Reindeer Gingerbread Cookies

These reindeer gingerbread cookies start with a simple flip. Turn baked gingerbread men upside down, add chocolate-covered pretzel antlers, and finish each face with candy eyes and a bright red nose.

This is a decorating recipe, so you can use store-bought cookies or gingerbread men you’ve already baked. I like keeping the focus on the fun part: giving each little reindeer its own expression. Plan on about 20 minutes of decorating, plus time for the icing to set.

Why This Recipe Works

The cookie shape does the work: Turning a baked gingerbread man upside down gives you two top points for antlers and a rounded spot at the bottom for the nose. You don’t need a special reindeer cutter.

Thicker icing holds the details: Royal icing acts as the glue for the pretzels and candies. Keeping it thick helps the decorations stay where you place them.

A flat resting surface keeps everything in place: Let the icing set completely before moving or packaging the cookies so the antlers and faces stay attached.

Ingredient Notes

Baked gingerbread man cookies: Use your favorite baked cookies or a store-bought version. This recipe doesn’t include dough or baking instructions.

Royal icing: Store-bought or homemade icing works. Use a thicker consistency so it can hold the decorations without them sliding.

Chocolate-covered pretzels: You’ll need two small pretzels for each cookie. These become the antlers.

Candy eyes: Two eyes per cookie bring the reindeer faces to life.

Red candies: Use red strawberry candies or other small red candies for the noses. Red gumdrops, M&Ms, or jelly beans are also options from the recipe.

How to Make Reindeer Cookies from Gingerbread Men

1. Arrange the baked gingerbread man cookies upside down on a flat surface, with their heads at the bottom and legs at the top.

2. Use royal icing to attach two candy eyes to the center of each cookie, above where the arms meet.

3. Attach one red candy to the head at the bottom of each cookie for the nose.

4. Use royal icing to attach two chocolate-covered pretzels to the top legs of each cookie for antlers. Let the icing set completely before serving or packaging.

Decorating Tips

Use thicker icing: It helps hold the pretzels and candies in place instead of letting them slide.

Work in small batches: Decorate a few cookies at a time so the icing doesn’t dry before you add the candy.

Line the work surface: Parchment paper makes decorating cleanup easier.

Give them personality: Tilt the eyes or mix up the red nose candies. The gingerbread reindeer cookies don’t have to look identical.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a reindeer cookie cutter?

No. These use baked gingerbread man cookies turned upside down. The familiar shape does the work for you.

Can I use store-bought cookies?

Yes. Store-bought gingerbread man cookies work, or you can use cookies you’ve already baked from your favorite recipe.

Does the 20-minute time include baking?

No. It covers decorating only. Any baking time and the time needed for the icing to set are separate.

When can I package the cookies?

Wait until the icing has set completely so the decorations stay in place.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Making Reindeer Gingerbread Cookies

Using icing that’s too thin: Runny icing lets the pretzels and candy slide. Use a thicker consistency for attaching the decorations.

Adding icing to every cookie at once: Work in small batches so the icing doesn’t dry before the decorations are in place.

Packaging before the icing sets: Leave the cookies flat until the icing is completely set. The 20-minute decorating time doesn’t include this resting time.