I’m so excited to share these adorable Rudolph Brownie Bites with you!
They’ve become a go-to holiday treat when something is needed that’ll make kids’ eyes light up.
With gooey chocolate centers, pretzel antlers and that iconic red nose, they’re not just cute but downright irresistible.
Even the pickiest little eaters often reach for seconds!
The secret for getting those perfect antlers to stay put involves a simple kitchen tool most people already have…
Ingredients
Recommended Tools
- Baking Sheet:
Essential for spreading out your brownie bites so they bake evenly and don’t stick together.
- Parchment Paper:
Prevents the brownie bites from sticking to the pan and makes cleanup super quick.
- Mixing Bowl:
Gives you plenty of space to combine the brownie mix with eggs, oil and water without making a mess.
- Cookie Scoop:
Helps you drop consistent tablespoon-sized portions of brownie batter for uniform bites.
- Kitchen Scissors:
Perfect for cutting mini marshmallows in half for the reindeer eyes.
- Cooling Rack:
Allows your brownie bites to cool properly so decorations don’t melt when you add them.
Instructions for Rudolph Brownie Bites for Kids
Ready to create some adorable holiday treats that kids will absolutely LOVE? Let’s make these Rudolph Brownie Bites together!
First, preheat your oven to 350°F and grab that box of brownie mix (18-20 oz). Mix it with 2 large eggs, ½ cup vegetable oil, and 3 tablespoons of water in a bowl. Follow the directions on your specific brownie box if they’re different from these measurements!
Spray your baking sheet or line it with parchment paper—nobody wants sticky brownies! Drop tablespoons of your brownie batter onto the sheet, spacing them out so they’ve room to grow a little. This recipe makes about 24 cute reindeer faces!
Now for the fun part! While the batter is still unbaked, press mini pretzel twists into the top of each brownie bite to create Rudolph’s antlers. Then add 1 red M&M at the bottom for his famous glowing nose!
Pop your tray into the oven and bake for 8-10 minutes. Don’t overbake—you want them slightly gooey in the middle!
Once they’re out of the oven, let them cool for a few minutes. Then, cut your 12 mini marshmallows in half (giving you 24 pieces) and use a bit of chocolate cookie icing to stick them onto the brownies as eyes.
Finally, place a mini chocolate chip in the center of each marshmallow to create the pupils.
Ta-da! Your herd of adorable Rudolph Brownie Bites is ready for the holiday party! Make sure to use enough of that chocolate icing to keep all those decorations firmly in place—especially if little hands will be grabbing them!
Pro Tips
Prepare all your decorations in advance by sorting pretzels, cutting marshmallows, and arranging M&Ms before starting the batter, as you’ll need to work quickly once the brownies come out of the oven while they’re still slightly warm to ensure the decorations stick properly.
Substitutions & Variations
These beloved holiday treats can be customized with simple ingredient swaps and creative twists that maintain their adorable reindeer appearance while offering new flavors and textures.
- Gluten-Free Option: Use your favorite gluten-free brownie mix and gluten-free pretzel twists to accommodate dietary restrictions without sacrificing the cute reindeer design.
- Peanut Butter Twist: Mix 1/4 cup peanut butter into the brownie batter for a nutty flavor profile and use Reese’s Pieces for the nose instead of red M&Ms.
- Mint Chocolate Version: Add 1/2 teaspoon mint extract to the brownie batter and use green M&Ms for a festive Christmas color scheme.
- White Chocolate Snowflake Rudolph: Use blondie mix instead of brownie mix and decorate with white chocolate pretzels, white marshmallows and a red candy nose for a snowy variation.
- Dairy-Free Alternative: Substitute the eggs with flax eggs (1 tablespoon ground flaxseed mixed with 3 tablespoons water per egg) and use dairy-free chocolate chips and candies.
- Spicy Surprise: Add 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper to the brownie mix for a subtle heat that contrasts with the sweet decorations.
Leftovers & Storage Tips
Once you’ve delighted the kids with these adorable Rudolph treats, you’ll want to keep any leftovers fresh and ready for continued enjoyment.
Store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
Pop them in the fridge to extend freshness to a week!
Don’t freeze them though—those cute pretzel antlers and candy decorations won’t thaw well.
Reindeer Fun Night
Rudolph Brownie Bites
Festive brownie bites decorated to look like Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer, perfect for holiday parties.
- 1 box brownie mix (about 18–20 oz)
- 2 large eggs (or as directed on box)
- ½ cup vegetable oil (or as directed on box)
- 3 tbsp water (or as directed on box)
- Mini pretzel twists (about 24 pieces)
- Mini marshmallows (12, cut in half)
- Mini chocolate chips (24 pieces)
- Red M&M's (24 pieces)
- Chocolate cookie icing (for attaching decorations)
Preheat oven to 350°F. Prepare brownie batter as directed on the box (using eggs, water, and oil).
Spray a baking sheet or line with parchment. Drop tablespoons of batter onto the sheet to form small bites.
Press mini pretzel twists on top for antlers; add 1 red M&M below for the nose.
Bake for 8–10 minutes; let cool slightly.
Cut mini marshmallows in half and attach them with icing for eyes; add mini chocolate chips as pupils.
