There’s something incredibly festive and downright fun about making cute holiday treats, and these adorable **Reindeer Oreo Balls Recipe** are exactly that! Imagine rich Oreo crumbs, creamy cheese, and chocolate coming together to make little edible reindeer that bring a smile to everyone’s face—it’s a guaranteed hit at any holiday party.

The image shows a white plate on a white marbled surface, holding five round chocolate balls decorated as reindeer faces. Each ball has two small pretzel sticks as antlers placed at the top, two white candy eyes with black dots, and a red candy for the nose in the center front. At the edge of the plate, there are some uncooked pretzels and an Oreo cookie. In the background, there is a dark green mug with white snowflake designs and some pinecones and green pine leaves, all softly out of focus. The photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make Reindeer Oreo Balls Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Reindeer Oreo Balls Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Reindeer Oreo Balls Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

I’ve made these Reindeer Oreo Balls more times than I can count during the holidays—each time taking a little extra joy in how easy and charming they turn out. They’re simple enough for a last-minute treat but special enough to impress your friends and family.

Super Simple Ingredients: You probably already have most of these in your pantry, which makes it feel like an effortless festive win.
Kid-Friendly Fun: Rolling the balls and decorating is a delightful activity for kids (and adults!) to get involved with.
Perfect Party Treat: They look so impressive on a holiday dessert table but take minimal time to prepare.
Customizable and Creative: You can tweak the decorations or chocolate coatings to fit any holiday theme—or personal taste.

The image shows a close-up of a dessert ball that looks like a small cylinder. The base layer inside is dark and crumbly, likely made from crushed cookies. It is covered in a smooth layer of milk chocolate. Two small pretzels are stuck on top of the ball, resembling antlers. The dessert rests on a speckled white plate with a white marbled surface under it. In the background, there is a whole chocolate sandwich cookie, more pretzels, and a green cup with white snowflakes. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

Each ingredient in this Reindeer Oreo Balls Recipe plays an important role: from the crumbly Oreos to the rich cream cheese that holds everything together, and the luxurious melting chocolate that creates the perfect coating. Plus, those pretzels and candy eyes bring the whole reindeer look to life!

Flat lay of a stack of whole Oreo cookies with visible black-and-white layers, a smooth block of cream cheese on a simple white ceramic plate, a small white bowl filled with glossy dark chocolate melting wafers, a pile of twisted pretzels broken in half arranged neatly, several small white ceramic bowls each containing shiny M&M's and vibrant red candy noses, and another small white bowl with pairs of candy eyes, all evenly spaced and symmetrically arranged on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

Oreo Cookies: Classic Oreos give you that nostalgic chocolatey crunch, plus they crumble easily for a smooth mix.
Cream Cheese: Softened cream cheese binds the cookie crumbs without overpowering, keeping the balls creamy and firm.
Dark Chocolate Melting Wafers: These melt perfectly for dipping and harden beautifully for a clean chocolate shell.
Pretzel Twists: Their crunchy texture and shape make them ideal for reindeer antlers.
Candy Eyes: They bring instant personality and a little whimsy to each ball.
M&M’s or Red Hots: Perfect bright red noses that stick well with a little melted chocolate.

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Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

I love putting my own little spin on this Reindeer Oreo Balls Recipe depending on the occasion. Sometimes I swap the dark chocolate for white chocolate for a snowy effect, or use peppermint-flavored Oreos for a festive twist. You’ll find customizing it keeps things fun and just right for your crowd.

Variation: One year, I added crushed candy canes to the chocolate coating for a cool minty crunch—everyone loved the surprise! Try experimenting with different colored candies or festive sprinkles too.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Reindeer Oreo Balls Recipe

Step 1: Crush the Oreos into Fine Crumbs

Grab your food processor or a high-speed blender and blitz all 45 Oreo cookies into fine crumbs. This part is fun because you’ll see the cookies turn into soft, chocolatey dust—just make sure there are no big chunks left for an even texture.

Step 2: Beat Cream Cheese Until Smooth

In a large bowl, use a hand mixer to beat your softened cream cheese on high speed until it’s silky smooth. This step is key because lumps can make forming those perfect balls tricky.

Step 3: Mix Oreos and Cream Cheese Together

Now add your Oreo crumbs to the cream cheese and mix on medium speed. You’re looking for a homogenous dough-like consistency that holds together when rolled—no loose crumbs here!

Step 4: Scoop and Roll the Oreo Balls

Use about a 1½ tablespoon cookie scoop for consistent sizing, then roll each portion between your palms until smooth and round. Placing them on a parchment-lined baking tray helps keep things neat and easy to transfer later.

Step 5: Chill the Balls Before Dipping

Pop the tray into the fridge for at least 2 hours. Chilling firms up the mixture and prevents the balls from falling apart when dipped in chocolate.

Step 6: Melt the Chocolate and Dip

Gently melt your dark chocolate wafers using a double boiler or microwave (stirring every 30 seconds to avoid burning). Dunk each chilled ball into the chocolate using a fork, tapping off excess for a smooth coating.

Step 7: Decorate with Antlers, Eyes & Nose

Quickly stick two broken pretzel pieces into each ball for antlers—push them just a bit into the chocolate while it’s still wet. Then add two candy eyes above and a red M&M or Red Hot for the nose, holding it in place briefly to set.

Step 8: Set Completely Before Serving

Let all the chocolate harden at room temperature for about 15 minutes, or speed things up by popping them back in the fridge. Once set, these festive treats are ready to wow your guests.

Top Tip

After making these Reindeer Oreo Balls Recipe a handful of times, I realized a few small tricks really take them to the next level. Whether you’re a seasoned baker or a newbie, these tips will save you time and make sure your reindeer come out perfect every time.

Use Room Temperature Cream Cheese: This makes mixing smooth and prevents lumps, so your balls hold together nicely.
Don’t Overheat the Chocolate: Chocolate burns easily, so melt slowly and stir often to keep it silky and glossy for dipping.
Work Quickly When Decorating: The chocolate sets fast, so have your pretzels, eyes, and noses ready to place before dipping the balls.
Chill After Decorating: Pop the finished balls in the fridge briefly to ensure the decorations stay put and the chocolate hardens evenly.

How to Serve Reindeer Oreo Balls Recipe

Reindeer Oreo Balls - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I keep it simple with the classic candy eyes and red noses because they’re so charming! Sometimes I scatter a little edible glitter or dust some powdered sugar for a snowy touch, which adds that extra festive sparkle.

Side Dishes

These are perfect alongside a cup of homemade hot cocoa or spiced cider. If you’re hosting a holiday cookie exchange, they’re a great complement to classic sugar cookies and gingerbread men.

Creative Ways to Present

I’ve served these on a platter lined with holly leaves for a rustic holiday vibe or in small gift boxes with tissue paper for adorable party favors. For a party centerpiece, arrange them on a tiered cake stand surrounded by pinecones and fairy lights—it’s a showstopper!

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I store leftover Reindeer Oreo Balls in an airtight container in the fridge—this keeps them fresh for up to 5 days. Just be sure to layer them carefully with parchment paper so they don’t stick to each other.

Freezing

Freezing works well if you want to prepare ahead. Freeze the Oreo balls before dipping in chocolate, then thaw and coat when ready. Or freeze fully decorated ones in a sealed container; just thaw them slowly in the fridge to keep the texture intact.

Reheating

These are best enjoyed chilled or at room temperature, so I don’t recommend reheating. If your chocolate coating gets a bit soft, just pop them in the fridge for a few minutes to firm back up before serving again.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use flavored Oreos in this Reindeer Oreo Balls Recipe?

Absolutely! Flavored Oreos like mint or golden vanilla can add a fun twist. The texture stays the same, so it won’t affect the way the balls hold together.

How long do Reindeer Oreo Balls last?

When stored in an airtight container in the fridge, these treats last up to 5 days. For longer storage, freezing is an option, but they’re best enjoyed fresh.

Can I make these without a food processor?

Yes! You can place the Oreos in a large zip-top bag and crush them with a rolling pin until fine crumbs form. It might take a bit more elbow grease, but it works well.

What’s the best chocolate to use for coating?

Melting wafers, like Ghirardelli dark chocolate melting wafers, are ideal because they melt smoothly and harden with a nice shine. If you prefer, you can use high-quality baking chocolate or candy melts.

Final Thoughts

Honestly, the Reindeer Oreo Balls Recipe has become one of my absolute go-tos for holiday treats. They’re so easy, delightful, and bring that extra fun of creating cute little faces you can almost hear “Merry Christmas!” from. I can’t wait for you to try them—you’ll be hooked just like me, and trust me, everyone will be asking for the recipe.