Name: Adorable Reindeer Wafer Cookies
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 4 min
Total time: 4 min
Yield: 8
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 8 vanilla wafers (or chocolate wafers); 8 red peanut butter M&M (for Rudolph’s nose); 16 candy eyes; 8 pretzels (for antlers); 10 oz Ghirardelli’s milk chocolate melting wafers; Microwave safe bowl; Spoon for stirring and drizzling; Parchment paper; Baking sheet; 3 Small bowls (for candy eyes, M&Ms and Pretzels) - optional

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These Rudolph inspired, no bake reindeer wafer cookies are tree-mendously fun to make and share. Vanilla wafers take on a festive glow when dipped in chocolate and decorated with pretzel antlers, candy eyes, and red M&M noses. They’re a merry treat for kids to help with, and a cheerful addition to holiday parties, potlucks, or classroom celebrations.

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Decorated Reindeer Cookies

Plate of festive reindeer cookies made from vanilla wafer bars dipped in chocolate, decorated with candy eyes, red chocolate noses, and mini pretzels as antlers. The cookies are arranged closely on a white plate atop a red and black checkered cloth.

If you’re looking for a quick and festive no-bake Christmas treat, these Rudolph cookies are just the thing.

I find whipping up a batch of reindeer wafer cookies is as easy as it gets. By combining chocolatey wafers with pretzel antlers, googly candy eyes, and a bright red M&M nose, you’ll have a festive tray of reindeer cookies ready in minutes.

I love that they double as dessert and decorations, and are also easy Christmas snacks for kids we can easily share at parties, school events, or potlucks without a lot of stress or bother. If I’m running short on time, I just skip the chocolate dip and use chocolate wafers instead. Which cuts down on the time needed even more.

Cute enough for Rudolph fans and simple enough to prep ahead, these holiday reindeer treats will quickly become a family favorite. I know they are in our household, as they’re one of my most requested treats around the holiday season.

Adorable no bake wafer cookies decorated with pretzel antlers, candy eyes, and red noses to resemble reindeers.

⭐️ Also try more festive no bake Christmas treats like our adorable Reindeer chocolate Bark and this Sweet Christmas Rudolph Dip or these mini chocolate reindeer treats and let your heart grow 3 sizes with these quick Grinch pretzel snacks.

Why You’ll Love These Reindeer Cookies with Pretzel Antlers

Minimal effort: Fun to make in under 30 minutes.

Kid-friendly activity: Easy hands-on decorating for little helpers.

Festive look: Bright red noses, candy eyes and pretzel antlers make fa fun addition to Christmas charcuterie boards, cookie trays and holiday dessert or snack tables and gift bags.

Crowd pleaser: Cute enough for kids, tasty enough for adults.

No oven needed: Cute no-bake cookies for the win, that will save you time.

Budget friendly: Simple, cheap ingredients that can make many Reindeer cookies at a time.

Close-up of reindeer cookies made from vanilla wafer bars dipped in chocolate, topped with candy eyes, red candy noses, and mini pretzels arranged as antlers. The cookies are neatly lined on a white plate with a red and black cloth underneath, emphasizing their playful holiday design.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Ingredients for Christmas wafer reindeer cookies displayed on a counter, including a family-size bag of mini pretzels, peanut butter M&M’s, candy eyes, a package of vanilla wafers, and milk chocolate melting wafers. Each item is labeled to show what’s needed to assemble the festive treats.

For the Reindeer Wafer Cookies:

8 vanilla wafers (or chocolate wafers)
8 red peanut butter M&M (for Rudolph’s nose)
16 candy eyes
8 pretzels (for antlers)
10 oz Ghirardelli’s milk chocolate melting wafers

TIPS: To save on time, skip the chocolate dip and use chocolate wafers or premade chocolate covered wafer cookies instead. You can also use Biscoff cookies as the base. Double or triple the recipe for parties.

Equipment You’ll Need

Microwave safe bowl
Spoon for stirring and drizzling
Parchment paper
Baking sheet
3 Small Bowls (for candy eyes, M&Ms and Pretzels) – optional

🎄 KID CHRISTMAS ACTIVITY: Place the already half dipped vanilla wafers on a cookie sheet, or plates (one plate for each child). Put the face ingredients in individual dishes (make sure to put out at least 2 candy eyes, 2 pretzels and one M&M nose for each wafer cookie. Have extras on hand as I’ve found the kids will snack on the ingredients). Let the kids decorate their own Rudolph cookies using icing gel, or a little bit of melted chocolate to “glue” on the eyes etc.

Plate of decorated reindeer cookie snacks made from vanilla wafer bars partially dipped in chocolate, with candy eyes, red M&M noses, and pretzel twists for antlers. The playful holiday treats are arranged on a white plate over a red and black plaid napkin.

⭐️ This fun holiday treat would go well with our other favorite easy Christmas Appetizers, like this Christmas Tree Cheese Board, and more yummy Christmas Party Food for Kids.

How to Make Wafer Rudolph Cookies

Close-up of chocolate-dipped reindeer cookies made with vanilla wafer bars, featuring candy eyes, red M&M noses, and mini pretzels for antlers. The whimsical holiday treats are tightly arranged, highlighting their detailed and playful decorations.

1. Melt the chocolate

Place the milk chocolate melting wafers in a microwave safe bowl. Follow the instructions on the package.

Or heat for two minutes on defrost mode, stir, then continue on defrost mode for 1 to 1 ½ minutes more. Stir until smooth.

Glass dish filled with smooth, melted milk chocolate, being stirred with a green spatula. The chocolate is glossy and ready for dipping cookies, with a box of vanilla wafers blurred in the background.

2. Dip the wafers

Hold each vanilla wafer in your fingers, and dip it halfway into the melted chocolate, coating all sides. Lightly tap the wafer to get off any excess chocolate.

Place the coated wafer onto parchment paper.

Plain vanilla wafer cookies arranged in neat rows on a sheet of parchment paper, prepped and ready for dipping or decorating as part of a holiday treat recipe. The wafers have a light color and a classic crisscross texture.

Vanilla wafer cookies partially dipped in melted chocolate and topped with mini pretzels arranged as antlers, laid out on parchment paper to set. These cookies are in the early decorating stage of becoming reindeer treats.

3. Add the antlers & create the faces

Break pretzels in half. Dip the ends into chocolate and attach to the top of each wafer.

Add two candy eyes and a red M&M nose while the chocolate is still soft.

Partially decorated reindeer cookies laid out on parchment paper, featuring vanilla wafer bars dipped in chocolate with pretzel antlers and candy eyes beginning to be added. The treats are mid-assembly, showing the step-by-step process of creating the Christmas snacks.

Finished reindeer cookies on parchment paper, made from vanilla wafers dipped in chocolate, decorated with candy eyes, red M&M noses, and pretzel antlers.

4. Set the cookies

Place the tray in the freezer for 10 minutes until firm. Serve and enjoy!

Storage Tips: Store the cookies in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Keep them away from the heat. If stacking, separate layers with parchment paper.

Close-up of completed cute Rudolph cookies made with vanilla wafer bars dipped in chocolate, featuring wide candy eyes, red M&M noses, and mini pretzels as antlers. The cookies are bunched together on a plate.

Tips & Variations

Peanut-free option: Swap the peanut M&Ms for red chocolate M&Ms, red jelly beans or Skittles.

Flavor twist: Use chocolate wafers, premade chocolate dipped wafers or Biscoff Cookies as the base.

Party platter: Make up a Christmas charcuterie board with these reindeer cookies, along with our favorite sweet Reindeer Dip, and other festive Christmas Treats.

Mini version: Use mini Nilla wafers, mini chocolate wafer squares, or vanilla oreo cookies for bite-sized Rudolph snacks that are extra cute on cookie trays.

⭐️ Looking for more fun Christmas treats? Try these delicious Pecan Shortbread Cookies, or our kiddos favorite no bake Peanut Butter Snowballs, and quick 15 minute Apple Trifle Desserts.

Final Thoughts: Cute Wafer Reindeer Cookies

These Adorable Wafer Reindeer Cookies are the definition of easy, festive fun.

Rudolph cookies bring instant cheer with their chocolate-dipped wafers, pretzel antlers, and candy eyes, making them irresistible reindeer snacks for all ages.

I love serving them as Christmas cookies for parties, potlucks, or class treats because they travel well and always get a smile.

They’re fast enough to whip up last minute but cute enough to feel special, whether you’re gifting them or adding them to a holiday cookie tray.

Keep this recipe handy, it’s one you’ll want to return to every Christmas season.