Description
These adorable reindeer cupcakes are a festive holiday favorite with rich chocolate flavor, red noses, antlers, and googly eyes—perfect for parties and kids’ baking fun.
Ingredients
1 box cake mix (or homemade cupcake batter)
½ cup butter, softened
2 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
½ cup milk
½ cup candy melts chocolate
1 tube red decorating icing (Wilton preferred)
1 tube brown decorating icing (Wilton preferred)
1 tube black decorating icing (Wilton preferred)
¼ cup chocolate chips (for antlers)
1 pack eyeball sprinkles
12 festive cupcake liners
1 sheet parchment paper
Instructions
Bake Cupcakes:
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a cupcake pan with 12 festive liners.
Prepare cake mix according to box or homemade instructions, using butter, eggs, vanilla, and milk.
Divide batter evenly and bake for about 17 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool completely on a wire rack (15–20 minutes).
Make Antlers:
Melt candy melts or chocolate chips in the microwave at 30% power, stirring every 30 seconds until smooth.
Pour into a piping bag fitted with a #4 tip. Pipe “Y” shaped antlers onto parchment paper. Let them set until hardened. Make extras in case of breakage.
Decorate Cupcakes:
Once cooled, frost each cupcake with brown icing in a swirl pattern starting from the outer edge inward.
Insert chocolate antlers into the top of each cupcake.
Add eyeball sprinkles or pipe two small black icing dots for eyes.
Pipe a red dot in the center for the reindeer’s nose.
Admire your festive cupcakes and serve!
Notes
Use edible googly eyes for a more polished look.
Add a box of pudding mix and one extra egg to the cake batter for ultra-moist cupcakes.
Ensure cupcakes are completely cooled before decorating.
Store undecorated cupcakes in an airtight container for up to 2 days or freeze before decorating.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 17 minutes
- Category: Dessert, Holiday Treats
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: American
