Reindeer Cookies Recipe with Jam and Chocolate Recipe

If you’re on the lookout for a festive treat that’s not only adorable but also irresistibly delicious, you’ve come to the right place. I’m super excited to share this Reindeer Cookies Recipe with Jam and Chocolate Recipe that practically sparkles with holiday cheer. These little cuties bring together buttery cookie goodness, a splash of fruity jam, and melty chocolate details that you and your family will end up sneaking before anyone else gets a bite!

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Ingredients You’ll Need

This recipe comes together with pantry-friendly ingredients you probably already have or can easily find. Each item plays a key role in giving you that perfect soft, buttery texture with a pop of jammy sweetness and rich chocolate detail.

• Unsalted Butter: Room temperature butter gives your cookies that tender, melt-in-your-mouth texture.
• Icing Sugar: Adds sweetness and helps create a soft crumb texture in the dough.
• Egg Yolk: Just the yolk keeps the cookies rich and helps bind everything together.
• Vanilla Extract: A splash of vanilla lifts the flavor nicely without overpowering.
• Salt: Just a pinch to balance the sweetness and enhance all flavors.
• Plain/All-Purpose Flour: Forms the structure for your cookies — don’t swap with whole wheat or it’ll affect the texture.
• Strawberry Jam: I like strawberry because it’s vibrant and pairs beautifully with the chocolate, but use your favorite jam.
• Milk Chocolate: For melting and piping the sweet little antlers and eyes — choose good quality for best results.

Variations

I love how versatile this Reindeer Cookies Recipe with Jam and Chocolate Recipe is—as you make it more, you’ll find fun ways to tweak it to suit your tastes or dietary needs. Feel free to get creative!

• Jam Swaps: I once tried raspberry jam instead of strawberry and was hooked on that tangy berry flavor paired with chocolate.
• Chocolate Alternatives: Dark chocolate works beautifully if you want a richer, less sweet finish. Also, white chocolate adds a pretty contrast if you want to get fancy.
• Diet-Friendly Swap: Use a plant-based butter alternative and dairy-free chocolate to make these cookies vegan-friendly—still amazing, I promise.
• Festive Flavors: Add a tiny sprinkle of cinnamon or ginger powder to your dough for a cozy holiday vibe.

How to Make Reindeer Cookies Recipe with Jam and Chocolate Recipe

Step 1: Cream Butter and Sugar Until Fluffy

Start by placing your softened butter, icing sugar, egg yolk, vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt into a stand mixer bowl or a large mixing bowl if you’re using a hand mixer. Beat these together on medium speed until the mixture turns light and fluffy—this usually takes around 3-5 minutes. Watching that transformation always feels like magic, and it’s key for creating that tender cookie base.

Step 2: Fold in the Flour to Form Dough

Next, gently add the plain flour to the creamed mixture. I find folding with a spatula works best here to keep the dough soft and not overworked. Once the flour is mostly combined, take the dough out and knead it briefly on a clean surface until smooth. This hands-on step helps the dough come together without becoming tough.

Step 3: Roll and Cut Your Reindeers

Roll your dough between two sheets of baking paper to about 6mm (a little under a quarter-inch) thick. Use a 6cm round cookie cutter for the main cookie shapes. For half of them, cut out an off-center smaller circle (around 1cm) to create a nose hole—this is where the jam nose will shine later! Keep re-rolling and cutting until you’ve used up all the dough. I’ve found keeping the dough chilled helps with clean cuts and prevents stickiness too.

Step 4: Chill and Bake to Golden Perfection

Place your cookies on a baking tray lined with parchment paper and pop them in the fridge for 30 minutes to chill—this helps them keep their shape in the oven. While chilling, preheat your oven to 180ºC (or 170ºC fan)/356ºF. Bake the cookies for 11 to 13 minutes until you see golden edges forming. I usually remove them once you get that subtle golden glow because it keeps them soft inside but just slightly crisp on the outside. Cool on the tray for a couple of minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Step 5: Pipe the Festive Jam Noses

Take your strawberry jam and give it a quick stir to soften it up. Spoon it into a disposable piping bag and snip a small hole at the tip. Gently pipe neat circles of jam onto the cookies without the nose holes—but don’t go too close to the edges or pile on too much jam, or it could spill out. Once done, carefully press the cookies with the nose holes on top, aligning them so the jam peeks through as the ‘red nose’. This step is the cutest moment, trust me!

Step 6: Melting Chocolate and Adding Details

Melt your milk chocolate gently in the microwave using short 10-second bursts, stirring in between so it melts smoothly without burning. Pour the melted chocolate into another piping bag and trim the tip for fine control. Pipe cute eyes just above the jam noses, then draw the antlers on each cookie. For the antlers, I like piping a main line and then adding small downward arrows branching off—that little detail always impresses guests and makes the cookies super festive.

Step 7: Let Set and Store

Allow the chocolate to set fully on a rack before you move your cookies. Once ready, store them in a metal tin at room temperature and enjoy within 4 to 5 days. I promise you’ll want to make more, they’re that addictive!

How to Serve Reindeer Cookies Recipe with Jam and Chocolate Recipe

Garnishes

I like keeping it simple with a light dusting of icing sugar before serving for a snowy effect. Sometimes, I add tiny edible glitter just to up the festive wow factor—kids and adults both love that little sparkle.

Side Dishes

These cookies go beautifully with a hot cup of cocoa or warmed spiced apple cider—perfect for cozy winter parties. I also enjoy pairing them with a cheese platter or fresh fruit to balance the sweetness.

Creative Ways to Present

One holiday season, I arranged these reindeer cookies on a platter surrounded by pine branches and cranberry sprigs—it was such a crowd-pleaser. Another idea is to wrap each cookie individually in clear cellophane tied with a festive ribbon as charming edible gifts.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I store leftover cookies in a metal tin at room temperature, layering parchment paper between them. This keeps them fresh and prevents sticking for up to 5 days, and sometimes they even taste better after it sits a day or two!

Freezing

Freezing works well for the dough before baking. Just wrap it tightly in cling film and pop it in the freezer for up to a month. Thaw in the fridge overnight before rolling, cutting, and baking. I haven’t frozen the baked cookies with jam and chocolate because of potential texture changes, but the dough freezes beautifully.

Reheating

If you want your cookies warm, a quick 10-second zap in the microwave works wonders—just be careful not to melt the chocolate accents. Warmed, they taste like freshly baked and bring out the jam’s shine.

FAQs

Final Thoughts

This Reindeer Cookies Recipe with Jam and Chocolate Recipe holds a special place in my holiday baking tradition. Every time I make these, I get the warm, fuzzy feeling of cozy kitchens and joyful laughter as my family gathers ’round. The balance of buttery cookie, sweet jam, and rich chocolate means each bite is a little festive celebration. I promise, once you try this recipe, you’ll want to keep it in your repertoire for every holiday season—trust me, it’s worth every delicious step!

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