There’s something undeniably festive and fun about these sweet little bites, and that’s exactly why I adore the Reindeer Oreo Cookies Balls Recipe. Crispy Oreos mixed with creamy cheese, coated in rich chocolate, and dressed up as adorable reindeer make them a holiday hit you won’t regret making.
Jump to:
Why You'll Love This Recipe
Honestly, nothing beats the joy of biting into these cute, chocolaty reindeer treats during the holidays. It’s a simple recipe that feels special with minimal effort, and you’ll love how kids and adults alike can’t get enough.
- Easy to make: You don’t have to be a baking pro to pull these off—they come together fast and are mostly no-bake beyond melting chocolate.
- Festive fun: Turning Oreo balls into reindeer with pretzels and candy eyes adds a playful touch everyone will smile at.
- Delicious texture: Crunchy Oreos, creamy cream cheese, and smooth chocolate—each bite is a dreamy mix of flavors and textures.
- Great for gifting: These little guys make fantastic homemade gifts that are sure to impress without any fuss.
Ingredients & Why They Work
Each ingredient here plays a starring role. The Oreo crumbs give that signature chocolatey crunch, cream cheese binds everything into smooth balls, and the chocolate coating seals the deal with rich flavor and a glossy finish. Plus, pretzels and candy add the festive decorations that bring the reindeer to life.
- Oreo Cookies: Crushing them finely ensures a perfect crumb base, and any flavored Oreos add your own twist.
- Cream Cheese: Softened to room temp, it binds the crumbs while keeping the texture creamy and smooth.
- Dark Chocolate Melting Wafers: They melt beautifully and create a shiny, firm coating around each ball.
- Pretzel Twists: Their shape mimics antlers perfectly, and they add a subtle salty crunch.
- Candy Eyes: These give your reindeer personality and fun detail that kids absolutely love.
- M&M’s or Red Hots: The perfect pop of red for that iconic reindeer nose—not just cute, but tasty!
Make It Your Way
I love swapping out candy eyes for edible markers to draw funny expressions or using white chocolate melts for a different look on the antlers. Feel free to make the Reindeer Oreo Cookies Balls Recipe your own—it’s so adaptable!
- Variation: I once tried peppermint-flavored Oreos for a minty twist that instantly screamed holiday spirit, and it was a hit at my family party.
- Gluten-Free Version: Use gluten-free Oreo alternatives to wow guests with sensitivities while keeping all the charm.
- Kids’ Fun: Let little hands help with decorating—the hands-on activity makes these a double win for holiday gatherings.
Step-by-Step: How I Make Reindeer Oreo Cookies Balls Recipe
Step 1: Crush and Mix
Start by pulsing your Oreos in a food processor until they’re fine crumbs, almost like sand. Resist the urge to leave bigger chunks—it’ll affect the texture. Then, beat the softened cream cheese until it’s perfectly smooth before folding the Oreo crumbs in with a mixer on medium speed. Getting a uniform dough here is key for smooth balls later on.
Step 2: Roll and Chill
Use a cookie scoop to portion your dough—it makes the balls uniform and quicker to form. Roll them gently between your palms to a nice, smooth ball and arrange them on a parchment-lined tray. Chill these in the fridge for a solid two hours; this step ensures they hold their shape when dipped in chocolate.
Step 3: Dip and Decorate
Melt your dark chocolate wafers carefully—either a double boiler or microwave works—but stir often to avoid burning. Dip one ball at a time with a fork, shaking off the excess chocolate gently so it’s smooth and not gloopy. Before the chocolate sets, stick in two broken pretzel pieces for antlers, then press a candy nose and two candy eyes in place. Holding the nose for a few seconds helps it stick nicely without sliding.
Step 4: Set and Serve
Let your reindeer Oreo cookies balls set completely at room temperature, about 15 minutes, or pop them back in the fridge to speed things up. The chocolate will harden beautifully, locking in your festive decorations.
Top Tip
In my experience, chilling the Oreo balls thoroughly before dipping is a game-changer that keeps them from crumbling or falling apart. Also, patience with melting chocolate really pays off in a glossy, smooth finish that looks professionally done.
- Chill Thoroughly: Don’t rush the 2-hour chill; it strengthens the balls so they hold during dipping.
- Melt Gently: Use low heat and stir frequently to prevent burning and clumps in your coating.
- Dipping Technique: Tap off excess chocolate gently on the side of the bowl instead of shaking harshly to avoid cracks or holes.
- Decoration Timing: Add pretzels and candies immediately after dipping so they set together with the chocolate for best adhesion.
How to Serve Reindeer Oreo Cookies Balls Recipe
Garnishes
I stick to the classic candy eyes and red noses because they're so iconic, but sometimes I add a tiny dusting of edible glitter for a magical snowy sparkle—perfect for a holiday party table centerpiece.
Side Dishes
Pair these cookie balls with hot cocoa or a creamy eggnog for a cozy holiday vibe. They also go well with simple vanilla or chocolate cupcakes if you want to turn your dessert table into a winter wonderland.
Creative Ways to Present
Once, I arranged a platter in the shape of a Christmas tree using these reindeer balls as the 'ornaments,' adding sprigs of fresh rosemary as greenery. It looked stunning and was such a conversation starter!
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
I keep leftover reindeer Oreo cookies balls refrigerated in an airtight container. They hold up beautifully for about 5 days and still taste fresh and delicious when you’re ready for a little treat.
Freezing
Freezing is a great option if you want to prepare ahead of a big event. I wrap each ball individually in parchment and store them in a freezer-safe container. When thawed overnight in the fridge, they maintain their texture and flavor perfectly.
Reheating
No need to reheat these—just bring frozen or chilled Oreo balls to room temp for about 20 minutes before serving. This avoids any sweating or chocolate bloom and keeps them looking as cute as when you made them.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Absolutely! Milk chocolate or white chocolate melting wafers work great. Just be mindful that white chocolate coatings can be a bit trickier to melt, so melt gently and stir frequently to keep it smooth.
The key is chilling the balls thoroughly before dipping. This firms them up and helps them hold their shape under the warm melted chocolate. Also, rolling smooth, compact balls with no cracks helps a ton.
Yes! Freeze the cookie balls after they’re dipped and decorated. Wrap them individually to avoid sticking, and thaw overnight in the fridge before serving for best texture.
Use small broken pretzel pieces and insert them immediately after chocolate dipping, while the coating is still wet. Holding them gently in place for a few seconds prevents them from sliding off as the chocolate sets.
Final Thoughts
Making the Reindeer Oreo Cookies Balls Recipe has become one of my favorite holiday traditions. It’s the kind of recipe that brings a smile, gets everyone involved, and spreads cheer effortlessly. I really encourage you to grab those Oreos and give it a whirl—you’ll have festive treats and fabulous memories in no time.
Print
Reindeer Oreo Cookies Balls Recipe
- Prep Time: 1 hour
- Cook Time: 2 hours
- Total Time: 3 hours
- Yield: 24 balls
- Category: Dessert
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Delightfully festive and easy-to-make Reindeer Oreo Balls combine crushed Oreos and cream cheese coated in rich dark chocolate, decorated with pretzel antlers, candy eyes, and a candy nose. Perfect for holiday parties or a fun winter treat.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 45 Oreo Cookies (about 1 (18 oz.) package)
- 8 ounce block cream cheese, softened to room temperature
Chocolate Coating
- 15 ounces Ghirardelli dark chocolate melting wafers
Decorations
- 2 cups pretzel twists, broken in half
- 48 candy eyes
- 24 M&Ms or Red Hots for the nose
Instructions
- Prepare tray: Line a baking tray with parchment paper and set it aside for the finished Oreo balls.
- Crush Oreos: Place the 45 Oreo cookies into a food processor or high-speed blender and pulse until they become fine crumbs.
- Mix cream cheese: In a large mixing bowl, use a hand mixer at high speed to beat the softened 8-ounce cream cheese block until smooth and creamy.
- Combine Oreo crumbs and cream cheese: Add the Oreo crumbs into the bowl and mix on medium speed until the mixture is well combined.
- Form balls: Using a 1½ tablespoon cookie scoop, portion the Oreo mixture and then roll each portion by hand into a smooth ball. Place each ball onto the prepared baking tray.
- Chill Oreo balls: Once all balls are formed, place the tray into the refrigerator and chill for 2 hours to firm up.
- Melt chocolate: In a double boiler over low heat or a microwave-safe bowl heated in 30-second intervals (stirring each time), melt the 15 ounces of dark chocolate wafers until smooth and fully melted.
- Dip balls in chocolate: Using a fork, dip each chilled Oreo ball into the melted dark chocolate, tapping the fork on the side to remove excess chocolate, then return the coated ball to the baking tray.
- Add decorations: Carefully insert two broken pretzel pieces about ¼ to ½ inch deep on top of each ball to create antlers. Next, press one M&M or Red Hot candy for the nose and hold it in place for about 10 seconds to allow the chocolate to set and prevent sliding. Then add two candy eyes above the nose.
- Repeat process: Continue dipping, decorating, and placing balls on the tray. Reheat the chocolate as needed during the process to maintain a smooth coating.
- Set and chill: Let the decorated Reindeer Oreo Balls set completely at room temperature for about 15 minutes or place them in the refrigerator to harden faster.
- Store: Keep the Oreo balls refrigerated until ready to serve.
Notes
- Any flavored Oreos can be used; just use the equivalent of 45 regular cookies.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- Breaking pretzel twists ahead of time makes decorating faster and easier.
- If chocolate begins to thicken during dipping, gently reheat to maintain smoothness.
- For quicker setting, place the decorated balls in the freezer for 5-10 minutes.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 ball
- Calories: 150 kcal
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 90 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg
Leave a Reply