How to Make Reindeer Cupcakes
Reindeer cupcakes are the perfect way to bring holiday cheer to your Christmas dessert table, combining festive fun with delicious flavor.
These adorable treats start with your favorite cupcake base and are topped with rich frosting, pretzel antlers, candy eyes, and Rudolph’s signature red nose.
Not only are they simple to make, but they’re also a fun project for kids and adults, making them perfect for parties, gifts, or cozy family nights.
How to Make Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer Cupcakes
- You start with your favorite cupcake recipe—go with classics like chocolate cupcakes or vanilla cupcakes. Or you can bake something festive with holiday flavors like gingerbread cupcakes.
- Once cooled, frost with chocolate buttercream, then decorate with candy eyes, a red M&M nose, and pretzel twists for antlers.
Yes! A boxed mix is a great shortcut. Just bake according to the directions and decorate once cooled.
Yes, you can bake and frost them up to 2 days ahead. Add the pretzels just before serving to keep them crisp.
Not at all! Red is perfect for a Rudolph cupcake, but brown or other colors work if you’re making a whole reindeer crew.
If you love making festive dessert recipes like these, be sure to check out these great ideas too for even more holiday inspiration.
- From savory holiday dinners to sweet desserts, these Christmas recipes bring warmth and cheer to your table.
- Add some fun to the season with cute Christmas recipes that look just as good as they taste.
- Reindeer Rice Krispie Treats are a quick, no-bake holiday dessert with pretzel antlers and candy noses that pair perfectly with festive reindeer cupcakes.
How to Make Reindeer Cupcakes
Equipment
Ingredients
For the Cupcakes:
- 1 cup sugar
- ½ cup butter softened
- 2 eggs
- 2 tsp vanilla
- 1 ½ cups of flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- ½ cup milk
For the Frosting:
- ⅓ cup butter softened
- ¾ cup cocoa
- 2 ½ cups powdered sugar
- ¼ cup milk
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 24 pretzel twists
- 12 red M&Ms
- 24 candy eyes
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees, and line your cupcake pan with cupcake wrappers.
- Make your cupcakes.
- Fill cupcake liners 2/3 full, and bake for 20-25 minutes.
- Let the cupcakes cool.
- Make the buttercream frosting.
- Frost the reindeer cupcakes.
- Use the pretzels as antlers, add the eyes and a red nose to make these adorable Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer Cupcakes!
These are so cute!! I love the candy eyes so much!! I know my girls would love to help decorate these!! I need to make them for our family Christmas party next year!
These look so adorable and easy to make!