This Christmas season, bring cheer to your loved ones with a batch of adorable reindeer cupcakes. With their rich chocolate flavor and playful appearance, they’re sure to become an instant holiday favorite. The best part? They’re surprisingly easy to make, requiring just a few simple ingredients and some creative flair. Simply start by preparing moist chocolate cakes using a mix, then finish them off with a layer of velvety chocolate frosting and your choice of festive toppings. Whether you’re leaving them out for Santa or sharing them with friends and family, these cupcakes are sure to spread holiday joy. And if you’re looking for more ways to get into the holiday spirit, be sure to check out some of our other fun and festive recipes, like our Santa-themed cupcakes or funfetti ice cream cone treats. Whatever your holiday baking plans may be, we hope they’re filled with as much joy and cheer as these reindeer cupcakes.
Why You’ll Love Them
Creating these adorable Christmas reindeer cupcakes is an effortless endeavor, thanks to the simplicity of using a chocolate cake mix for the batter and whipped frosting for topping. The endearing appeal of these festive treats makes them perfect for sharing with loved ones during the holiday season. Whether you’re hosting a gathering or looking for a fun activity to do with kids, this recipe is sure to bring joy and satisfaction. Just be prepared for them to vanish quickly, as they tend to be irresistible!
How to Make Christmas
To bring your reindeer cupcake creation to life, start by preparing the batter. In a bowl, combine the chocolate cake mix with eggs, milk, butter, and sour cream. Once well-mixed, pour the mixture into cupcake liners in two muffin pans. Pop them into the oven for about 16 minutes, or until they’re cooked through. Allow the cupcakes to cool completely before moving on to the next step.
Next, it’s time to make the chocolate frosting that will bring everything together. In a separate bowl, whisk together butter, cocoa powder, vanilla extract, cream, salt, and powdered sugar. As you mix, add in more powdered sugar gradually until stiff peaks form.
Finally, it’s time to decorate! Frost each cooled cupcake with the prepared frosting, then top with candy eyes, pretzel antlers, and a red candy for the nose.
Substitutions and Variations
Feel free to get creative with your cake choice – any chocolate mix will do, such as devil’s food, dark chocolate or another type. In fact, the reindeer-like brown chocolate frosting on top is quite versatile, allowing you to use different cakes like spice or vanilla beneath it. You can even opt for a non-chocolate cake altogether if you prefer.Similarly, don’t be afraid to experiment with milk types – regular, dairy-free or anything in between will work just fine. For the reindeer noses, grab your favorite red candies, whether that’s small gumballs, Skittles, gobstoppers or similar treats. If you can’t find candy eyes, no problem! Simply whip up some white frosting and add a tiny dot of melted chocolate to create your own custom eyes.
How to Store These Chocolate Cupcakes
For optimal freshness, store the cupcakes in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 24 hours. Alternatively, you can keep them refrigerated for a longer period of up to 3 days. When it’s time to freeze, the unfrosted cupcakes will retain their quality for up to 3 months. To thaw frozen cupcakes, simply place them in the refrigerator overnight and then proceed with frosting and decorating as desired.
Reindeer Christmas Cupcake FAQs
To prevent reindeer cupcakes from sticking to muffin tins or liners, it’s crucial to utilize paper liners and apply a light coating of nonstick cooking spray inside each one before adding the batter. This ensures a smooth release. For a professional-looking frosting finish, practice is key. When ready to frost each chocolate cupcake, consider employing a 1M tip and piping bag, starting in the center and working your way outward. If you’re not satisfied with the result, fear not – it’s all part of the charm! And remember, you can always consume any mistakes or use a Ziploc bag with the corner cut off or a palette knife to spread the frosting instead.
Easy Reindeer Cupcake Recipe
Easy Reindeer Cupcakes
Indulge in the spirit of Christmas by adding these delightful reindeer cupcakes to your holiday baking repertoire. With just 30 minutes of prep time, 17 minutes of cooking time, and a total of 47 minutes from start to finish, you’ll be whipping up a batch of 24 festive treats in no time.
Instructions
In preparation for baking, preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a muffin tin with cupcake liners and set it aside. In a large mixing bowl, combine the cake mix, eggs, milk, melted butter, and sour cream until well incorporated – slight lumps are acceptable, as the batter tends to be thick. Fill each liner about three-quarters full and bake for 15-17 minutes, or until the cupcakes spring back when gently pressed with your finger. Allow them to cool on a rack before moving on to the next step.In a separate bowl, mix softened butter, cocoa powder, vanilla extract, heavy cream, salt, and two cups of powdered sugar using a hand mixer on medium-high speed until smooth. Gradually add the remaining powdered sugar in one-cup increments, stopping when stiff peaks form. Transfer the frosting to a piping bag fitted with a 1M tip.To decorate the cooled cupcakes, pipe the frosting in a spiral motion starting from the center and working your way outwards before moving up. Position two candy eyes and an M&M in the frosting, followed by two pretzel rods to create the antlers.