If you're looking for a fun and festive snack to enjoy during the holidays, look no further than this easy recipe for reindeer candy!
This easy-to-make treat is made with everyone's favorite chocolate peanut butter cups, pretzel sticks and candy eyes. They can be made ahead of time and stored in the fridge until you're ready to serve.
Check out all the other reindeer dessert ideas for even more fun ways to celebrate the holidays this year!
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Over the years I've shared quite a few Christmas cookies and Christmas Treats to make the holiday season exciting and fun.
These reindeer candy treats are so much fun to make and they're perfect for school or church Christmas parties. You could even leave a few out for Santa on Christmas Eve!
Reindeer recipes have been popular Christmas Snacks on the blog lately! Check out a few of our favorite Reindeer Cupcakes or my Reindeer Cupcake Cake to help you celebrate the holiday season.
Table of Contents
- How to Melt Chocolate Almond Bark
- How to Melt Chocolate Chips
- Main Ingredients Needed
- Recipe Variations and Substitutions
- Step-by-Step Instructions
- Kitchen Tool Spotlight
- How to Decorate the Reindeer
- Before You Begin!
- Give Homebaked Candies as Christmas Gifts
- Storage Tips
- More Christmas Snacks to Enjoy
- 📖 Recipe Card
- 💬 Comments
How to Melt Chocolate Almond Bark
Chocolate almond bark is a common ingredient in many holiday recipes, from shortbread cookies dipped in chocolate to dipping pretzels for Reindeer Pretzels decorated for Christmas. Melting the almond bark can be tricky, but with a little care and attention it's possible to get perfectly smooth, creamy melted chocolate every time:
- To melt chocolate almond bark, start by breaking the bark into small pieces. This will help the chocolate melt evenly.
- Then, place the bark in a heat-proof bowl and set it over a pot of simmering water.
- Stir the chocolate occasionally as it melts, and be careful not to let the bottom of the bowl touch the water (this will cause the chocolate to seize up).
- Once the chocolate is melted, remove it from the heat and use it as desired.
How to Melt Chocolate Chips
For this recipe, I used semi-sweet chocolate chips for the melted chocolate. This process can be used to melt chocolate chips for dipping cookies, candy, pretzels, or any other holiday treat. Here are the easy steps I used for melting chocolate chips using the microwave:
- First, place chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl.
- Second, microwave on high power for 30 seconds.
- Third, remove from the microwave and stir. Repeat this process in 15-second increments until the chocolate chips are melted and smooth.
- If you didn't want to use pretzel sticks, try pretzel twists. Those would make cute antlers!
- Check out my other recipe for Chocolate Reindeer Cookies is very similar to this recipe only uses a chocolate cookie bar.
Main Ingredients Needed
Here's a quick overview of the ingredients for this recipe. Find the exact amounts and click the Instacart button to easily add them to your cart – all in the printable recipe card below!
Betty Crocker Large Candy EyeballsMore InformationREESE'S Miniatures Milk Chocolate Peanut Butter CupsMore InformationRold Gold Pretzel SticksMore InformationM&M'S Milk Chocolate Bulk Red CandyMore InformationSemi Sweet Chocolate ChipsMore Information
Recipe Variations and Substitutions
- For this recipe, I used mini chocolate peanut butter cups for the reindeer faces, and then add pretzel sticks for the antlers.
- You could also use regular sized peanut butter cups or even white chocolate cups for a completely different flavor.If you didn't want to use pretzel sticks, try pretzel twists. Those would make cute antlers!
- Check out my other recipe for Chocolate Reindeer Cookies is very similar to this recipe only uses a chocolate cookie bar.
Just get creative the recipe and have fun! The kids will love helping you make these as well.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Melt the chocolate chips in the microwave (15-second bursts, stirring until smooth). This will be your "glue." Place a dollop of chocolate on parchment paper and press in two pretzel sticks to make the antlers.
Step 2: Unwrap the Reese's Miniature Cups. Add another drop of chocolate on top of the pretzel sticks and press the Reese's Miniature Cups onto it.
Kitchen Tool Spotlight
Use a lollipop stick to set the melted chocolate in place before you add the candy eyes or nose.
How to Decorate the Reindeer
Step 3: Time for Rudolph's signature red nose! Place a tiny dab of melted chocolate towards the bottom of the peanut butter cup, and gently press a red M&M on top.
Step 4: Next, add two small dabs of melted chocolate for the candy eyes. Put the baking sheet in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to allow the chocolate to harden before serving.
Before You Begin!
If you make this recipe, please leave a review and star rating. This helps my business thrive and continue providing FREE recipes.
Give Homebaked Candies as Christmas Gifts
- You can easily print out the the Cookie Gift Tags above to give these Reindeer Candy as gifts.
- Include these really cute handmade with love stickers to seal the parchment paper.
- You can even order personalized homemade from my kitchen personalized stickers on Amazon!
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Storage Tips
Room Temperature: Reindeer Candy are best served and stored on a flat surface. The antlers tend to break when placed in bags. They can be stored at room temperature for about 1 week as long as it's not too warm in the house.
Refrigerator: Storing the candies in the refrigerator will cause the pretzel sticks to become soggy, therefore, I recommend enjoying them fresh within a few days or up to a week of preparing them.
More Christmas Snacks to Enjoy
📖 Recipe Card
Reindeer Candy
Ingredients
- 10 Mini Reese's Peanut Butter Cups unwrapped
- ¼ cup chocolate chips
- 20 pretzel sticks
- 10 red M&Ms
- 20 candy eyes
Method
- Unwrap the Reese's and place them on a parchment lined baking sheet.
- In a microwave safe bowl, heat the chocolate chips at 15 second intervals, stirring between, until completely melted.
- Use the chocolate to "glue" the reindeer features into place.
- Place a large dab of chocolate directly on the parchment paper and press 2 pretzel sticks into it.
- Add another drop of chocolate onto that and press the Reese's onto it. This forms the reindeer's antlers.
- Add a dab of chocolate towards the bottom of the Reese's for the nose, and two small dabs for the eyes.
- Put the baking sheet in the fridge for 30 minutes to allow the chocolate to harden before serving.
Nutrition
Notes
- Use a lollipop stick to set the melted chocolate in place before you add the candy eyes or nose.
Pam says
How very cute are these?! I'm so happy to tell you that I will be featuring this post at Thursday Favorite Things tomorrow. Thanks so much for sharing it with us! 🙂
Nicolle says
These are so adorable! My kids would love these! I'd love for you to come link up over at my weekly link party for a chance to be featured!
Lois says
Thank you for the feature!!!