Reindeer Brownie Bites

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These adorable Reindeer Brownie Bites are the perfect sweet treat for the holiday season! Made with fudgy brownie bites, miniature Reese’s peanut butter cups, pretzel antlers, and candy decorations, these cute little reindeer are almost too adorable to eat. They’re an easy Christmas dessert that’s perfect for holiday parties, classroom celebrations, Christmas cookie trays, or a fun afternoon of holiday baking with the kids.

The best part? We’re using a boxed brownie mix to keep things super simple! With just a handful of ingredients and a little decorating, you can turn ordinary mini brownies into the cutest little Christmas reindeer treats.

Whether you’re putting together a festive dessert platter or looking for something fun to make for your next holiday gathering, these easy reindeer brownie bites are sure to be a hit.

Why You’ll Love These Reindeer Brownie Bites

• Easy to make: A box of brownie mix makes this Christmas treat quick and simple to prepare.
• So festive: The pretzel antlers, candy eyes, and colorful M&M noses make these brownies look just like little reindeer.
• Perfect for parties: Their bite-sized shape makes them great for Christmas parties, holiday dessert trays, and family gatherings.
• Fun for kids: Little helpers will love decorating their own brownie reindeer.
• Delicious combination: Rich chocolate brownies, creamy peanut butter cups, and salty pretzels make the perfect sweet and salty treat.

Ingredients You’ll Need

You only need a few simple ingredients to make these cute reindeer brownie bites.

• 1 (16.3 oz.) box brownie mix: Plus the water, oil, and eggs called for on the back of the box. Use your favorite brand of brownie mix.
• 22 Reese’s miniature peanut butter cups: These create the reindeer’s faces and add a delicious peanut butter flavor.
• 40–50 pretzels: Break them into pieces to create little reindeer antlers. Having a few extras is helpful in case some break.
• 44 candy eyeballs: You’ll need two candy eyes for each reindeer.
• 22 red or brown M&Ms: Use red M&Ms to make Rudolph-inspired brownies or brown ones for the rest of the reindeer.
• Black cookie icing: This works as the glue to attach the candy eyes and noses.

How to Make Reindeer Brownie Bites

These easy Christmas brownie bites come together in just a few simple steps.

Step 1: Prepare the Brownie Batter

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Prepare your brownie mix according to the package directions, combining the brownie mix with the required water, oil, and eggs.

Stir until everything is well combined.

Step 2: Bake the Mini Brownies

Lightly grease a 24-cup mini muffin pan with nonstick cooking spray.

Divide the brownie batter evenly among 22 of the mini muffin cups.

Bake for 13–15 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a brownie comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs, but no wet batter.

Step 3: Add the Peanut Butter Cups

Remove the brownies from the oven and allow them to cool slightly.

While the brownies are still warm, gently press one unwrapped Reese’s miniature peanut butter cup into the top of each brownie bite.

The warmth of the brownies will help the peanut butter cups settle into place.

Carefully remove the brownie bites from the muffin pan.

Step 4: Add the Pretzel Antlers

While the brownies are still warm, carefully press two broken pretzel pieces into the top of each brownie and peanut butter cup to create the reindeer antlers.

Work gently so the pretzels don’t break.

Step 5: Decorate the Reindeer Faces

Use small dots of black cookie icing to attach two candy eyeballs to the front of each Reese’s cup.

Add another small dot of icing beneath the eyes, then press a red or brown M&M into place for the nose.

Repeat until all of your brownie bites have been decorated.

Step 6: Cool and Serve

Allow the reindeer brownie bites to cool completely so the chocolate can firm up and the decorations can set.

Arrange them on a festive serving platter and enjoy!

Tips for the Best Reindeer Brownie Bites

Don’t overbake the brownies. Since these are made in a miniature muffin pan, they bake much faster than traditional brownies. Start checking them around the 13-minute mark to keep them soft and fudgy.

Unwrap the Reese’s ahead of time. Having your peanut butter cups ready to go makes decorating much easier while the brownies are still warm.

Prepare the pretzel antlers before baking. Break your pretzels into antler-shaped pieces ahead of time so you can quickly add them to the brownies.

Work while the brownies are warm. The peanut butter cups and pretzels are easier to press into place before the brownies cool completely.

Use cookie icing instead of regular frosting. Cookie icing works well for attaching the candy decorations and helps them stay in place once set.

Let the brownies cool completely. This is especially important if you’re planning to transport them or arrange them on a Christmas dessert tray.

Fun Variations

There are several fun ways to customize these Christmas reindeer brownies!

• Make Rudolph brownies: Use red M&Ms for every nose to create a whole batch of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer treats.
• Mix up the reindeer: Use a combination of red and brown M&Ms to create Rudolph and his friends.
• Try different brownie mixes: Dark chocolate, milk chocolate, or extra fudgy brownie mixes would all be delicious.
• Use colorful candy noses: If you don’t have red or brown M&Ms, other colors will work for a playful twist.

How to Store Reindeer Brownie Bites

Store your finished reindeer brownies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.

If you need to stack them, place a piece of parchment paper between the layers, although storing them in a single layer is best to protect the pretzel antlers and candy decorations.

You can also refrigerate the brownie bites for up to 5 days. Allow them to come to room temperature before serving for the best texture.

Can You Make These Ahead of Time?

Yes! These adorable Christmas treats are a great make-ahead dessert for holiday parties.

For the freshest pretzels and prettiest decorations, I recommend making them the day before your celebration.

You can also bake the mini brownies ahead of time and decorate them closer to serving.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use homemade brownie batter?

Absolutely! If you have a favorite homemade brownie recipe, you can use it instead of boxed brownie mix. Just keep an eye on the baking time since different recipes may bake differently.

What if I don’t have a mini muffin pan?

A mini muffin pan works best for creating the perfect bite-sized shape. You could bake brownies in a regular pan and cut them into small squares, then decorate each square with a peanut butter cup and candy decorations.

Can I use regular-sized Reese’s cups?

Miniature Reese’s cups are the best size for these little reindeer faces. Regular-sized peanut butter cups would be too large for most mini brownie bites.

How do I keep the pretzel antlers from breaking?

Choose sturdy pretzel pieces and press them gently into the warm brownies. It also helps to have extra pretzels on hand since some pieces may break while you’re making the antlers.

Can I freeze reindeer brownie bites?

The undecorated brownies can be frozen in an airtight, freezer-safe container for up to 2 months. Thaw them before adding the peanut butter cups and decorations. I don’t recommend freezing the fully decorated reindeer, since the pretzels can lose their crunch and the candy decorations may become discolored.

More Easy Christmas Treats

If you love making fun and festive desserts for the holiday season, be sure to try some of our other favorite Christmas treats!

For another festive chocolate treat, try these delicious Christmas Brownies that are perfect for holiday parties and dessert trays.

If you love Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes, you’ll definitely want to try these easy Christmas Tree Cake Truffles!

Add something sweet, salty, and crunchy to your holiday dessert spread with this irresistible Christmas Crack Candy recipe.

For another adorable holiday dessert, try these festive Reindeer Cupcakes that are perfect for Christmas parties and holiday celebrations!

These cute Reindeer Gingerbread Men Cookies put a fun holiday twist on classic gingerbread cookies and are perfect for Christmas cookie trays!

These Reindeer Brownie Bites are such a fun way to dress up a simple box of brownies for Christmas. With their chocolate peanut butter faces, crunchy pretzel antlers, and adorable candy noses, they’re guaranteed to bring a little extra holiday cheer to your dessert table!

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