on the baking sheet because they do spread a little.

They bake for about 10 to 12 minutes. I like to check at 10 because I prefer mine chewy. Now here is where you have to move quick.

The second they come out I gently press two pretzels at the top for antlers, two candy eyes below that, and one red M and M in the center. They melt slightly and stick right in.

After a few minutes I transfer them to a cooling rack so they do not keep cooking on the hot tray.

Serving Ideas

I love piling them on a big Christmas platter so it looks like a whole herd of Rudolphs staring at you.

They are perfect for school parties, cookie exchanges, family nights, or honestly just with a mug of hot cocoa on the couch.

If I am gifting them I stack them in a tin with some tissue paper or clear bags with bows and people act like I handed them gold.

Leftovers

They stay soft in an airtight container at room temp for about 5 days.

If I want to save them longer I freeze them in layers with parchment paper in between.

When I want one I let it sit out for a bit or microwave it for like five seconds so it gets warm again.

Tips I Learned the Hard Way

Let the butter actually soften before mixing, about 30 minutes is perfect.

Flatten the dough balls or decorating gets messy. Add all the decorations while the cookies are still hot or they will fall right off.

Do not overbake. If any piece refuses to stick, a tiny dab of melted chocolate is basically edible glue.