Made with a homemade peanut butter cookie dough recipe then decorated with candy eyes, red M&M noses and pretzel antlers these Peanut Butter Reindeer Cookies are perfect for holiday parties!
Preheat oven to 375°F. Line baking sheet pans with parchment paper.
Using an electric mixer, combine together the butter, peanut butter, and brown sugar until fluffy.
Then add the egg and vanilla extract.
Mix together until combined.
In another bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt.
Add the dry ingredients to the sugar/butter ingredients and combine well. Roll dough into 1 ½" balls and place on lined sheet pan 2" apart. Flatten the balls slightly.
Bake for 8-10 minutes or until edges are just lightly browned.
Immediately place eyes, noses, and antlers into cookies.
Allow to cool for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to finish cooling.
Notes
Try not to overmix the cookie dough. It can result in tough cookies. Mix just until the flour is incorporated.
Watch them as they bake. Peanut butter cookies can quickly go from golden brown to overdone. Start checking for doneness around the minimum recommended baking time and remove them from the oven when they are lightly golden around the edges.
Add the pretzel antlers, candy eyes and red M&Ms as soon as you remove the trays from the oven, then allow them to cool completely before enjoying.