These Reindeer Snack Cakes are an easy and fun treat for any and all holiday parties. Kids of all ages will love them.
I just couldn't pass up the opportunity to make a fun holiday treat this year.
Reindeer inspired treats have been following me everywhere I go...on pinterest, magazines, and TV. I took it as a sign that I needed to jump on board and create my own fun version. Now really there isn't anything different about mine than anything I have seen. Googly eyes...check. Red nose...check. Pretzel antlers...check. Yup, it's kind of the same thing everywhere you look.
My little twist was to use pre-packaged snack cakes for the head. I wanted something that was already dipped in chocolate, so I didn't have to do it. This is an easy treat people. So easy the kids could probably do it with their eyes closed.
Only I don't recommend that if they are anything like my boys. They were using the toothpicks as weapons instead of dipping. They also were giving the reindeer a lot more eyes than two. Boys!!!
My first thought in making these reindeer was to use Reese's peanut butter cups. The face worked just fine. They were looking so cute, but then we started to add the antlers and they fell apart. So back to the drawing board...well, actually back to the store the next day.
I started looking for Moon Pies because I thought those would be perfect cookie to hold the antlers in place. After searching three stores, I called it quits on the moon pies, and started looking for another cookie that would work. I walked every aisle in the store and ended up in the snack cake aisle. Score! I found Swiss Cake Rolls and Tastykake Peanut Butter Kandy Kakes . I brought home a box of each to test.
The Kandy Kakes were my favorite for making the reindeer faces. The cake rolls were cute for another shape, but they were very flimsy. The Kakes were much sturdier and held up to us pushing and shoving things into them.
I had leftover candy eyes from Halloween, but you can still find more at Michaels or Hobby Lobby in the cake decorating aisle. Go ahead and buy the bottle...you will find ways to use them up. I also had Sixlets in my baking cupboard, and I realized that the round shape worked perfect for a reindeer nose. A little bit of melting chocolate holds the eyes and nose in place.
Fun colored straws are not totally necessary, but food on a stick is just so much cuter. Dip the end of the straws in the melted chocolate and gently push into the cookie. Do it gently so you don't go through the other end or the front of the cookie. No reindeer casualties, please.
The last step is to add some antlers. I broke a bunch of pretzels into pieces to find the right shape I was looking for. You can really just use any piece of pretzel...I'm just kind of particular like that.
If you want to give these cute reindeer snack cakes as a gift, use a piece of floral foam and a cute decorated box.
I found the red box, tissue paper, and foam at the Dollar Tree. I added the twine and washi tape just to amp it up a little more.
Just be careful carrying your bouquet...mine ended up a little back heavy because there were more reindeer in the back of the box. It still stood up just fine on my counter though.
This one went to my hair dresser to say thank you for getting me in for a hair cut and color on such short notice. I knew her kids would adore it.
Aren't these just the cutest little reindeer around? Being so easy to put together definitely makes them even cuter. I have a feeling we will be making more reindeer snack cakes next week for school Christmas parties...
Recipe
Reindeer Snack Cakes
Candy and pretzels decorate these snack cakes into a fun reindeer treat that is perfect for any holiday party.
Ingredients
- chocolate covered snack cakes (TastyKake Peanut Butter Kandy Kakes)
- paper straws
- ¼ cup chocolate melts
- candy eyeballs
- red Sixlets
- pretzel pieces
Instructions
- Melt the chocolate according to the package directions. Dip a toothpick in the chocolate and use it to attach the Sixlets and candy eyes to the front of the snack cake.
- Dip the end of the straw in the melted chocolate. Gently push it into the center of the cookie. You can use a sharp knife to make a slit in the chocolate first if needed.
- Press the pretzel pieces into the top of the snack cake to make holes. Remove and dip the ends of the pretzels into the melted chocolate. Place back into the antler holes.
- Store in a sealed container. You can make as many or as few of these as you like.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 12 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 55Total Fat: 2gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 5mgSodium: 48mgCarbohydrates: 8gFiber: 0gSugar: 5gProtein: 1g
Nutrition facts are an estimate and are not guaranteed to be accurate. If you need special diet advice, please see a registered dietician.
Jill @ KitchenFunWithMy3Sons says
These are so super cute...love them!!
Jocelyn Brubaker says
Thank you Jill!
Marcie says
I've always been a sucker for cute reindeer decorations and treats, so I love these! They're so adorable, I'd have trouble eating them...for about a minute.
Jocelyn Brubaker says
The cute reindeer stuff sucked me in this year...I just had to make something cute! And yeah, no trouble eating them here!
Wendy says
Fantastic! An adorable treat and/or decoration that is fast( no baking) and simple!! The best part about simple (besides saving time which is at such a premium this time of year) is that kids could make this. Pinning this as a crafty home or classroom project!
Jocelyn Brubaker says
Thank you Wendy!
Jess @ On Sugar Mountain says
I have seen these all over the internet lately too but I never would've thought to use snack cakes! My dad can't get enough of those little cakes lol, so he would flip if his stocking had a few of these inside. 😀
Jocelyn Brubaker says
The snack cakes mad them so much easier to make. Definitely make a batch for your family 🙂
Sarah @ Miss CandiQuik says
Umm - how cute & simple are these!?!? Pinning 🙂
Jocelyn Brubaker says
Thank you so much Sarah! I appreciate the pin love!
Stephanie @ PlainChicken says
Adorable!! I love how easy they are!!
Jocelyn Brubaker says
Thank you Stephanie!
Kelly says
Oh my goodness, these are super adorable Jocelyn! I love how creative you got with these snack cakes and pretzels 🙂 Pinning 🙂
Jocelyn Brubaker says
Thank you Kelly!
Tieghan says
SO CUTE!! I love creative desserts like these! 🙂
Jocelyn Brubaker says
Thank you Tieghan!
Heather @ French Press says
Jocelyn, these are beyond cute
Jocelyn Brubaker says
Thank you so much Heather!
Nancy P.@thebittersideofsweet says
Cute, cute, cute and CUTE!
Jocelyn Brubaker says
Thank you Nancy!
Megan - The Emotional Baker says
These are so cute! I love reading about your boys decorating the reindeer. Sounds like they had fun 🙂
Jocelyn Brubaker says
Ha! I think they had a little too much fun 🙂
Rachel @ Baked by Rachel says
These are SO cute!
Jocelyn Brubaker says
Thank you Rachel!
Averie @ Averie Cooks says
Omg SO CUTE! You are so creative Jocelyn! And have super steady hands! Pinned 🙂
Jocelyn Brubaker says
Thank you so much Averie! It is easy to have steady hands when they are already dipped for you. Thanks for the pin love too!
Hayley @ The Domestic Rebel says
These are so stinkin' cute, Jocelyn! I really wish we had those Tasty Kakes here in CA .. I can't find them anywhere and they sound so delicious!!
Jocelyn Brubaker says
There are no Kandy Kakes in CA? I am horrified for you! They really are amazing! Sorry!
Mary Frances @ The Sweet {Tooth} Life says
I've never had a KandyKake ... I am feeling shame! I was going to do reindeer cookies (mnms, pretzels) for Christmas, but these are not only way cuter, I would get to try a new candy!
Jocelyn Brubaker says
I hope you are able to find the Kandy Kakes...they are so yummy! And your reindeer cookie idea sounds so fun!
Erin | The Law Student's Wife says
ADORABLE!!! These would be so cute in the middle of a holiday table too (though I think I'd ruin my appetite for dinner--they look addictive!)
Jocelyn Brubaker says
Thank you!!! And yes, this would be the cutest centerpiece...except I don't think it would make if very long either!
Shaina says
Omg these are too cute! I love making holiday-themed treats like the Oreo turkeys for Thanksgiving and marshmallow dreidels for Hanukkah. These are perfect for Christmas!
Jocelyn Brubaker says
Thank you Shaina!
Beth @ bethcakes says
These are so cute! I like that you use snack cakes that are already dipped in chocolate because I am definitely not good at that, haha. I've been meaning to make something with some leftover googly eyes and these look so fun!
Jocelyn Brubaker says
Thank you! I am all about easy and less work. Using the already dipped chocolate cakes was perfect for these!
Auntiepatch says
Mmmmm....Jocelyn, what are Sixlets ? I know they must be candy, but candy what?
Mary. says
They are sort of like "M&M's® but more of a rounder, lBall" shape.
Jocelyn Brubaker says
They are a round chocolate ball in a candy shell.
Auntiepatch says
Cute!