Reindeer Noses Treats – 3 Ingredients!
Here is the best no-fuss Christmas dessert you and your family will love, especially the kiddos. I make these reindeer noses treats with just three ingredients in a few minutes. They are fun, festive, and the perfect combo of sweet and salty. I love the crisp pretzel, the ooey gooey Rolo, and the crunchy M&M’s.
Rudolph the reindeer treats are perfect during this time of the year, especially if you are looking for something simple and easy to make. I also highly recommend trying a few more of my favorites, which always become the hit ot the party: these easy M&M Cookie Bars and Christmas Drunken Cherries.
Table of contents
This recipe is truly one of my favorites to make with the kids. By the way, it tastes fantastic made with mini Reese’s cups. So it’s up to you, are you a chocolate and caramel person, or a chocolate and peanut butter person, or both? We never miss adding these to our Christmas tray of sweets, and they always are a hit with kids and adults!
Why you will love this recipe
- Perfect Christmas treats: These adorable treats are delicious and popular with everyone.
- Only three ingredients: I only need three ingredients to make these tasty treats.
- They’re so easy to make, the kids can do it: I can sit back and supervise while the kids do it all. It’s a tradition in our family that my children look forward to!
- So fast: It takes less than 15 minutes to make 30 of these, so I can have them ready if some guests drop by unannounced.
What you will need
- Pretzels: I like to use salted mini-pretzels because the salty and sweet taste goes so well together.
- Rolos: I get a large bag of Rolos, so I have enough to snack on while I work.
- M&Ms: For this treat, I use red and green holiday M&Ms.
How to make
Prep: First, I preheat the oven to 300 degrees F, cover a cookie sheet with parchment paper, and place the pretzels in a single layer on the sheet.
Place the Rolo: Then, I unwrap and place one Rolo candy in the center of each pretzel.
Melt the chocolate: I put the baking sheet in the oven for 2 to 3 minutes, until the Rolos are just soft but not too melted.
Add the M&M’s: After that, I take out the tray and add an M&M on top of each Rolo, slightly pressing it down so it sticks.
Let them cool: Lastly, I let them cool until they harden before serving.
Expert tip
Handling the M&M’s
You have to be careful when handling the M&M’s, because if your fingers are too warm from touching the baking sheet or the warm Rolos, the M&M’s ‘color will fade. So be gentle, make sure your hands are dry, and better use a dry paper towel to press the colorful candies on top of the Rolos slightly.
More tips to consider:
- Do not cook the candy for too long, or it will melt too much.
- Use unsalted pretzels to reduce sodium.
- Work quickly after they come out of the oven, as the chocolate hardens quickly.
- Try not to push the M&Ms too far in so they don’t squish the Rolo.
- Place the M&Ms with the M’s facing down for a better look.
Recipe variations and add-ins:
- Other shapes: Pretzels can be shaped in different ways, such as waffle squares and rings.
- Different candy: Other candies I like to use include mini peanut butter cups, Hershey’s Kisses, Dove chocolates, and Hershey’s Bells.
- M&M flavors: Don’t forget that M&Ms come in different flavors. Try topping these with peanut butter, mint, dark chocolate, or caramel M&Ms for a different taste.
- No M&Ms: Instead of using M&Ms, you could also use nuts, marshmallows, or another topping like dried fruit or chocolate chips.
- Caramel sauce: Skip the candy topping and use a dollop of my caramel sauce instead. It is easy to make with just three ingredients and tastes incredible.
Serving suggestions:
These adorable holiday treats are perfect for bringing to Christmas parties or sending as gifts to friends. They make cute decorations for the dessert table as well, along with my other holiday desserts, like these delicious Christmas Oreo ornaments, which are easy to make with just a few ingredients. My Hershey Kiss cookies are also a popular holiday dessert for the chocolate lovers.
I always have some Christmas sugar cookies on hand, too, because it just doesn’t seem like the holidays without them. I like to make them in all sorts of shapes and sizes. This recipe gives them a tie-dyed look, so they don’t even have to be frosted if you’re in a hurry. I always like to serve some hot chocolate with these treats as well. My red velvet hot chocolate is very popular and easy to make.
How to store leftovers:
- Refrigerate: I put leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week. If they have to be stacked, I place parchment paper between the layers.
- Freezing: If I have a lot left, I freeze them in freezer bags. They will stay fresh for several months.
- Defrost: I defrost them in the refrigerator overnight before serving.
Frequently asked questions
The chocolate is probably too cold. I would recommend making these in small batches or getting some help. The chocolate tends to cool quickly, and the candy will not stick once it gets too cold. To rewarm the chocolate, microwave it for a few seconds, then put the candy on top. It should stick just fine.
I highly recommend getting a sturdy, high-quality pretzel. Most generic pretzels are thin and break easily with little pressure. Rold Gold and Snyder’s of Hanover are my two favorites. The best way to keep them from breaking is to be gentle with them.
Yes, these can be kept at room temperature for about a week as long as they are in a sealed container in a cool area. If they are in your kitchen and it tends to get warm, they can melt. To keep them for longer than that, it is better to refrigerate them.
First, be sure to put the candy right in the middle of the pretzel. Then, make sure the Rolo is heated enough to be soft. It should take two to three minutes. Next, the M&M must be firmly pressed onto the Rolo right after it comes out of the oven. If you’re making a lot of them, have someone help or cook them in batches. If the chocolate starts to get hard again, it will need to be reheated.
More festive Christmas recipes:
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Reindeer Noses Treats
Ingredients
- 30 mini salted pretzels or more
- 30 Rolos unwrapped, or more
- 30 red and green M&M's or more
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.
- Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and place the pretzels in a single layer on the sheet.
- Unwrap the Rolos and place one into the center of each pretzel.
- Place the cookie sheet in the preheated oven for 2-3 minutes.
- Take it out and immediately add an M&M on top of the Rolos, slightly press down.
- Let the chocolate harden before serving.
Notes
Handling the M&M’s
You have to be careful when handling the M&M’s, because if your fingers are too warm from touching the baking sheet or the warm Rolos, the M&M’s ‘color will fade. So be gentle, make sure your hands are dry, and better use a dry paper towel to press the colorful candies on top of the Rolos slightly.More tips to consider:
- Do not cook the candy for too long, or it will melt too much.
- Use unsalted pretzels to reduce sodium.
- Work quickly after they come out of the oven, as the chocolate hardens quickly.
- Try not to push the M&Ms too far in so they don’t squish the Rolo.
- Place the M&Ms with the M’s facing down for a better look.