Quick and Easy Air Fryer Reindeer Cookies Recipe
Introduction
These Quick and Easy Air Fryer Reindeer Cookies are a festive treat perfect for the holiday season. With a simple dough and playful decorations, they come together quickly and are sure to delight both kids and adults alike.
Ingredients
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup butter (softened)
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup white chocolate
- ¼ cup mini-pretzels
- Red and black candy pencils
Instructions
- Step 1: Preheat the air fryer to 350°F (180ºC).
- Step 2: In a mixing bowl, cream the sugar and softened butter with an electric mixer until soft and fluffy. Add the egg and vanilla extract, then continue mixing until well combined.
- Step 3: Add the flour and salt to the mixture, stirring with a spoon just until the dough comes together.
- Step 4: Transfer the dough to a clean surface and flatten it into a ½-inch thick rectangle. Cut the dough into 2-inch by ½-inch rectangles.
- Step 5: Shape each piece into reindeer forms using your fingers. Place them on the air fryer basket lined with parchment paper, then bake at 180ºC for 7 minutes. Remove and let cool on a rack.
- Step 6: Melt the white chocolate using a bain-marie or in a microwave-safe bowl in 30-second intervals, stirring between each until smooth.
- Step 7: Cut the mini pretzels in half. Make two small holes on the sides of each cookie, dip the pretzel halves in the melted chocolate, and insert them into the holes as antlers. Allow the chocolate to set.
- Step 8: Dip the reindeer cookies in the white chocolate and let them cool completely.
- Step 9: Use red and black candy pencils to decorate eyes and noses on the reindeer. Serve and enjoy your festive cookies!
Tips & Variations
- For a different flavor, try adding a pinch of cinnamon or ginger to the dough.
- Use colored chocolate melts for a more vibrant decoration.
- If you don’t have candy pencils, use small candies like chocolate chips or edible markers for decorating.
Storage
Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. To keep the chocolate decorations intact, avoid stacking the cookies. If you prefer, gently warm them in the air fryer for a minute before serving to soften slightly.
How to Serve
Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.
FAQs
Can I bake these cookies in a regular oven instead of an air fryer?
Yes, you can bake the cookies at 350°F (180ºC) in a conventional oven for about 8-10 minutes, keeping a close eye to avoid overbaking.
How do I prevent the pretzels from falling off the cookies?
Make sure to dip the pretzel halves into the melted white chocolate before inserting them into the holes on the cookies. The chocolate acts as glue once it sets, holding the pretzels securely in place.
Print
Quick and Easy Air Fryer Reindeer Cookies Recipe
- Total Time: 22 minutes
- Yield: Approximately 24 cookies 1x
Description
These Quick and Easy Air Fryer Reindeer Cookies are a festive holiday treat made with a simple sugar cookie dough, air-fried to perfection, then decorated with white chocolate, pretzels, and colorful candy pencils to resemble cute reindeer. Perfect for holiday gatherings or a fun baking activity with kids, these cookies combine a crispy exterior with a tender, buttery interior and delightful festive decorations.
Ingredients
Cookie Dough
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup butter (softened)
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon salt
Decorations
- 1 cup white chocolate
- ¼ cup mini-pretzels
- Red and black candy pencils
Instructions
- Preheat the Air Fryer: Set your air fryer to 350°F (180ºC) to warm up while you prepare the cookie dough.
- Mix the Cookie Dough: Using an electric mixer, cream together the granulated sugar and softened butter until the mixture is light and fluffy. Add the egg and vanilla extract, mixing until fully incorporated. Stir in the all-purpose flour and salt with a spoon just until the dough comes together.
- Shape the Cookies: Transfer the dough onto a work surface and flatten it into a ½ inch thick rectangle. Cut this rectangle into smaller rectangles approximately 2 inches by ½ inch each.
- Form Reindeer Shapes: Using your fingers, gently shape each rectangle into a reindeer shape. Arrange the shaped cookies on the air fryer basket lined with parchment paper, ensuring they don’t touch.
- Air Fry the Cookies: Cook the cookies in the preheated air fryer at 180ºC (350°F) for 7 minutes, or until they are lightly golden and cooked through. Remove them carefully and transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely.
- Melt the White Chocolate: Melt the white chocolate using a double boiler (bain marie) or in a microwave-safe bowl, heating in 30-second intervals and stirring after each until smooth.
- Prepare Pretzels and Assemble: Cut the mini-pretzels in half to create antlers. Make two holes on each cooled cookie where the antlers will go. Dip each pretzel half into the melted white chocolate and insert into the holes on the cookies. Allow the chocolate to set.
- Decorate the Reindeer: Once the chocolate has dried and set, dip each reindeer cookie partially into the melted chocolate for a glossy finish. Using red and black candy pencils, draw eyes and a nose to complete the festive look. Let the decorations set before serving.
- Serve and Enjoy: Your adorable air fryer reindeer cookies are now ready to be enjoyed or gifted during the holiday season.
Notes
- Ensure butter is softened to room temperature for easier mixing and better dough consistency.
- If your air fryer basket is small, bake cookies in batches to avoid overcrowding.
- Use parchment paper in the air fryer basket to prevent sticking and ease cleanup.
- Allow cookies to cool completely before decorating to prevent melting or smudging of the white chocolate and candy pencils.
- Store baked and decorated cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days.
- For an extra festive touch, add sprinkles or edible glitter along with the decorations.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 7 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Air Frying
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: air fryer cookies, reindeer cookies, holiday cookies, Christmas cookies, sugar cookies, easy cookie recipe, festive desserts
