This post may contain affiliate links, please see the privacy policy for details.
Make this Christmas extra special with these adorable reindeer cupcakes. Moist chocolate cupcakes are topped with rich cocoa frosting, crunchy pretzel antlers, bright red M&M noses and candy eyes. They’re a charming mix of flavor and fun, perfect for parties or a holiday bake-off. Even if you’re short on time, the simple steps and easy decorations mean you can whip up a batch in very little time. Kids and adults alike will be lining up for one of these adorable little treats.
These reindeer cupcakes bring rich chocolate flavor and festive fun. Swirl cocoa frosting, add pretzel antlers, candy eyes and a red M&M nose for a cute look.
Looking for more fun and festive treats? Try funfetti ice cream cone cupcakes, candied pecans, and reindeer Rice Krispie treats.
Why You’ll Love It
Simple to make: There’s nothing difficult about making these Christmas reindeer cupcakes, especially since the cupcake batter can be made with chocolate cake mix. The creamy frosting is easy to prepare as well.
So cute for Christmas: There are all sorts of sweet treat recipes to choose from but these festive cupcakes are especially cute and will appeal to absolutely everyone who loves the holidays.
A fun festive activity: You might like to make these as a Christmas activity if you have family coming over or you could get the kids to decorate them. Just ensure you’re making extra since these tend to “disappear” mysteriously quickly!
Reindeer Cupcake Ingredients
A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
Chocolate cake mix: A quick base that bakes up moist and chocolatey.
Eggs: Add structure for a tender crumb.
Milk: Keeps the batter smooth and flavorful.
Unsalted butter: Adds richness to the cupcake batter and whips up light, creamy frosting.
Sour cream: Locks in moisture for soft cupcakes.
Unsweetened cocoa powder: Brings deep chocolate flavor to the frosting.
Vanilla extract: Rounds out the chocolate notes in the frosting.
Heavy cream: Loosens the frosting for smooth piping.
Powdered sugar: Sweetens and firms the frosting to hold swirls.
Pretzels: Create crunchy, salty antlers for contrast.
Red candies: Red M&Ms make bold, shiny noses that pop.
Candy eyes: Add personality to each cupcake.
How to Make Christmas Reindeer Cupcakes
For more detailed instructions with weights and measurements, jump to the printable recipe card.
Prepare the cupcake batter: Mix the chocolate cake mix with the eggs, milk, butter, and sour cream.
Bake the cupcakes: Pour the mixture into cupcake liners in a pair of muffin pans and bake for about 16 minutes, then let them cool completely.
Make the chocolate frosting: Mix the butter, cocoa powder, vanilla extract, cream, salt, and powdered sugar to make the frosting, adding more powdered sugar bit by bit until you get stiff peaks.
Decorate the reindeer cupcakes: Frost the cupcakes with the prepared frosting and add candy eyes, pretzel antlers and a red candy for the nose.
Substitutions and Variations
Gluten free option: Use a gluten free chocolate cake mix and gluten free pretzels.
Dairy tweak: Swap sour cream for plain Greek yogurt for tang.
Flavor switch: Use red velvet or vanilla cake mix for a different base.
Minty vibe: Replace red M&Ms with peppermint candies for a cool twist.
Candy eyes: If you can’t find candy eyes (here) you can make your own using white frosting and a dot of melted chocolate.
Serving Suggestions
With other festive bites: These are perfect as part of a Christmas platter and they’d pair well with any other Christmas themed appetizers or treats such as an antipasto Christmas tree, reindeer cookies, Santa cupcakes or Grinch sugar cookies.
With a drink: Don’t forget the festive beverages to wash them down! Fun Christmas drinks include Santa’s hat cocktails and Christmas chocolate cake martinis.
How to Store Christmas Chocolate Cupcakes
Store: Keep the cupcakes covered or in an airtight container for up to 24 hours at room temperature or up to 3 days in the fridge.
Freeze: You can freeze the unfrosted cupcakes for up to 3 months.
Thaw: Thaw them overnight in the refrigerator and then proceed to frost and decorate them as you like.
Top Tips
Cool completely: Frost only when cupcakes are fully cool for neat swirls.
Hold steady: Pipe straight down, then spiral outward and up for height.
Anchor the antlers: Insert pretzels near the frosting base so they stand firm.
Fix cracks: If a cupcake top cracks, cover with a generous frosting swirl.
Clean edges: Wipe the piping tip often for sharp, tidy ridges.
Reindeer Christmas Cupcake FAQs
First of all, make sure you’re using paper liners (here), and then spray inside each liner with a little nonstick cooking spray before adding the batter. This means they shouldn’t stick.
Frosting cupcakes to look as good as the ones in the bakery takes some practice. When you’re ready to frost each chocolate cupcake, you might like to use a 1M tip (here) and piping bag (here), starting off in the middle, working your way out and then piping it upwards. Don’t worry if it doesn’t look professional – that’s part of the charm of these Rudolph cupcakes! And you can eat your mistakes! You can even use a Ziploc bag with the corner snipped off or else just spread the frosting using a palette knife instead.
Reindeer Cupcakes with Pretzels for Antlers
Reindeer Cupcakes
Equipment
- Pastry Bag with 1M Tip
Ingredients
For the Cupcakes
- 1 chocolate cake mix
- 4 eggs
- ½ Cup milk
- ½ Cup unsalted butter, melted
- ⅓ Cup sour cream
For the Frosting
- 1 Cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
- ½ Cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- ½ Teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ Cup heavy cream
- 4 Cups powder sugar
Toppings
- pretzels
- red M&Ms
- candy eyes
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a muffin pan with paper cupcake liners and set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, mix the cake mix, eggs, milk, melted butter, and sour cream until well combined. It’s okay if there are some small lumps. The batter tends to be thick.
- Pour mixture into each cup of the prepared pan (each about ¾ full) and bake for 15 to 17 minutes, or until cupcakes are firm enough to bounce back when you gently press with your finger.
- Remove cupcakes from muffin pan and set aside on cooling rack.
- In a separate mixing bowl, add the softened butter, cocoa powder, vanilla extract, heavy cream, salt, and 2 cups of powdered sugar. Using a hand mixer, mix on a medium high setting until creamy. Mix in the rest of the powder sugar one ½ cup to 1 cup at a time until stiff peaks form.
- Scoop frosting into a piping bag with a 1M tip. Pipe the frosting on each cooled cupcake. I like to start in the middle of the cupcake and work my way out, then work my way up.
- Add 2 candy eyes and an M&M to each cupcake and then add 2 pretzels for the antlers.
Notes
Hold steady: Pipe straight down, then spiral outward and up for height.
Anchor the antlers: Insert pretzels near the frosting base so they stand firm.
Fix cracks: If a cupcake top cracks, cover with a generous frosting swirl.
Clean edges: Wipe the piping tip often for sharp, tidy ridges.
Nutrition
If you want a crowd pleaser that’s charming and simple, these pretzel reindeer cupcakes hit the mark. The combo of moist chocolate cake, smooth cocoa frosting and salty pretzel crunch is spot on, and the faces make everyone smile. They’re easy to assemble, great for helpers of all ages and ideal for gifting or sharing at gatherings. Make a batch and bring instant holiday cheer to the table.
Other Recipes to Try
- These festive 3D Gingerbread Tree Cookies are whimsical and delicious.
- Craft these adorable and Holiday Reindeer Cookie Treats!
- Embrace the holiday season with charming Gingerbread Man Cookies.
- These Chocolate Strawberry Birds are as cute as they are yummy.
- Experience comfort with my Old Fashioned Gingerbread Cake Recipe!
Bella Bucchiotti
Bella Bucchiotti is a Canadian-based syndicated food, travel, and lifestyle writer, photographer, and creator at xoxoBella. She founded xoxoBella in 2015, where she shares her love for food, dogs, sustainability, fitness, crafts, outdoor adventures, travel, and philanthropy to encourage others to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places, and stand for a cause. Bella creates stress-free and family-friendly recipes for weeknight dinners and festive feasts.
There was no leftovers. This has got to be my new favorite recipe from your site!!