Dessert

Reindeer Brownies Recipe

Bylina Carter December 12, 2025December 12, 2025

Introduction

These festive Reindeer Brownies are a fun and delicious twist on classic chocolate brownies, perfect for holiday celebrations. With rich cocoa, gooey chocolate chips, and cute pretzel antlers, they delight both kids and adults alike.

A white plate with eight triangular chocolate brownies arranged in a circle, each brownie decorated like a reindeer face. Each triangle has two light brown pretzels at the wider end to look like antlers, two small white candy eyes near the center, and a single red candy in the middle acting as a nose. The brownies are dark brown and have a slightly rough texture. The background is a white marbled surface with holiday-themed decorations, like a snowflake and green pine leaves, around the plate. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

½ cup neutral oil
½ cup granulated sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 eggs

½ cup all purpose flour
⅓ cup cocoa powder

¼ teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt
½ cup chocolate chips

2 tablespoons chocolate chips (for decorating)
16 pretzels
16 candy googly eyes

8 red M&Ms

Instructions

Step 1: Preheat your oven to 350°F and grease a round 9-inch baking pan to prevent sticking.
Step 2: In a medium bowl, whisk together the oil, sugar, and vanilla extract. Beat in the eggs until well combined.

Step 3: In another medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and stir with a wooden spoon or spatula until blended. Fold in the ½ cup of chocolate chips.
Step 4: Pour the batter into the prepared pan and spread it evenly. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, checking carefully to avoid overbaking.
Step 5: Let the brownies cool completely. Cut into 8 equal triangles. Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of chocolate chips and use a toothpick to apply melted chocolate to the back of each pretzel, candy googly eye, and red M&M. Attach these decorations to the brownies to create reindeer faces. Allow the chocolate to harden before serving.

Tips & Variations

Use peppermint extract instead of vanilla for a festive twist.
Swap pretzels for small chocolate sticks if you prefer a different texture for the antlers.
For extra fudgy brownies, reduce baking time by a couple of minutes and test with a toothpick to ensure the center stays moist.

Storage

Store leftover brownies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. For longer storage, refrigerate them for up to a week or freeze individually wrapped brownies for up to 3 months. To enjoy, reheat slightly in the microwave or allow to come to room temperature.

How to Serve

A white round plate holds seven triangular dark brown brownie slices arranged in a circle with points facing the middle. Each brownie has two small white candy eyes near the pointed end and a single red candy nose below them. At the wider end of each slice, there are two small brown pretzels placed side by side to look like reindeer antlers. A woman's hand is lifting one brownie slice from the plate. In the top right corner, a clear glass bowl filled with green candy-coated chocolates is visible. The whole scene is set on a white marbled surface, decorated with two large white felt snowflakes and a small red Christmas ornament. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use a different type of oil for these brownies?

Yes, neutral oils like vegetable, canola, or light olive oil work best to keep the brownies moist without affecting flavor.

How do I prevent the brownies from overbaking?

Check the brownies a few minutes before the suggested baking time. Insert a toothpick into the center — it should come out with a few moist crumbs but no wet batter.