Reindeer Cupcakes

Table of Contents

1. Reindeer Cupcakes Ingredients
2. Substitutions and Additions
3. How to Make Reindeer Cupcakes
4. How to Serve Reindeer Cupcakes
5. Storage
6. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
7. MORE RECIPES YOU’LL LOVE
8. JUMP TO RECIPE

Reindeer cupcakes are a festive treat that will make your friends and family feel like they’re at the North Pole! Using a box of cake mix makes it easy to make the cupcakes, and the cute reindeer faces on top make these cupcakes almost too adorable to eat. Almost! The cutest Christmas cupcakes you’ve ever seen, these fabulous reindeer cupcakes are sure to get you into the holiday spirit.

Looking for more whimsical holiday reindeer treats? You’ll want to make Reindeer Brownies, Reindeer Pretzels, and Reindeer Rice Krispie Treats. 

Reindeer Cupcakes Ingredients

You will need:

Cupcakes

• 1 box chocolate cake mix
• 3 large eggs
• 1 cup water
• ½ cup vegetable oil

Reindeer Decorations

• 2 tubs chocolate fudge frosting (16-ounce)
• 24 vanilla wafer cookies
• Brown and red M&M’s, for the reindeer’s nose
• 48 chocolate-covered mini pretzels
• 48 medium candy eyeballs

Substitutions and Additions

CUPCAKES: Use your favorite chocolate cake recipe for the cupcakes or use premade cupcakes from the grocery store. 

DECORATION: White candy melts could be substituted for the Nilla wafers. Make different faces/smiles/expressions with the frosting for variety. We used chocolate-covered pretzels. Regular mini pretzels can also be used. 

FROSTING: You can use the recommended store-bought frosting or, if you have a preferred homemade recipe, you can also use that.

How to Make Reindeer Cupcakes

STEP ONE: In a large mixing bowl, combine the cake mix, eggs, water, and oil. Beat with a hand mixer or stand mixer for 2 to 3 minutes until fluffy and well combined.

STEP TWO: Line a muffin tin with cupcake liners and fill each liner ⅔ of the way full. Bake according to the cake mix package instructions (approximately 15 minutes at 350°F).

PRO TIP: Oven temperatures vary and may need to be recalibrated periodically to ensure they are accurate. Make sure to keep a close eye on your cupcakes as the suggested baking time approaches.

STEP THREE: Allow the cupcakes to cool completely on a wire cooling rack.

STEP FOUR: If the top of the cupcake has a domed top, use a serrated knife to trim off the dome and form a flat top. Frost cupcakes with the chocolate frosting.

PRO TIP: A flat top on the cupcakes is helpful to hold the decorations on one plane; otherwise, they start slipping or look funny at different angles. If you use grocery store frosted cupcakes, I’d recommend taking an offset spatula/knife and just smoothing out the frosting into a flat top.

STEP FIVE: Transfer about ½ cup of the frosting to a small Ziploc bag and cut a very small opening in the corner to use it as a piping bag.

STEP SIX: Place one vanilla wafer along the edge of each cupcake (off-center).

STEP SEVEN: Place two miniature chocolate-covered pretzels above the vanilla wafer to form the reindeer antlers.

STEP EIGHT: Use the “piping bag” to pipe two small dots of frosting and place two candy eyes at the base of the pretzels and just above the vanilla wafers.

STEP NINE: Pipe a bit of frosting to glue on the M&M nose.

STEP TEN: Pipe a mouth below the nose.

How to Serve Reindeer Cupcakes

These adorable Rudolph cupcakes will delight kids of all ages! Enjoy them at home or serve them at your holiday party. These Christmas reindeer cupcakes can even be Rudolph with a fun red candy nose. Enjoy them with a mug of hot chocolate or a pumpkin spice latte. 

Storage

ON THE COUNTER/IN THE FRIDGE: Store your adorable reindeer cupcakes on the countertop at room temperature or in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 1 week.

IN THE FREEZER: These easy cupcakes can be frozen as well. We would recommend waiting to add the decorations until you are ready to serve, as the pretzels and wafers may become soggy once thawed.

Reindeer cupcakes, with their delicious chocolate flavor and cute little pretzel antlers, are so fun to create this holiday season. Moist, fluffy, and full of rich chocolate flavor, these adorable Christmas cupcakes will be a huge hit at any holiday parties you attend. Surprisingly easy to make, these Reindeer Cupcakes are bound to steal the show this holiday season.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Can I store these cupcakes on the counter? 

Our cute reindeer cupcakes can be kept either on the counter or in the fridge for up to a week.

Can I freeze these cupcakes? 

These fun chocolate reindeer cupcakes can be frozen for up to a month. We would recommend waiting to add the faces until you are ready to enjoy them so that the toppings don’t get soggy.

Can I use my own cupcake recipe? 

If you have a preferred homemade cupcake recipe, you can certainly whip up a batch if you’d like.

MORE RECIPES YOU’LL LOVE

• Caramel Apple Cupcakes
• Vanilla Cupcakes
• Chocolate Puddles
• Coconut Cupcakes