All the other reindeer loved Rudolph, and all your party guests will love these happy little guys. The only thing better than a Nutter Butter is one dipped in chocolate, and these Reindeer will make you even more popular than the red-nosed guy who saved Christmas!
Guys, I have a little problem when it comes to peanut butter.
I may or may not have a jar stashed under my car seat right now with some disposable spoons. It’s really not my fault, though. It’s hard to abstain when it manages to make its way into sweet and savory dishes!
Peanut butter cookies, crisp buttery edges full of sweet peanutty flavor, with the signature sugar-glazed crisscross pattern that makes extra crispy bits on top, yeah, they’re a real weakness.
Easy access to something like Nutter Butters at the store has pretty much secured my seat in peanut butter anonymous.
I’m here today to lure you over to the brown side too by sharing these seemingly innocent Reindeer Nutter Butter treats.
Trust me, you’ll be commiserating with me in my peanut butter coma soon enough!
Whether someone first dunked their chocolate in peanut butter or smeared peanut butter all over someone else’s chocolate, you almost always find the rich, dark Aztec contribution to the world whenever there’s peanut butter nearby.
We won’t break from that tasty tradition here. You’ll just dip Nutter Butters into melted milk chocolate, then let the decorating begin!
Nutter Butter cookies have only been around since the 1960s, but their popularity grew quickly, and estimates are over 1 billion of these instantly recognizable, peanut-shaped cookies are sold each year.
By the way, that crisscross pattern we all try to replicate on our homemade cookies was actually designed by the same guy who developed Oreos. It kinda all makes sense now . . .
When it comes to dipping chocolate, almond bark used to be the go-to for its wonderful, creamy quality and, more importantly, its super power of hardening quickly and staying that way even at room temperature.
Now lots of different companies make competing products, and I’m a big fan of Ghirardelli’s. Their chocolate is known around the world for its rich, intense flavor and heavenly texture, and their melting wafers do not disappoint!
You should be able to find them at local grocery and craft stores (places that carry Wilson products, for example), but you can always order them online if you’re having a hard time finding them.
You’ll want to pull out your double boiler for these, not melt them in the microwave, because the stovetop version keeps the chocolate at just the right temperature for dipping (especially if you’re prone to sneaking off to a closet to consume a few of those naked Nutter Butters in private).
I probably have a double boiler somewhere, but it’s stealthily buried in a kitchen cabinet. Instead, I just find a glass or metal bowl that sits an inch or two down in whatever pot I’m using and do it that way. Just remember the bowl with the chocolate can get hot so have your oven mits handy while you’re dipping.
Aside from the deep chocolate flavor in these melted wafers, they also work great as glue. It’ll make the cookies stick nicely to the pretzel antlers and securely seat your candy eyes and nose.
You can substitute some contrasting colored mini-chips for the eyes, and, if you don’t feel like sifting through a box of M&Ms for the red noses, you can use any similarly sized red candy (like red hots, for example). The nose can go right in the center, or you can put it down at the bottom of the cookie to look more like a snout.
If you have any royal icing on hand, you can also tint some black and draw little mouths at the bottom.
This is the perfect cooking adventure to kick off the holidays with your little ones since they’re quick, easy, and will be just as festive (arguably more charming!) with antlers glued onto the front or crooked eyes (even more than two).
For a fun holiday party tradition, you can do the dipping ahead of time and set up a little table for kids to decorate them as take-home treats. Have little bowls of melted chocolate wafers on a heating pad nearby with popsicle sticks or brushes for them to help glue their decorations (you might even pull out some sprinkles or other candies). Just be ready to have a hard time getting the kiddos out the door when it’s time to go!
Recipe Notes:
Portable Treats – Speaking of popsicle sticks, you can insert a popsicle stick into the bottom of the Nutter Butter cookies before you get started, then dip and decorate them as desired. After they’ve dried, just wrap them in clear plastic wrap (not the clingy stuff) and tie them with a holiday bow. Instant gift-giving for teachers and friends!
More Creative Christmas Recipes!
Reindeer Oreos -These oreos are completed with a shiny red nose and sure to make a statement in the holidays!
Pretzel Snowman -crispy, chocolaty Pretzel Snowmen come together with just a touch of frosting and a little imagination.
Red Velvet Cake Balls -Easy to make and infused with a decadent flavor!
North Pole Cupcakes – flavorful cupcake supports a giant, snowy drift of peppermint frosting with a cute little sign directing everyone to the place where all the magic happens!
Reindeer Sugar Cookies– Delightful little deer dressed to impress your holiday guest!
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