Festive Treats: Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer

Happy Saturday everyone!

Only 5 more sleeps until Christmas!  I love the run up to Christmas - party nights out, wrapping loved ones presents, Christmas movies and eating some goodies you usually would avoid!

On that note, todays post is all about making your own Christmas treats over the festive period, in the form of chocolate covered marshmallow reindeers, too cute!

For this treat you'll need:

• Marshmallows
• Pretzels
• Milk Chocolate
• Red M&Ms
• Silver or White Chocolate Pearls
• Cake Pop Sticks or Straws

You'll also need a spoon, scissors, bowl, pan and something to stand your sticks or straws in - I used a mason jar but a foam block would be best if you were making a lot of these so they don't stick together!

Step 1 / Cut your pretzels in half to create the antlers, this can be a bit tricky in getting the pretzel to cut in the right place - just make sure you have enough for trial and error!

Step 2 / Pop your marshmallows onto the end of your sticks or straws, I used festive straws from Ginger Ray with little tags saying 'Be Merry!' and 'Ho Ho Ho' - I love them!

Step 3 / Create 2 small holes in the top of your marshmallows to make it easier for the pretzel antlers to be added.  To do this I opened up a pair of scissors and jabbed the marshmallow a few times, there is probably a much easier way to do this - if you can think of another way please let me know! :)

Step 4 / Next you want to break up your chocolate and put it in a glass bowl.  To melt the chocolate you can either pop it in the microwave for 30 seconds and keep bringing it out and stirring until melted, or you can place the glass bowl on a pan of boiling water while continuing to stir the chocolate until it has melted.  

Once it has melted pick up each of your marshmallow sticks and coat your marshmallow in the chocolate.  Once it is covered use a spoon to even out the chocolate a little and pop them back into your jar/foam block.  

Step 5 / Pick up your antler pretzels and position them in the small holes you made earlier, this can be a bit fiddly and I held the pretzels in place for a minute or so they wouldn't slip out - patience is key here! 

Step 6 / This is where your little Rudolph's come to life!  Add your silver or white pearl sprinkles as eyes and a red M&M for Rudolph's nose.  Again just make sure the eyes and nose don't slip off if the chocolate is still pretty melty.  Then pop them in the fridge to dry and your Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer are ready!

Are you going to try and make some homemade treats for your family and friends this Christmas? 

I think I'll make more of these for Christmas day :)

Have a wonderful Christmas everyone!