Christmas Pigs in a Blanket (Rudolph Reindeer)

Pigs in a blanket are always a favorite around here, but these Christmas pigs in a blanket are so much more fun for the holidays. With pretzel antlers, candy eyes, and a little ketchup nose, they’re turned into the cutest little Rudolphs.

They’re really easy to make too. You’re basically making regular pigs in a blanket and then giving them a festive makeover, so there’s nothing complicated involved. Kids can help with the decorating once they’ve cooled down enough too.

I think these would be so cute for a Christmas party or holiday get-together, especially if you’ve got kids coming. They’d also be fun for a Christmas movie night or just as something a bit different to make over the holidays.

Equipment

• Large baking sheet
• Parchment paper
• Cutting board
• Pizza cutter or sharp knife
• Cooling rack
• Paper towels

Ingredients

• 1 can crescent roll dough: This makes wrapping the Lil Smokies really quick and easy, and it bakes up lovely and golden around them.

• 1 pack (14 oz) Lil Smokies or cocktail wieners: Either works well here, so just use whichever you normally buy or can easily find.

• 1–2 cups pretzels: You’ll be breaking these up to make the little reindeer antlers, so don’t worry if you have a few casualties along the way!

• ½ cup ketchup: This is used for Rudolph’s red nose as well as helping the candy eyes stick in place.

• 48 candy eyes: You’ll need two for each reindeer. You can usually find these in the baking aisle or with the cake decorating supplies.

• Melted butter, optional: A little brushed over the crescent dough before baking helps give the tops a lovely golden finish, but you can skip it if you prefer.

Recipe Instructions

Full measurements and cooking times can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 375°F and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.

Step 2: Break the pretzels into pieces to make the antlers. You’ll need two antlers for each reindeer, so set these aside ready for later.

Step 3: Drain the Lil Smokies and pat them dry with a paper towel.

Step 4: Unroll the crescent dough onto a cutting board, keeping it together in one large rectangle. If the dough is perforated, gently press the seams together so they don’t come apart.

Step 5: Using a pizza cutter or sharp knife, cut the rectangle in half to make two large squares.

Step 6: Cut each square into 12 long, thin strips, giving you 24 strips altogether.

Step 7: Wrap one strip of dough around each Lil Smokie, starting at one end and working your way to the other. Place the wrapped Smokies on the prepared baking sheet, leaving a little space between each one.

Step 8: Gently push two pretzel antlers through the dough near the top of each reindeer and into the Lil Smokie underneath. This will help keep them in place while they bake.

Step 9: If using, lightly brush the crescent dough with melted butter.

Step 10: Bake for 12–15 minutes, or until the crescent dough is cooked through and golden brown.

Step 11: Remove from the oven and leave to cool for at least 20 minutes before decorating. If they’re still too warm, the candy eyes can melt or slide off.

Step 12: Once cooled, add two tiny dabs of ketchup just below the antlers and press a candy eye onto each one.

Step 13: Add a small dollop of ketchup near the bottom of each reindeer to make Rudolph’s red nose.

Step 14: Serve with extra ketchup and mustard for dipping.

What to Serve with Rudolph Reindeer Pigs in a Blanket

These little Rudolph pigs in a blanket are really easy to add to a Christmas party spread. I’d serve them with a few other picky bits so everyone can grab what they fancy, along with plenty of sauces for dipping.

• Ketchup and mustard: Keep it simple and put a couple of little bowls out alongside them for dipping.

• Honey mustard: This is really good with the smoky sausages and crescent dough.

• Cheese and crackers: An easy one if you’re putting together more of a Christmas snack table.

• Veggies and dip: Carrot sticks, cucumber, peppers, and a creamy dip work well alongside them.

• Potato wedges or fries: Add these if you want to turn them into more of a meal for the kids.

• Other Christmas appetizers: Serve them as part of a bigger spread with things like sausage rolls, meatballs, sliders, or a simple charcuterie board.

Storing

If you have any leftovers, pop them into an airtight container and keep them in the fridge for up to 5 days. I’d take the candy eyes off and wipe away the ketchup before storing them though, especially if you’re planning to warm them back up.

To reheat them, put them in the oven at 350°F for around 5–10 minutes, or in the air fryer at 350°F for about 5 minutes. Once they’re warmed through, you can add fresh candy eyes and another little dollop of ketchup for the nose and they’ll look much better again.

Variations & Substitutions

There are a few easy ways you can change these up depending on what you have in the fridge or what you can find at the store. Just keep the basic reindeer idea the same and have a bit of fun with them.

• Use hot dogs: Cut regular hot dogs into smaller pieces and use those instead of Lil Smokies. You could even leave them whole if you want to make full-size Rudolph pigs in a blanket.

• Swap the crescent dough: Puff pastry works well too and gives you a slightly crispier, flakier finish.

• Skip the candy eyes: Cut tiny circles from sliced cheese and add little pieces of black olive for the pupils instead.

• Change the red nose: A tiny piece of red bell pepper or tomato can work if you don’t want to use ketchup for Rudolph’s nose.

• Add some cheese: Wrap a small strip of cheese around the Lil Smokie before adding the crescent dough for cheesy pigs in a blanket.

FAQs

Can I make Christmas pigs in a blanket ahead of time?

Yes. You can wrap the Lil Smokies in the crescent dough and add the pretzel antlers, then keep them covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days before baking. I’d wait until after baking and cooling to add the candy eyes and ketchup noses.

What kind of dough is best for pigs in a blanket?

Crescent roll dough works really well for these Christmas pigs in a blanket because it’s quick, easy to wrap around the sausages, and bakes up nice and golden. You can use puff pastry instead if that’s what you have.

Can I use hot dogs instead of Lil Smokies?

Definitely. Just cut the hot dogs into smaller pieces before wrapping them in the crescent roll dough. You can also leave them whole if you want to make larger reindeer pigs in a blanket rather than bite-sized appetizers.

How do you keep the pretzel antlers from falling out?

Push the pretzel pieces through the crescent dough and slightly into the Lil Smokie underneath. This gives them something to hold onto and helps keep the antlers in place while they bake.

Why do I need to cool the pigs in a blanket before decorating them?

Give them at least 20 minutes to cool before adding the candy eyes and ketchup. If they’re still too warm, the eyes can start to melt or slide around and you’ll end up with some slightly strange-looking Rudolphs!

How do you reheat pigs in a blanket?

Reheat them in a 350°F oven for around 5–10 minutes or in the air fryer at 350°F for about 5 minutes. Remove the candy eyes and ketchup before reheating, then decorate them again once they’re ready to serve.

Can you freeze pigs in a blanket?

You can freeze the baked pigs in a blanket for up to 3 months, but I’d freeze them without the candy eyes and ketchup noses. Store them in an airtight freezer-safe container or bag, then reheat and decorate them before serving.

Are these Christmas pigs in a blanket good for a party?

Yes! They’re a fun little Christmas appetizer and especially good for parties with kids. They’re easy to pick up, don’t need any cutlery, and you can put out ketchup, mustard, or honey mustard alongside them for dipping.