“Nice” Reindeer or “Naughty” Coal Chocolate Brownie Cookies

I’m not sure if I really like the whole “nice” and “naughty” list thing.  It’s a little creepy thinking anyone is being spied on and I don’t particularly like idle threats.  REALLY you are going to leave anyone a lump of coal?!?!  I think that is not very nice.

That is why these super yummy, KID FRIENDLY quick & easy cookies work well.  You can make cute reindeer or lumps of coal and either way they are a delish.

And here is how I made them.

Ingredients:

1/4 cup butter

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1 tablespoon milk

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

2/3 cup all-purpose flour

Materials Needed for Decorating:

- candy eyes – you could use M&Ms or other candy

- pretzel twists for antlers

- brown M&M’s for the noses Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner & Blitzen (that is EIGHT reindeer so you don't have to count;)

- red candies for Rudolph’s nose – I used Maynard Swedish Berries, but red Smarties, M&M’s or Jelly Tots will look super cute too

Instructions and Tips:

Preheat oven to 375.

Beat together butter, brown sugar, cocoa powder, milk and vanilla until well combined.

Beat in baking soda and flour.

Divide dough into 9 pieces.

To make the coal just crumple up the dough in whatever coal shape you would like.

To make the reindeer, shape into a triangular reindeer head and push pretzel "antlers" firmly into dough.  

Bake for 6 minutes.

Add eyes and nose as soon as cookies come out of the oven.  If the cookies are still hot the eyes and nose will stick to the cookie without using royal icing.

This recipe is perfect for one set of the eight reindeer plus one Rudolph but because I love the Swedish Berries I only made red nosed reindeer.

The cookies really do taste like brownies -- so naughty or nice -- everyone should have a happy holiday.

Merry Christmas!