Reindeer cupcakes are the holiday hit that everyone—from kids to coworkers—will love. With chocolatey cake, rich frosting, and playful toppings like pretzels and M&M’s, each cupcake turns into a cheerful little Rudolph. The best part? They’re super easy to make using a box mix, and the decorating is fun for all ages. Whether you’re prepping for a classroom party or a holiday cookie exchange, these adorable cupcakes are guaranteed to be a crowd favorite.
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love These Cupcakes
- Festive, photo-worthy, and FUN
- Great activity for kids (no piping bags required!)
- Easy to make with a boxed mix
- Perfect for parties, cookie trays, or gifting
- Adaptable for different skill levels
Also try Gingerbread Cupcakes, Rudolph Cookies, or Christmas Wreath Cupcakes for more cute holiday baking fun!
Ingredients
For the Chocolate Cupcakes:
- 1 box Devil’s food cake mix
- 3 large eggs
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup milk (or buttermilk)
- ½ cup sour cream
For the Chocolate Frosting:
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- ⅓ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2–3 cups powdered sugar
- 2 tbsp milk
- Pinch of salt (optional)
For Decorating:
- Mini pretzels (for antlers)
- Nilla Wafers (for muzzles)
- Brown and red M&M’s (for noses)
- White M&M’s or candy eyes (for eyes)
- Melted chocolate or frosting (to dot pupils)
Instructions
1. Bake the Cupcakes
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a muffin tin with cupcake liners.
- In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, oil, vanilla, milk, and sour cream until smooth.
- Add cake mix and stir until just combined.
- Fill liners ¾ full and bake for 16–20 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Let cool completely before frosting.
2. Make the Frosting
- Beat butter until light and fluffy.
- Add cocoa powder, 2 cups powdered sugar, and milk.
- Mix until smooth, adding more sugar to reach desired thickness.
- Optional: add a pinch of salt to balance sweetness.
3. Assemble the Reindeer Faces
- Use frosting to attach a brown (or red) M&M to a Nilla Wafer for the nose.
- Dot white M&M’s with melted chocolate to create eyeballs.
- Frost each cupcake generously with chocolate frosting.
- Press a Nilla Wafer “muzzle” into the bottom center of the cupcake.
- Add eyes above the muzzle and pretzels at the top for antlers.
Recipe Details
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Servings: 20–24 cupcakes
Nutrition Facts (Per Cupcake — Estimated)
- Calories: ~310
- Fat: 16g
- Carbs: 38g
- Sugar: 30g
- Protein: 3g
Tips & Variations
- Want all Rudolphs? Use red M&M’s on every one!
- Don’t want to DIY eyes? Store-bought candy eyes work great.
- Organizing for kids? Use a muffin tin to keep toppings separated.
- Make ahead: Cupcakes and frosting can be made 1 day ahead. Store cupcakes covered at room temp; refrigerate frosting and bring to room temp before using.
- No sour cream? Sub Greek yogurt.
FAQs
How far in advance can I make these?
Bake and frost the cupcakes 1 day ahead. Decorate right before serving for best crunch on the pretzels.
Can I freeze the cupcakes?
Yes! Freeze unfrosted cupcakes for up to 1 month. Thaw before frosting and decorating.
Can kids help decorate?
Absolutely! This recipe is super kid-friendly and perfect for a decorating party.
What if I don’t have Nilla Wafers?
Use any round cookie, like shortbread or mini graham crackers.
Reindeer Cupcakes
Equipment
- – Muffin tin & liners
- – Mixing bowls
- – Hand or stand mixer
- – Piping bag or spatula
Ingredients
- **Chocolate Cupcakes:**
- – 1 box Devil’s food cake mix
- – 3 eggs
- – ½ cup vegetable oil
- – 2 tsp vanilla extract
- – 1 cup milk or buttermilk
- – ½ cup sour cream
- **Chocolate Frosting:**
- – 1 cup unsalted butter
- – ⅓ cup cocoa powder
- – 2–3 cups powdered sugar
- – 2 tbsp milk
- – Pinch of salt optional
- **Toppings:**
- – Mini pretzels antlers
- – Nilla Wafers muzzles
- – Brown & red M&M’s noses
- – White M&M’s or candy eyes
- – Melted chocolate for pupils
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F and line cupcake pan.
- Mix wet ingredients. Stir in cake mix until smooth.
- Fill liners ¾ full. Bake 16–20 min. Let cool.
- For frosting: beat butter, cocoa, sugar, and milk until fluffy.
- Frost cupcakes. Add Nilla Wafer + M&M for muzzle.
- Place candy eyes and pretzels on top for antlers.
Notes
– Store decorated cupcakes uncovered if using pretzels.
– Makes ~20–24 cupcakes.
Conclusion
These reindeer cupcakes are as joyful to make as they are to serve. With chocolatey goodness and cheerful decorations, they’re a guaranteed hit for kids, coworkers, and anyone who loves holiday sweets. No piping skills required—just a little creativity and holiday spirit!