Rudolph Reindeer Cake Mix Cookies: You will love these chewy fudgy chocolate cookies (that start with a cake mix!) that are decorated to look like adorably festive reindeer faces!
Desserts at Christmas are a non-negotiable for me (Calories don’t count at this time of year, right?!) and seeing these cookies on a cookie tray with these pecan snowball cookies, is one of my favorite sights to see during Christmas!
This Peppermint Sugar Cookie Cake is a show stopper, and this sweet Christmas Tree Cake Dip is perfect for any holiday party.
Not to mention these pretty Tree Forest Winter Cupcakes look like they are topped with snow-sprinkled Christmas trees, and these cute reindeer face cookies are the newest addition to our Christmas dessert spread!
Why you’ll love this recipe
These cookies start with a chocolate cake mix! (Just like in our gooey butter chocolate cake mix cookies!)
Cake mix cookies are so versatile! There is no fussy measuring, there are SO many flavor options and you probably already have all of the ingredients to make these cookies in your kitchen. We’ve made funfetti cake mix cookies, red velvet cake mix cookies, vanilla cake mix cookies, strawberry cake mix cookies, and even made a cookie from brownie mix!
If you are looking for holiday treats for students, whether it is a cookie decorating party for the kids or a homeschool co-op activity, this is the perfect recipe. Each batch makes about 30 cookies and the decorations are simple to add for even little hands. (And honestly, crooked eyes and noses are pretty much the cutest things!)
Do I need to even mention … chocolate! Each chewy cookie tastes like a brownie in cookie form. If you’re a chocoholic like I am, add 1/2 cup of chocolate chips to the dough for chocolate chocolate cake mix cookies!
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Ingredients
With such simple ingredients, these Rudolph Reindeer Cake mix cookies are great to have on hand for the next snow day!
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) of butter, softened
- 8 oz. (1 block) of cream cheese, softened
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 large egg
- One 15.25 oz. devil’s food cake mix
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 60 candy eyes
- 30 red M&Ms for the reindeer noses
- 60 mini pretzel twists for reindeer antlers
- Icing or frosting to adhere the decorations
See the printable recipe card below for ingredients, nutrition information and detailed recipe notes.
Instructions
We think Christmas cooking ideas (like cake mix cookies) shouldn’t be difficult. So, here are the step-by-step instructions with pictures to make this easy cookie!
- First, preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Line several baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
- In a large bowl, cream the butter and cream cheese together until smooth.
- Next, add the vanilla extract and egg and mix well to combine.
- Now, add the dry cake mix to the creamed mixture. Stir until well blended. The dough will be a little thick.
- Using a small cookie scoop, scoop out the dough and form it into 1 inch balls.
- Drop each cookie dough ball into a ball of powdered sugar and roll it around to coat it.
- Next, place the sugar coated cookie dough balls on the lined cookie sheet about 2 inches apart.
- Now, bake the cookies for 10-13 minutes. They should be baked through, but not too crispy.
- Allow the cookies to cool completely. Use icing or frosting to attach two mini pretzels to the top of each cookie for antlers. Add two candy eyes and a red M&M in the center of each cookie for Rudolph’s nose.
- Finally, let the cookies rest for about 5 minutes so the icing is set and enjoy!
Whether you’re making just Rudolph or the whole reindeer gang, here are a few way to change up this recipe to suit your family and get creative!
Substitutions
- We used full fat cream cheese for this cake mix cookie recipe, but you can use reduced fat cream cheese.
- Any 15.25 oz. chocolate cake mix will work in this recipe for reindeer face cookies.
- While we love classic vanilla extract, you could use almond extract or even peppermint extract for a mint chocolate cake mix cookie. Peppermint extract is pretty strong, so we suggest reducing the amount of extract a bit.
- You can add up to 1/2 cup of your favorite add-ins to this dough. Semi-sweet chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, toffee bits, crushed candy canes, cinnamon chips, crushed pretzels and toasted pecans are some of our favorites!
Variations
- Make reindeer sandwich cookies (reindeer whoopie pies) by covering one undecorated chocolate cake mix cookie with frosting and topping it with a reindeer face cookie. I think this is such a cute idea!
- Another fun idea is to make reindeer sugar cookies. Just frost a sugar cookie with chocolate frosting and then add the antlers, eyes and nose. (You can use the same method to frost chocolate rice krispie treats for reindeer rice krispie treats.)
- Make each reindeer cookie into a fun cookie pop! While the cookies are still warm, slide a lollipop stick or popsicle stick into the cookies. (Press the warm cookie around the stick if necessary to keep it stable.) Decorate and enjoy!
Decorate Rudolph Reindeer Cake Mix Cookies
Aren’t these the cutest Christmas cookies?! They are so simple to decorate as described in the original recipe, but here are some alternatives for some of the ingredients we used.
- Instead of candy eyes, you can use white chocolate chips or white M&Ms. Or, use white frosting in a piping bag to pipe on white eyes.
- You can use a cinnamon red hot candy or small pieces of maraschino cherries for Rudolph’s nose if you prefer that to a red m&m.
- A brown m&m will make the perfect nose for Dasher and Dancer and all of the other reindeer.
- Use standard sized pretzel twists for larger pretzel antlers.
I’m pretty sure if you leave these Rudolph Reindeer Cake Mix Cookies out on Christmas Eve, it will guarantee you a spot on Santa’s nice list!
Storage
How long do homemade cookies stay fresh? These cookies, like most homemade cookies, will stay fresh when stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
To freeze these reindeer cookies, let them set and place them in a ziploc freezer bag or airtight freezer safe container for up to 3 months.
More Fun Easy Christmas Cookies
Get those cookie jars and cookie trays ready! Here are some simple Christmas cookie recipes the whole family will enjoy: nostalgic Cornflake Wreaths, classic Cut Out Sugar Cookies, the BEST no bake cookies and these adorable Christmas Gingerbread Cookies. Happy cookie making!
Did you make this? I’d be so grateful if you left a review below to let me know what you thought! Then, the next time you need a quick and easy recipe, come back to Fantabulosity to browse all of my easy recipes!
Rudolph Reindeer Cake Mix Cookies
Ingredients
- ½ cup butter softened (1 stick)
- 8 oz cream cheese softened (1 block)
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 large egg
- 1 15.25 oz devil's food cake mix
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 60 candy eyes
- 30 red M&Ms
- 60 mini pretzel twists
- icing
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line several baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
- In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter and cream cheese together until light and fluffy.
- Next, add the vanilla extract and egg and mix well to combine.
- Now, add the dry cake mix to the creamed mixture. Stir until well blended. The dough will be a little thick.
- Using a cookie scooper, scoop out the dough and form it into 1 inch balls.
- Drop each cookie dough ball in a bowl of powdered sugar and roll it around to coat it.
- Place the sugar coated cookie dough balls on the lined baking sheets, about 2 inches apart.
- Now, bake the cookies for about 10-13 minutes.
- Allow the cookies to cool completely. Use icing or frosting to attach two pretzel twists to the top of each cookie for antlers. Add two candy eyes and a red M&M for the reindeer nose.
- Finally, let the cookies rest for about 5 minutes so the icing is set and enjoy!
Notes
- You can use chocolate chips for the eyes if you can’t find the candy eyes.
- Cinnamon red hot candies make a great alternate for the red reindeer noses.
- Any 15.25 oz. chocolate cake mix can be used for this recipe.
- You can make the dough and store it in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
- Store the baked cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. To freeze these cookies, place them in a ziploc bag or freezer safe airtight container for up to 3 months. Thaw the cookies overnight and enjoy!
Nutrition
Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary with brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes and more.
Jamie N. says
These cookies are SO delicious! My kids love the reindeers!
Allyssa says
This tasted so amazing! Thanks a lot for sharing this super easy to make cookies recipe! Fam really loves it! Will surely have this again! Highly recommended!
Jennifer says
The CUTEST cookies!! So tasty and easy to make!!