Adorable Rudolph Peanut Butter Cookies
Easy & Cute Rudolph Face 🦌 Peanut Butter Cookie Recipe (+Tips)
Whip up these adorable Rudolph cookies with a savory and slightly salty peanut butter dough, decorated with cute pretzels and chocolate! Perfect for special occasions or a fun activity with kids. The unique salty flavor from the peanut butter makes them not overly sweet, and their texture is delightfully crispy on the outside, soft, and chewy on the inside. You won’t be able to stop at just one! This recipe makes approximately 14 cookies and is easy enough for beginner bakers.
Savory Peanut Butter Cookie Dough- 120g unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- 130g peanut butter (creamy or chunky)
- 140g brown sugar
- 1g salt (approx. 1/4 tsp)
- 1 large egg, at room temperature
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 180g all-purpose flour
- 3g baking soda (approx. 1/2 tsp)
Cute Rudolph Face Decorations- 28 small pretzels (for antlers)
- 28 mini chocolate chips (for eyes)
- 14 M&M’s candies (for the nose)
- 28 small pretzels (for antlers)
- 28 mini chocolate chips (for eyes)
- 14 M&M’s candies (for the nose)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
In a large bowl, cream together the softened unsalted butter and peanut butter until smooth. Add the brown sugar and salt, and mix thoroughly until the sugar is mostly dissolved.
Step 2
Add the room temperature egg and vanilla extract to the mixture. Beat well until everything is evenly combined. Be careful not to overmix, and ensure the egg is fully incorporated.
Step 3
In a separate bowl, sift the all-purpose flour and baking soda together (sifting twice will yield a lighter cookie). Add the sifted dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Using a spatula, gently mix until just combined and no dry streaks of flour remain. Overmixing can lead to tough cookies.
Step 4
Wrap the cookie dough in plastic wrap or place it in an airtight container, and refrigerate for 30 minutes. This chilling step makes the dough easier to handle and prevents the cookies from spreading too much during baking.
Step 5
Once chilled, divide the dough into portions of about 45g each (or your desired cookie size). Roll each portion into a ball and then gently flatten it into a disc shape for the cookie base.
Step 6
Arrange the cookie discs on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, leaving some space between them. Bake in a preheated oven at 180℃ (350℉) for about 8 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden.
Step 7
Immediately after removing the cookies from the oven, while they are still warm, insert two small pretzels into the top of each cookie to create reindeer antlers. Return the cookies to the oven for an additional 2 minutes at 180℃ (350℉) to help secure the pretzels.
Step 8
While the cookies are still warm but not piping hot, press two mini chocolate chips into the cookie to form the eyes. Then, place an M&M’s candy in the center for the Rudolph nose. Let the cookies cool completely before enjoying!
