This easy and adorable Reindeer Cupcakes Recipe will bring a little cuteness to your holidays! A delicious Christmas cupcake that's super easy to make! With a red nose, they are Rudolph Cupcakes!
There are so many cute Christmas treat ideas! Try Marshmallow Reindeer, salty-sweet Reese's Reindeer, or Easy Brownie Christmas Trees!
Chocolate Reindeer Cupcakes are one of our favorite treats to make during this festive time of year. They're a holiday baking tradition and so much fun.
Well, these and Christmas Tree Brownies.
Bring these Reindeer Cupcakes with Pretzels to your holiday party and watch them disappear! People love the salty-sweet combo! They are definitely Pinterest-worthy!
Note: Similar reindeer recipes use a cake mix instead of brownies, but we prefer to have a substantial base of the brownie to work with and the rich chocolate yumminess.
You can certainly substitute a cake recipe for these Rudolph cupcakes if you prefer.
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Ingredient Notes
Again, you could use any brownie or cake mix for these festive reindeer cupcakes.
- Homemade or boxed cupcakes: Homemade brownies or boxed brownies also work. We like chocolate cupcakes, but you can also use vanilla cupcakes.
- Mini Nilla Wafers: for the muzzle.
- Mini pretzel twists: for the salty goodness!
- Chocolate frosting: any kind, homemade or store-bought, will do.
- Candy eyes can be used to create a cute little face. They are usually found in the baking aisle of the grocery store.
- Brown and red M&Ms: they are the perfect size and shape!
Find the full recipe and instructions in the printable recipe card below.
How to Make Reindeer Cupcakes
Grab your stand mixer and make your brownies or chocolate cake for your base as you normally would. Make sure to bake them in a cupcake pan using whatever cupcake liners
Once out of the oven, let the cupcakes/brownies cool completely on a cooling rack before frosting and decorating them into adorable reindeer.
How To Decorate
After you frost each cupcake/brownie with the chocolate frosting, you are ready to start adding your toppings to make your reindeer treat come to life.
Step 1 - The Muzzle: Start with your mini Nilla Wafer for the muzzle. Place it towards the bottom edge of your cupcake.
Step 2 - The Antlers: Next, add your mini pretzels antlers. Place them at the top of the cupcake.
Step 3 - Add Candy Eyes: Add your candy eyes just above the muzzle. These should stay put just fine in the frosting.
Step 4 - Add a Nose: Finish your reindeer with a brown or red M&M nose. Attach it with a bit of frosting to hold it in place.
How to Store
Store your finished reindeer cupcake recipe in a sealed container for 2-3 days.
Make Ahead & Freezing: You can freeze the undecorated baked cupcakes for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight and decorate before serving.
Expert Tips and Tricks
- Cookie Muzzel: We like using mini Vanilla Wafers, but you can also use regular-size if that's what you can find at the store.
- Candy Noses: You can use any red, round candy for the nose to make them Rudolph cupcakes.
How will you and your cute little reindeer cupcakes celebrate the season?
- Holiday office parties?
- Girl's bunco night?
- Kid's craft party?
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More Christmas Treats!
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Printable Recipe
Reindeer Cupcakes Recipe
Equipment
- mixing bowl
- Spatula or cooking spoon
- cupcake pan
- cupcake liners
Ingredients
- 1 box Cake Recipe (or brownie mix)
- 1 container Chocolate Frosting
- 12 Nilla Wafers (for muzzle)
- White Mint Candies or Candy Eyeballs
- Brown M&M's (and a few red for Rudolph)
- 24 Mini Pretzels twists (antlers)
- {a few chocolate chips melted to make dots on eyes if using white candies for eyeballs}
Instructions
- Make brownie or cake recipe per the recipe or the box. Fill cupcake liners about ¾ full.
- Bake about 25-30 minutes or per box instructions. Cool completely.
- Frost the brownies.
- Place a Nilla Wafer on each brownie for a muzzle (see photos above), then place pretzels above for antlers.
- Attach the candy eyeballs.
- Use a little frosting to stick brown or red M&M's on for a nose, and you're done!
Video
Notes
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- Cookie Muzzel: We like using mini Vanilla Wafers, but you can also use regular-size if that's what you can find at the store.
- Candy Noses: You can use any red, round candy for the nose to make them Rudolph cupcakes.
- Make Ahead & Freezing: You can freeze the undecorated baked cupcakes for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight and decorate before serving.
Nutrition
This recipe was originally published in December 2017. We updated it with enhanced instructions and video on November 16, 2020.
Toni Dash says
These are so adorable! My kids loved them!
Beth says
Oh my goodness these are so adorable and fun! My daughter is going to have fun making these with me! So excited!
Matt Taylor says
This is such a fun decorating idea for cupcakes! Perfect for Christmas!
Erin Henry says
Thanks, Matt! Yes, fun and easy idea to celebrate the holidays!
Damien UwU says
These are so cute my husband and I made these together and they were so much fun! His looked a lot better than mine!
Erin Henry says
Glad you had fun making them, Damien!
jess (creative index) says
Those are SO cute!
And easy too! I LOVE easy! haha
Erin says
These make me smile every time I see them 🙂 They are easy to make and the kids love putting them together. I love easy too! Enjoy.