These chocolate reindeer cupcakes are homemade and completely adorable. Moist, tender chocolate cupcakes are topped with chocolate buttercream frosting and decorated to super cute perfection.
As you might have noticed, I love making decorated treats for the holiday season. These little guys are just so much fun - and delicious, of course. These are the cutest Christmas cupcakes made into reindeer with chocolate frosting, icing eyes, and mini pretzels for reindeer antlers.
I love to pair these cute reindeer cupcakes with my Santa Hat Cupcakes to make a true holiday theme. I mean, what's more classic than Santa and his reindeer at a Christmas party?
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- They're super festive, and they look just like Santa's reindeer.
- Cupcakes are a classic dessert that everyone always loves.
- Buttercream frosting will have everyone coming back for more.
Ingredients
The ingredient list for this reindeer cupcakes recipe is incredibly simple. Everything used is a baking essential, and you'll most likely have everything you need in your kitchen already. If not, you can easily get anything you're missing from the baking aisle at the grocery store.
- Cocoa Powder: There's no better way to get the rich chocolate flavor in your batter.
- Sour Cream: Makes the cupcakes extra moist.
- Brown Food Coloring: Used to tint your buttercream frosting to "reindeer color."
- Twist Pretzels: Make the antlers.
- Red and Black Icing: Make the nose and eyes.
- Buttercream Frosting: You can make homemade frosting or buy store-bought frosting.
The full ingredient list with quantities is in the recipe card at the end of the post.
How to Make Chocolate Reindeer Cupcakes
These adorable Rudolph cupcakes are an incredibly easy recipe that even beginners can make, and it creates such adorable treats. We're hitting the highlights here, but you'll find the complete instructions in the recipe card at the end of the post.
1. Cream the butter, sugar, and eggs. Then, add the cocoa powder and boiling water, then add the sour cream.
2. Use an ice cream scoop to transfer the batter into cupcake liners and bake for 25 minutes. Allow the cupcakes to cool completely and remove them to a wire cooling rack.
3. Combine the frosting ingredients until the desired texture and color are reached.
4. Pipe the frosting onto the cupcakes and decorate with antlers and icing eyes and nose to create the reindeer faces.
Substitutions and Variations
Chocolate Cake Recipe: Turn this recipe into cupcakes by putting the batter in a cupcake pan.
Frosting: You can use any of your favorite frosting recipes for these.
Candy Eyes: Use candy eyeballs instead of icing for the face.
Antlers: Make chocolate antlers by dipping the pretzels in melted chocolate.
If these chocolate cupcakes have you craving a bite, then check out these delicious Andes mint cupcakes with Irish buttercream frosting.
What to Serve with Chocolate Reindeer Cupcakes
These delicious cupcakes bring the holiday spirit to any classroom parties, potlucks, or family gatherings. They're a fun project and delicious addition to any Christmas dessert table.
Equipment
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Mixing bowls
- Cupcake tin
- Piping bag
Storage
Room Temperature: Store these cupcakes for up to 2 days in a closed airtight container on the counter.
Refrigerator: You can store these for up to a week in the refrigerator in an air-tight container.
Freezer: Freeze these for up to 3 months in an air-tight, freezer-safe container.
Tips For Reindeer Cupcakes
- Be sure you soften your butter completely to avoid lumpy frosting.
- Adjust your buttercream frosting as needed to achieve a thick consistency. Add more milk to thin it out or more powdered sugar to thicken it up.
FAQ
It makes mixing easier and creates a more tender final product.
They'll last for about 2 days at room temperature, up to a week in the refrigerator, and up to 3 months in the freezer.
Save these cupcakes and prep them for a holiday treat by freezing them. To thaw, place them in the refrigerator overnight, then continue decorating them the next day.
More Cupcake Recipes You'll Love
Homemade Chocolate Reindeer Cupcakes
Ingredients
Cupcake Ingredients
- 2 cups brown sugar packed
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup butter softened
- ¼ cup cocoa powder
- 1 cup boiling water
- 2 cups flour
- 2 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ cup sour cream
Frosting Ingredients
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- ½ cup butter softened
- 2 teaspoon vanilla extract -
- 2-3 tablespoon milk
- Brown food coloring gel
Decorations
- 48 twist pretzels
- Red frosting
- Black frosting
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350ºF.
- In a large mixing bowl, cream brown sugar, eggs, and butter together until fluffy.
- Add cocoa powder and boiling water. Beat again.
- Add flour and baking soda. Beat well until batter is smooth.
- Add sour cream. Beat until batter is uniform throughout.
- Transfer batter into cupcake liners.
- Bake for 25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out cleanly. Allow cupcakes to cool completely before frosting.
- To prepare frosting, in a medium mixing bowl, cream butter and powdered sugar together.
- Add 2 tablespoons of milk and vanilla. Beat well.
- If it is too thick, add more milk. If it is too thin, add more powdered sugar.
- Add brown coloring gel to frosting and beat until desired color is reached.
- Transfer frosting to a ziplock bag and cut the corner off.
- Pipe frosting onto cupcakes.
- Break pieces of pretzels off to create antlers.
- Add antlers, eyes, and noses to cupcakes to create reindeer.
Notes
- Be sure you soften your butter completely to avoid lumpy frosting.
- Adjust your buttercream frosting as needed to achieve a thick consistency. Add more milk to thin it out or more powdered sugar to thicken it up.
Nutrition
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