And i'm going to do this in the middle of what is always my busiest time of the year, to which i've already added trying to buy a co-op and the other half of my department being on maternity leave? While I've got an awful head cold and have guests coming into town in a week?
I'm such a rockstar.
or, i thought i was until my sister told me that my 3 year old nephew had made these exact same cookies in NURSERY SCHOOL.
oh whatever. they're cute.
(sorry for the crappy cell phone camera picture. and yes, i should have
faced the Ms down - but I was REALLY tired...)
faced the Ms down - but I was REALLY tired...)
I made them for my work cookie exchange and while they were a HUGE pain to transport to the office (due to not wanting to lose the antlers, though the antlers seem way more secure than i expected), i fully expect to win (no actual award but lots of bragging rights for) cutest cookies on that exchange table...
Reindeer Cookies
courtesy of Bakergirl with slight modifications by me
Click here to import recipe directly into Pepperplate
3/4 c creamy peanut butter
1 1/4 c firmly packed light brown sugar
1/2 c unsalted butter (1 stick)
3 tbsp milk
1 tbsp vanilla
1 egg
1 3/4 c all-purpose flour
3/4 tsp baking soda
3/4 tsp salt
~ 72 chocolate-covered mini pretzels (1 box of the 100 calorie packages works)
~ 72 brown and green M&Ms
~ 36 red M&Ms in one of the larger varieties (i used pretzel but you could use peanut too...)
***
Preheat oven to 375°F.
Line baking sheets with parchment and set aside.
Combine peanut butter, brown sugar, butter, milk, and vanilla in large bowl. Beat at medium speed until well mixed and fluffy. (it also tastes REALLY good - sample it now, cause the egg is about to go in...)
Add egg; beat again to combine.
In a small bowl, combine flour, baking soda, and salt. Whisk to combine.
Slowly add flour mixture to peanut butter/sugar mixture with mixer on low. Mix til combined, but do not overmix - once everything is incorporated, shut it down.
Form dough into ~1-inch balls. Place on baking sheet, an about 1.5 - 2 inches apart. Pinch one end to form a nose and then slightly flatten the entire thing. You will have a tray of alien-heads at this point.
Bake for 7 to 8 minutes, until set or just barely beginning to brown.
Remove from oven and immediately press red M&Ms into the point to make Rudolph's nose. Then place either 2 brown or 2 green M&Ms into the middle to make the eyes.
Finally, push two mini pretzels at a ~90° angle (so, sticking straight up towards the sky) into the tops of the cookies for the reindeer's antlers.
Allow to cool 5 minutes on the baking sheet and then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. DO NOT TOUCH antlers while cookies are cooling as the chocolate will be melty and they are precarious at this point.
Makes about 3 dozen cookies.
In a small bowl, combine flour, baking soda, and salt. Whisk to combine.
Slowly add flour mixture to peanut butter/sugar mixture with mixer on low. Mix til combined, but do not overmix - once everything is incorporated, shut it down.
Form dough into ~1-inch balls. Place on baking sheet, an about 1.5 - 2 inches apart. Pinch one end to form a nose and then slightly flatten the entire thing. You will have a tray of alien-heads at this point.
Bake for 7 to 8 minutes, until set or just barely beginning to brown.
Remove from oven and immediately press red M&Ms into the point to make Rudolph's nose. Then place either 2 brown or 2 green M&Ms into the middle to make the eyes.
Finally, push two mini pretzels at a ~90° angle (so, sticking straight up towards the sky) into the tops of the cookies for the reindeer's antlers.
Allow to cool 5 minutes on the baking sheet and then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. DO NOT TOUCH antlers while cookies are cooling as the chocolate will be melty and they are precarious at this point.
Makes about 3 dozen cookies.
