Reindeer Cookies {3rd 12 Days Recipe}

As if the fact that these cookies are flat-out adorable wasn't enough of a selling point...you use pre-made refrigerated cookie dough, so there are four {count them ~ four!} ingredients total!  Plus, no mixers, beaters, or spatulas needed, so clean-up is a breeze!  Thanks, Pillsbury!  {Find the link to another reindeer recipe from them at the bottom of this post}.

Reindeer Cookies

Ingredients

1 roll {16.5 oz} Pillsbury refrigerated gingerbread or peanut butter cookies 

64 small pretzel twists

64 semisweet chocolate chips

16 candied cherries or gumdrops, cut in half {or 32 M&Ms}

Heat the oven to 350 degrees F.  With hands, shape roll of cookie dough into triangle-shaped log.  {If dough is too soft to cut, place in freezer 30 minutes}.

With thin, sharp knife, cut dough into 32 {1/4-inch thick} triangular slices; on ungreased cookie sheets, place 2 inches apart.  Place 2 pretzel twists on each triangle near corners for antlers.

Bake 7 to 11 minutes, or until set.  While warm, lightly press 2 chocolate chips into each cookie for eyes, and 1 cherry half {or gum drop/M&M} for nose.  Remove from cookie sheets.  Let stand until chocolate chips are set, about 15 minutes.  Store between sheets of waxed paper in a tightly covered container.

Check out this frosted sugar-cookie version, also from Pillsbury ~ takes just a bit more elbow grease, but they're equally adorable.

xoxo
Bean