These Ritz reindeer crackers are a sweet and salty Christmas snack with creamy peanut butter, crunchy pretzel antlers, candy eyes, and red or brown M&M noses that give each reindeer a playful look.
The no-bake recipe makes 12 crackers in just 10 minutes, so it's easy to put together a small batch for a holiday snack tray, a Christmas movie night, or a quick treat when friends stop by.
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When I want a Christmas treat that doesn't take up oven space, I make these Ritz cracker reindeer. A batch makes a dozen in about 10 minutes, and I love the crunch of the salted pretzels with the creamy peanut butter and chocolate candy. They're fun to put out for a Christmas movie night or tuck between my cinnamon roll cookies on a holiday tray.
It took me a few tries to get the pretzel antlers to stay put, but I found that resting the tips against the cracker helped keep them from tipping over. I also found regular creamy peanut butter easier to work with because the toppings stayed in place better. If I'm putting together a few holiday desserts, I can chill my Filipino fruit salad ahead of time and save the reindeer for just before serving.
Ingredients
- Mini salted pretzels
- Ritz crackers
- Creamy peanut butter
- Red and brown M&Ms
- Candy eyes
Scroll down to the recipe card for quantities used.
Instructions
Cut the pretzel. Cut a mini pretzel in half with a knife to make two antlers.
Spread the peanut butter. Lay a Ritz cracker flat side up and spread it with ½ teaspoon of creamy peanut butter.
Add the left antler. Set one pretzel half at the top left of the cracker, resting the pointed end against the cracker for support.
Add the right antler. Place the other pretzel half at the top right to mirror the first.
Add the eyes. Place two candy eyes just below the antlers.
Add the nose. Place a red or brown M&M below the eyes to finish the reindeer face. Repeat with the remaining crackers and serve right away.
Tips
Top tip: Leave a narrow border around the peanut butter. A little space at the edge gives guests somewhere to hold the cracker without getting peanut butter on their fingers.
- Set out the decorations first. Count out two candy eyes and one M&M for each cracker so you can assemble the whole batch without stopping to sort the candy.
- Check the crackers for chips. Save any with broken edges for snacking. Whole crackers give you more room for the antlers and make the finished reindeer easier to pick up.
- Assemble them on the serving platter. Leaving a little space between the reindeer makes them easier to pick up without bumping the neighboring antlers.
Variations
- Try another cracker. Round butter crackers are the closest swap for Ritz. Small square crackers work too, as long as there's room for the antlers and face.
- Swap the peanut butter. Thick, creamy sunflower seed butter or cookie butter can hold the decorations in place. Cookie butter gives the reindeer a sweeter, lightly spiced flavor.
- Change up the antlers. Short pretzel sticks work if you don't have mini twists. Use two per cracker and angle them outward for a simpler look.
- Use a different candy for the nose. Try a red cinnamon candy for Rudolph or a chocolate chip for the other reindeer.
- Make your own eyes. If you're out of candy eyes, use two mini white chocolate chips with a small dot of melted dark chocolate on each.
Storage
Peanut butter Ritz cracker reindeer are best served right after assembly, while the crackers and pretzels are still crisp. If you have leftovers, store them in a single layer in an airtight container at room temperature and enjoy them the next day. To prep ahead, keep the ingredients separate and assemble the reindeer just before serving.
FAQs
How long does it take to make Ritz cracker reindeer?
A batch of 12 takes about 10 minutes. There's no baking or chilling time, so they're ready to serve as soon as you finish decorating them.
Yes. An adult can cut the pretzels in half, and kids can spread the peanut butter and add the antlers, candy eyes, and M&M noses.
Rest the pointed end of each pretzel half against the cracker and press it lightly into the peanut butter. Regular creamy peanut butter tends to hold the decorations better than runny natural peanut butter.
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Recipe
Ritz Reindeer Crackers
Ingredients
- 12 pieces mini salted pretzels
- 12 pieces Ritz crackers
- 6 teaspoons creamy peanut butter
- 6 pieces red M&Ms
- 6 pieces brown M&Ms
- 24 pieces candy eyes
Instructions
- Break 12 mini salted pretzels in half to mimic the reindeer's antlers.
- Lay Ritz crackers on a plate, flat side up. Spread ½ teaspoon of creamy peanut butter on the flat side of the crackers.
- Assemble the reindeer face. Place the halved mini pretzel as antlers, resting the pointy tip and inner pretzel on the cracker. Top with 2 candy eyes near the pointy tips of the pretzel. Add the M&M near the 2 candy eyes.
- Immediately serve and enjoy this quick and fun no-bake Christmas treat.
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