Reindeer Biscuits

I had a few packets of left over arrowroot biscuits from the Christmas Carols festival biscuit decorating stall I ran so thought I'd do my own decorating and make some reindeer biscuits for morning tea. These are also great to give away as Christmas gifts- just place a couple in a clear cellophane bag and tie up with some ribbon

Makes 16

Ingredients

1x 250g pkt Arrowroot biscuits (to make face)
1 cup milk chocolate melts
1 tablespoon vegetable oil (1 tablespoon per 1 cup of chocolate)
8 mini white marshmallows (to make eyes)
Black icing pen (to make pupils)
16 red jaffas or red Cadbury mini drops (to make nose)
8 mini pretzels (to make antlers)

Method

1. Cut mini marshmallows in half. Add a small drop of black food writing gel to the uncut side.
2. Using a serrated knife, cut mini pretzels in half 
3. Line a tray with non stick baking paper
4. Place chocolate and vegetable oil in a microwave safe bowl and microwave on medium for 30 seconds, stirring after each time until smooth. (The vegetable oil helps to make the chocolate glossy and runny).
5. Dip one side of the biscuit into the melted chocolate, allow excess to drip off. Place onto tray. 
6. Gently place 2 mini marshmallows, cut sides down onto biscuit (to make eyes)
7. Gently place a red jaffa on the bottom of the biscuit (to make nose)
8. Gently push 2 mini pretzels into the chocolate biscuit (to make antlers).
9. Repeat with remaining biscuits
10. Once all the biscuits are decorated, place the baking tray in the refrigerator for about 10 minutes, or until the chocolate has hardened.
11. Store decorated biscuits in an airtight container. Lay them flat with layers of baking paper in between each level

Notes & tips

Chocolate cools and hardens quickly after it melts, so it is best to have all your decorating items ready for assembly

Make sure chocolate is added to a dry bowl. Even one stray drop of water can cause melting chocolate to seize, or harden, ruining its texture and consistency. Seized chocolate won't melt smoothly, no matter how long you stir it.

You could create 8 reindeer with brown noses and 1 with a red nose just like in the story- Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer!