Rudolph Reindeer Cookies: The Ultimate Biscoff Almond Holiday Treat

Move over, ordinary sugar cookies! This holiday season, prepare to enchant your family and friends with these absolutely delightful Rudolph Reindeer Cookies. Imagine the perfect blend of tender, buttery almond cookies, generously filled with a rich, spiced cookie butter spread, creating a Christmas treat that is not just a feast for the eyes but also a symphony of flavors and textures. These festive linzer-style cookies, adorned with Rudolph’s iconic face, are destined to become a cherished part of your annual holiday baking tradition. They offer a sophisticated twist on classic Christmas cookies, promising a unique and unforgettable taste experience.

This post was originally published on November 7, 2020. It was updated with new recipe information on December 6, 2023, to ensure you have the best and most current tips for making these festive treats.

Why You’ll Love These Rudolph Reindeer Cookies

There’s something truly special about these Rudolph Reindeer Cookies that sets them apart. They’re not just visually appealing; they offer an irresistible combination of flavors and textures that will delight every palate. Here’s why these festive treats are a must-make this holiday season:

• Unforgettable Flavor Combination: The rich, nutty notes of the almond cookies perfectly complement the warm, spiced sweetness of Biscoff cookie butter, creating a harmonious and utterly delicious experience.
• Perfect Texture: Enjoy the best of both worlds with a cookie that boasts crisp edges and a tender, melt-in-your-mouth center, all brought together by the creamy Biscoff filling.
• Festive & Fun: Adorning these cookies with Rudolph’s charming face makes them a delightful activity for the whole family and a standout addition to any Christmas cookie platter.
• A Unique Holiday Treat: Move beyond the traditional and impress your guests with these gourmet-style Linzer cookies that truly embody the spirit of Christmas baking.
• Great for Gifting: Packaged in a festive box, these beautiful and delicious cookies make a thoughtful homemade gift for friends, neighbors, and teachers.

Key Ingredients for Your Rudolph Reindeer Cookies

Crafting these extraordinary Rudolph Reindeer Cookies begins with selecting the right ingredients. Each component plays a crucial role in achieving that perfect balance of flavor and texture, transforming simple ingredients into a festive masterpiece. Here’s a closer look at what you’ll need and why:

• Biscoff Cookie Spread – This creamy, irresistible spread, also widely known as cookie butter, is the heart of our Rudolph cookies. Made from finely crushed Lotus Biscoff cookies, it’s sweet, delightfully spiced with cinnamon, and offers a unique caramel-like flavor that pairs exquisitely with the almond cookies. You can easily find Biscoff spread at most major grocery stores in the jam or peanut butter aisle, or purchase it conveniently online. Its distinct taste is what truly elevates these cookies!
• Almond Flour – For the lightest, crispest, and most delicate cookies, always opt for finely ground almond flour over coarser almond meal. Almond flour contributes a wonderful nutty flavor and helps create that tender, crumbly texture characteristic of a perfect Linzer cookie.
• Unsalted Butter – Using unsalted butter gives you complete control over the salt content in your recipe. Different brands of salted butter contain varying amounts of salt, which can affect the final taste. Ensure your butter is at room temperature before you begin baking; this is crucial for achieving a smooth, well-emulsified dough and ultimately, the lightest and crispiest cookies.
• Light Brown Sugar – The molasses in light brown sugar is key. It not only adds a beautiful depth of caramelized flavor but also contributes essential moisture, keeping your cookies wonderfully tender. It forms the perfect sweet and slightly chewy canvas for the spiced Biscoff filling.
• Egg – A single large egg acts as a vital binding agent, holding the cookie dough together and providing structure. It also enriches the dough, adding a deep, satisfying flavor base that complements the almond and spice notes.
• Vanilla Extract – For the most authentic and robust flavor, pure vanilla extract is highly recommended. It enhances all the other sweet and nutty notes in the cookie, adding a comforting aroma and taste.
• Ground Cinnamon – A sprinkle of ground cinnamon is essential for those perfectly Christmasy warm spices. It ties in beautifully with the Biscoff spread’s inherent spice profile, making these cookies truly taste like the holidays.
• Powdered Sugar – Also known as confectioners’ sugar, this fine sugar is ideal for dusting the finished cookies. It creates a delicate, snow-kissed appearance, adding to the festive charm of your Rudolph treats.
• Chocolate Chips – Or, candy melts (red for Rudolph’s nose, black/brown for eyes). These are melted and used to skillfully draw Rudolph’s charming face onto your finished cookie sandwiches, bringing the character to life!

How to Make Festive Rudolph Reindeer Cookies

While making these delightful reindeer Linzer cookies involves a few steps, each one is straightforward and simple to execute. The effort is absolutely worthwhile once you bite into these buttery, cinnamon-sweet, and perfectly spiced Christmas cookies!

Step 1: Cream Butter and Sugar. In a spacious mixing bowl, combine the softened unsalted butter and light brown sugar. Beat them together until the mixture is light, fluffy, and well-creamed. This step incorporates air, which is essential for a tender cookie texture.

Step 2: Incorporate Wet Ingredients. Add the pure vanilla extract and the large egg to your creamed butter mixture. Continue beating until all ingredients are smoothly combined and homogeneous. Scrape down the sides of the bowl to ensure everything is fully incorporated.

Step 3: Whisk Dry Ingredients. In a separate, medium-sized bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, finely ground almond flour, fine salt, and aromatic ground cinnamon. This ensures even distribution of the leavening and flavorings throughout the dough.

Step 4: Combine and Chill Dough. Gradually add the dry flour mixture to the wet butter mixture, mixing on low speed until just combined. Be careful not to overmix, as this can lead to tough cookies. Once a cohesive dough forms, cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and let it rest in the refrigerator for at least two hours. Chilling is vital for the dough to firm up, making it easier to roll and cut, and for the flavors to meld beautifully.

Step 5: Roll Out the Dough. After chilling, remove the dough from the fridge. Place it between two sheets of parchment paper. Using a rolling pin, roll out the cookie dough evenly until it reaches a consistent thickness of about ⅛ inch or ⅓ cm. For best results and clean cuts, place the rolled-out dough sheet into the freezer for an additional 5 minutes to solidify slightly.

Step 6: Cut Out Cookie Shapes. Using a 3-inch or 8-cm round cookie cutter, cut out your cookie shapes. If the dough starts to become too soft and difficult to handle, simply return it to the freezer for another 5 minutes. Carefully transfer the cut-out cookies onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Gather any dough scraps, gently re-roll them, and cut out more cookies until all dough is used.

Step 7: Create Linzer Cutouts. For approximately half of your cut-out cookies (these will be the top layers of your cookie sandwiches), use the wider end of a jumbo piping tip to create a small circular cutout in the center. This “window” will allow the Biscoff filling to peek through, giving them that classic Linzer cookie appeal and forming Rudolph’s nose!

Step 8: Bake to Golden Perfection. Preheat your oven to 325°F/160°C. Bake the cookies for approximately 18 to 20 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden. The exact baking time may vary depending on your oven, so keep a close eye on them. Once baked, let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for about 10 minutes before carefully transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. This prevents breakage and ensures a crisp texture.

Step 9: Assemble the Cookies. Lay out all the cookies with the circular cutouts on a clean surface. Lightly dust these top cookies with powdered sugar for a snowy effect. Take the cookies without cutouts (the bottom layers) and generously spread a layer of Biscoff cookie spread on one side. Gently place a powdered sugar-dusted cutout cookie on top of each Biscoff-covered bottom cookie, creating an adorable cookie sandwich.

Step 10: Decorate Rudolph’s Face. The final magical touch! Melt your chocolate chips or candy melts carefully (refer to the “Recipe Success Tips” for melting advice). Using a piping bag with a fine tip or a small spoon, draw two dots for eyes and use a dab of red candy melt or a red candy for Rudolph’s bright red nose in the circular cutout. Let the chocolate set completely before serving or storing.

Recipe Success Tips for Perfect Rudolph Reindeer Cookies

Achieving bakery-quality Rudolph Reindeer Cookies is easy with a few key tips and tricks. Follow these guidelines to ensure your holiday cookies are nothing short of spectacular:

• Chill the Cookie Dough Thoroughly: This is arguably the most crucial step! Chilling the dough for the recommended time (at least 2 hours in the fridge and a quick 5 minutes in the freezer before cutting) allows the flour to fully hydrate, resulting in a more tender and flavorful cookie. More importantly, a well-chilled dough is firm and much easier to roll out evenly and cut into precise shapes without sticking or distorting. This prevents the cookies from spreading excessively in the oven, maintaining their festive appearance.
• Roll Out the Cookie Dough Evenly: Consistency is key for even baking. If your dough is thicker in some spots than others, you’ll end up with some cookies that are underbaked and soft, and others that are overbaked and too crisp. To ensure uniform thickness, consider using a rolling pin with adjustable guides, or simply use a ruler to check your dough thickness (aim for ⅛ inch or ⅓ cm) across the entire sheet.
• Cool the Cookies Completely Before Filling: Patience is a virtue, especially in baking! It’s essential that your cookies are completely cooled to room temperature before you attempt to spread the Biscoff filling or apply any chocolate decorations. Warm cookies will cause the cookie butter to melt and become runny, leading to a messy assembly and compromised presentation. They will also be more fragile and prone to breaking.
• Don’t Burn the Chocolate (or Candy Melts): When melting chocolate chips or candy melts for Rudolph’s face, proceed with caution. Chocolate can seize or burn easily if overheated. The safest methods are using a microwave on low power, heating in short bursts (15-30 seconds) and stirring frequently until smooth, or using a double-boiler over simmering water. Stir constantly to achieve a smooth, pourable consistency, and remove from heat as soon as it’s mostly melted, allowing residual heat to finish the job.
• Use Quality Ingredients: As with any recipe, the quality of your ingredients will directly impact the final taste. Opt for pure vanilla extract, good quality butter, and fresh almond flour for the best flavor profile.
• Avoid Overmixing the Dough: Once the wet and dry ingredients are combined, mix only until no streaks of flour remain. Overmixing develops the gluten in the flour, which can result in tough, chewy cookies instead of light and crisp ones.
• Prepare Your Workspace: Have all your tools and ingredients measured and ready before you start. This mise en place approach makes the baking process smoother and more enjoyable, especially when working with cookie dough that needs to be chilled.

Storage and Freezing Directions for Your Rudolph Reindeer Cookies

Once you’ve made a batch of these enchanting Rudolph Reindeer Cookies, you’ll want to ensure they stay fresh and delicious for as long as possible. Here’s how to store them effectively:

Storage: To maintain their tender texture and spiced flavor, store any leftover Rudolph cookies in an airtight container at room temperature. They will remain wonderfully fresh and enjoyable for 3-4 days. For optimal freshness, a cool, dry pantry is ideal. Avoid direct sunlight or warm spots in your kitchen.

Freezing: These delightful Rudolph cookies are also excellent candidates for freezing, allowing you to prepare them in advance for holiday parties or to savor them over a longer period. Place the fully cooled and assembled cookies in a single layer in a freezer-safe container, separating layers with parchment paper to prevent sticking. They can be frozen for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to enjoy them, simply remove the desired number of cookies from the freezer and let them defrost at room temperature for 15-30 minutes. They’ll be as delicious as if they were freshly baked!

Frequently Asked Questions About Rudolph Reindeer Cookies

More Festive Christmas Recipes to Explore

If these Rudolph Reindeer Cookies have put you in the mood for more holiday baking, you’re in luck! Here are some other fantastic Christmas recipes that will bring warmth and cheer to your kitchen:

• If you’re seeking a delicious and effortlessly easy Christmas treat for those with dietary restrictions, try these gluten-free Christmas cookies! They boast a wonderfully chewy texture with delightful notes of vanilla and refreshing peppermint, perfect for a festive twist.
• For a unique and elegant addition to your cookie platter, these matcha Christmas tree cookies are a must-try. They are beautifully buttery and crisp, with just the right amount of earthy matcha flavor to intrigue and delight.
• Looking for some ginger cookies that deliver big on flavor without requiring molasses? These chewy gluten-free ginger cookies with a maple glaze are exactly what you need! They’re spicy, sweet, and incredibly satisfying.
• This dairy-free fudge is unbelievably easy to make, and its rich, creamy texture is so convincing that no one will ever guess it’s dairy-free! A perfect treat for everyone to enjoy.
• And for those who appreciate classic cookie recipes with a twist, try these gluten-free oatmeal cookies or gluten-free chocolate chip cookies! Both recipes deliver that ideal cookie texture – crisp edges and wonderfully soft, chewy centers – proving that gluten-free can be absolutely delicious.