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Today I have some super cute Reindeer Cupcakes for you to make. These are crazy easy, but oh so adorable. The kids will have so much fun helping to make these.

Reindeer Cupcakes on a cake stand
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Are you like my family and love to get messy in the kitchen? From peanut butter fudge, to Christmas tree brownies and Chocolate Covered Christmas Oreos, my kids and I love to hang out in the kitchen, especially around the holidays. Don’t you?

However… I have a lot of kids. So complicated recipes are not my thing. They (I mean me) like easy recipes that the don’t require a lot of thought. Make sure to check out all of Easy Christmas Recipes to make this holiday.

Why This Recipe Works:

We love that this recipe starts with a cake mix with added simple ingredients to make the best cupcakes. Adding the fun reindeer face makes these Rudolph cupcakes even better. You may even like to make these Reindeer Brownies.

You will love these Christmas cupcakes for all your holiday parties or a fun activity to do with the kids.

Ingredients you need:

Ingredients needed - Devil's Food Cake Mix, chocolate pudding, chocolate chips, eggs, oil, water, sour cream, butter, powdered sugar, cocoa powder, heavy cream, vanilla extract, salt, pretzel twists, nilla wafers, red M&M, candy eyeballs

For the Cupcakes: 

  • Devil’s Food Cake Mix 
  • Instant Chocolate Pudding
  • Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips 
  • Eggs 
  • Vegetable Oil 
  • Water 
  • Sour Cream 

For the Chocolate Buttercream Frosting: 

  • Butter
  • Powdered Sugar
  • Unsweetened Cocoa Powder 
  • Heavy Whipping Cream 
  • Vanilla Extract 
  • Salt 

For the Decorations: 

  • Mini Pretzels Twists 
  • Nilla Wafers 
  • Red M&M 
  • Candy Eyeballs

For the full list of ingredients and recipe, scroll to the bottom to see the recipe card.

Variations Ideas:

  • Cake Mix – Feel free to use different type of cake mix. Red velvet is a classic holiday cake and would be perfect for this Christmas Reindeer Cupcakes.
  • Homemade Frosting – I love making frosting from scratch as it made with simple ingredients. But you can make these cupcakes with store bought frosting. You can also use chocolate frosting or melted chocolate.
  • Red Nose – We made the red nose with an M&M. But you can use a red hot candy or a red sprinkle.
  • Reindeer Eyes – Instead of candy eyes use chocolate chips for they eyes. Just use what you have.

Step by Step Instructions:

  • Step 1 – Preheat the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit and line 2 cupcake pans with liners.  
Combining the cake, pudding mix, and chocolate chips together in a bowl

Step 2 – In a large mixing bowl, stir together the cake mix and pudding mix.  Stir in the chocolate chips. 

Adding in the eggs, oil, and water to the cake mix

Step 3 – Next mix in the large eggs, vegetable oil and water. Gently stir in the sour cream until a batter is formed.  

Pouring the batter into the cupcake pan

Step 4 – Pour the batter into each cupcake tin, filling them up approximately ¾ of the way full.  

Baked cupcakes in the cupcake pan

Step 5 – Bake for 20-25 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cupcakes comes out clean.  Remove from the oven and allow the cupcakes to cool completely on wire racks before topping with the frosting.

Beating the butter until creamy

Step 6 – In a large mixing bowl add the butter and beat until creamy (approximately 3 minutes).  

Adding the sugar, cocoa powder, heavy whipping cream, vanilla extract, and salt  and beating together

Step 7 – Add in the powdered sugar, cocoa powder, heavy whipping cream, vanilla extract and salt.  Mix on low speed until combined and then move the speed up to high and mix for 3 minutes. Chill until ready to use to decorate the cupcakes

 

Frosting the cupcakes

Step 8 – Add a flat layer of the frosting on top of each of the cupcakes (reserve some frosting for decorations). 

Topping the cupcakes with pretzels and nilla wafers

Step 9 – Add a villa wafer and 2 pretzel twists onto each cupcake to form the muzzle and antlers of each of the reindeers. 

Topping the cupcakes with candy eyes and red candy

Step 10 – Place the remaining in a piping bag fitted with a small circle tip or place in a bag with a small corner cut off one end. Apply the candy eyes and red candy nose.

Serving the Reindeer cupcakes

Step 11 – Then the cupcakes are ready to serve and enjoy! 

Recipe Tips:

  • Piping Bag – You can use a ziplock bag or a piping bag for the icing. Just use what you prefer. If you use a zip lock bag, just cut off the corner to make the tiny frosting dots.
  • Frosting – Check the consistency of the frosting and add more heavy whipping (1 tablespoon at a time) if needed to thin out the frosting.  
Close up image of Reindeer cupcakes

How to Store Leftovers:

Store you leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge. These chocolate cupcakes will stay fresh for up to 5 days.

Close up image of reindeer cupcakes

Can I Make Ahead of Time?

Yes, this can easily be prepared ahead of time. To make sure your cupcakes are cooled to room temperature, we like to prepare the cupcakes the night before.

Then frost and decorate when you are read to serve.

Try these other Christmas Desserts:

We love hearing from you. If you make these Reindeer Cupcakes, please leave us a comment or star review.

Reindeer Cupcakes

5 from 1 vote
Today I have some super cute Reindeer Cupcakes for you to make. These are crazy easy, but oh so adorable. The kids will love to help.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings 24
Cuisine American
Course Dessert
Calories 349

Ingredients

For the Cupcakes: 

For the Frosting: 

For the Decorations: 

  • 48 pretzel twists
  • 24 Vanilla wafers
  • 24 Red M&Ms
  • 48 Candy Eyes
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Instructions

For the Cupcakes: 

  • Preheat the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit and line 2 cupcake pans with liners.  
  • In a large mixing bowl, stir together the cake mix and pudding mix.  Stir in the chocolate chips.  
  • Next mix in the large eggs, vegetable oil and water.  
  • Gently stir in the sour cream until a batter is formed. 
  • Pour the batter into each cupcake tin, filling them up approximately ¾ of the way full.  
  • Bake for 20-25 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cupcakes comes out clean.  
  • Remove from the oven and allow the cupcakes to cool completely on wire racks before topping with the frosting.  

For the Frosting: 

  • In a large mixing bowl add the butter and beat until creamy (approximately 3 minutes).   
  • Add in the powdered sugar, cocoa powder, heavy whipping cream, vanilla extract and salt.  Mix on low speed until combined and then move the speed up to high and mix for 3 minutes. 
  • Then check the consistency of the frosting and add more heavy whipping (1 tablespoon at a time) if needed to thin out the frosting.  
  • Chill until ready to use to decorate the cupcakes.  

To Assemble the Cupcakes: 

  • Add a flat layer of the frosting on top of each of the cupcakes (reserve some frosting for decorations). 
  • Add a villa wafer and 2 pretzel twists onto each cupcake to form the muzzle and antlers of each of the reindeers. 
  • Place the remaining in a piping bag fitted with a small circle tip or place in a bag with a small corner cut off one end. 
  • Pipe dots of frosting onto the backs of the candy eyes and M&Ms and then place each of them onto the cupcakes for the eyes and noses of the reindeer. 
  • Then the cupcakes are ready to serve and enjoy!  

Recipe Notes

Store any leftover cupcakes in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. 
 
You can make this recipe with store-bought chocolate frosting if you prefer.  

Nutrition Facts

Calories 349kcal, Carbohydrates 46g, Protein 4g, Fat 25g, Saturated Fat 11g, Polyunsaturated Fat 4g, Monounsaturated Fat 8g, Trans Fat 1g, Cholesterol 56mg, Sodium 320mg, Potassium 174mg, Fiber 2g, Sugar 17g, Vitamin A 369IU, Vitamin C 0.1mg, Calcium 54mg, Iron 2mg

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About the Author

Hi, I’m Carrie. Welcome to Eating on a Dime!

I’m on a mission to help you cook delicious meals without busting your budget. Together we are going to cook real food… for real families!

5 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)

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