Reindeer Chocolate-Covered Cookies
November 15, 2025
Chocolate-covered reindeer cookies with a crunchy cookie center.
These Reindeer Chocolate Covered Cookies bring all the holiday charm in the cutest way. Each cookie gets its own antlers, eyes, and bright red nose, all made right in the mold for perfect details every time. They’re festive, fun to assemble, and such a hit on Christmas Eve dessert trays.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Easy to customize with your favorite sandwich cookies.
- Fun, detailed reindeer faces made right in the mold.
- Perfect chocolate-covered cookies for parties and gifting.
- Kid-friendly decorating and simple steps.
- Festive holiday sprinkles add texture and color.
Ingredient Notes
- Dark chocolate: Used for piping the eyes and antlers so they stand out with clean details.
- White chocolate: Creates the white of the eyes and also gets tinted for the red noses.
- Red food coloring: Use an oil-based formula so it blends smoothly into melted chocolate, or swap for red candy melts.
- Milk chocolate: This is the main coating chocolate that fills the mold and surrounds the cookie.
- Cookies: Nutter Butters, Vienna Fingers, or any thicker sandwich cookie work best for a sturdy, crunchy center.
- Holiday sprinkles: Add color and a festive finish to the backs of your chocolate-covered cookies.
Before You Bake
Do I need to use oil-based food coloring for the red noses?
Yes. Water-based coloring can make melted chocolate seize, so stick to oil-based coloring or use red candy melts to keep the texture smooth.
What type of cookie works best in the center?
Choose a cookie that’s thick and sturdy—Nutter Butters, Vienna Fingers, or similar sandwich cookies hold their shape and give the best crunch inside the chocolate shell.
How long should each chocolate layer chill before adding the next?
About 10 minutes. The details set quickly in the fridge, so each layer is ready to go as soon as it looks firm and matte.
Reindeer Chocolate-Covered Cookies
Ingredients
Supplies
Ingredients
- Dark Ghirardelli melts
- White Ghirardelli melts
- Red oil-based food coloring or red candy melts
- Milk Ghirardelli melts
- Cookies of your choice (Nutter Butter, Vienna Fingers, or any thicker sandwich cookie)
- Holiday sprinkles
Instructions
- Melt half of the dark melts according to the package directions. Add the chocolate to a piping bottle and pipe the antlers and the dark parts of the eyes into each cavity of the mold. Chill until firm.
- Melt half of the white melts. Transfer half of that to a piping bottle and pipe the white portions of the eyes. Let them set. Tint the remaining white chocolate red for the noses, pipe them into the mold, and chill again.
- Melt the milk chocolate and spoon it into the mold, filling each cavity halfway. Press a cookie into the center, then cover with more milk chocolate. Tap the mold gently to release air bubbles. If any cookie floats, tap it back down. Add holiday sprinkles to the backs.
- Refrigerate until set. Remove from the mold and serve at room temperature.
FAQ
Can I use candy melts instead of Ghirardelli chocolate?
Yes. Candy melts work well in molds and come pre-colored, which makes the noses even easier.
How do I keep the cookie from floating up in the mold?
Tap the mold gently after placing the cookie. If it floats, press it back down lightly with a clean finger or spoon before adding more chocolate.
Do these need to stay refrigerated?
No. Once fully set, store them at room temperature in a cool, dry place. They’ll stay fresh for several days.
Can I make these ahead for a party?
Absolutely. They can be made 2–3 days in advance and stored in an airtight container until serving.
How do I avoid air bubbles in the chocolate?
After filling the mold, tap it on the counter several times. This helps the chocolate settle smoothly around the cookie and removes trapped air.
Sprinkle of Fun
Turn these into a Christmas Eve activity by making a fresh batch just before bedtime and setting them out “for Santa’s reindeer” along with the milk and cookies. Kids can help choose which reindeer gets which cookie, making the tradition even more magical.
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