These Reindeer Cupcakes bring the magic of Christmas in the form of chocolate cupcakes topped with buttercream frosting and candy decorations! Made with a doctored-up boxed cake mix!

If you’re short on time but still want the excitement of Santas Reindeer at your party check out these Easy Reindeer Cakes! They’re made with Ding Dong Cakes for a quick and easy no bake treat!

Close up of chocolate cupcakes decorated like reindeer.

You’re certain to bring Christmas excitement to town with these Reindeer Cupcakes! Kids all the way up to adults will be bursting with holiday cheer as they grab one from the dessert table!

These delicious, sweet cupcakes are topped with chocolate antlers, a mini candy bar, candy eyes, and a red M&M. All assembled to look like everyone’s favorite reindeer, Rudolph!

Set out the edible decorations and allow the whole family to get in on making these Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer cupcakes!

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Rebecca’s Recipe Review

Taste: Each bite of these Reindeer Cupcakes greets you with a mouthful of rich, sweet chocolate! Starting with the cupcakes themselves and ending with the decadent chocolate buttercream frosting topped with edible decorations!

Texture: You’ll find a little bit of every texture in these holiday cupcakes! Candy toppings that are both crunchy and soft laying on top of a bed of creamy frosting all nestled on a moist, tender cupcake!

Ease: 4/10

Pros: Easy festive fun made with a boxed cake mix!

Cons: None, who doesn’t love Rudolph?!

Would I Make This Again? Yes!

A chocolate cupcake sliced in half on a white plate.

Ingredients For Easy Reindeer Cupcakes

Dark Chocolate Fudge Cake Mix
Chocolate Fudge Instant Pudding Mix
Large Eggs
Sour Cream
Vegetable Oil
Chocolate Milk – Or Whole Milk
Vanilla Extract
Salt
Mini Chocolate Chips
Chocolate Melting Wafers
Best Chocolate Buttercream Frosting
Bite Size Milk Way Candy Bars
Candy Eyes
Red Peanut Butter M&Ms

If you really want to take these cupcakes up a notch you could give them a surprise filling! To do so, prepare a batch of instant chocolate pudding and then core out the cooled cupcakes.

Afterward, pipe the pudding into the center before frosting!

Edible Decorations For Reindeer Cupcakes

After the cupcakes have been baked and frosted it’s time to assemble the reindeer faces! This is done by using edible decorations! Here’s what you’ll need:

Antlers – These are made by first melting chocolate melting wafers and transferring the melted chocolate into a piping bag. Afterward, you’ll pipe the chocolate onto a parchment paper-lined baking sheet in the shape of antlers. Once they set in the refrigerator your chocolate reindeer antlers will be finished! Mini pretzels could also be used in a pinch.
Head – To bring the reindeer to life I used Milky Way bite size candy bars as the head. Giving these cupcakes more of a reindeer appearance!
Red Nose – For the nose, red M&Ms are used to create Rudolph cupcakes! I grabbed peanut butter M&Ms but feel free to use your favorite kind! You could also use brown colored ones.
Eyes – Candy eyes for the win! Such a fun addition to any treats with faces. I get mine in the seasonal aisle of the grocery store or craft store!

How To Make Adorable Reindeer Cupcakes

Combine the cupcake ingredients in a large mixing bowl and whisk until well combined.
Pour the cupcake batter into a lined cupcake pan and bake them in the preheated oven.
Cool the cupcakes in the pan for a couple of minutes and then transfer them to a wire rack to finish cooling completely before frosting.
Melt the chocolate wafers until smooth. Then transfer the melted chocolate into a piping bag with a small hole cut in the tip. Next, pipe pairs of antlers onto a parchment paper-lined baking sheet and place them in the fridge to set.
Prepare the Chocolate Buttercream Frosting according to the recipe instructions.
Pipe the frosting onto the cooled cupcakes.
Add a candy bar to each cupcake to begin building the reindeer face.
Pipe a little frosting on the bar to attach the candy eyes, and attach an M&M to create the reindeer nose.
Add two antlers to the cupcakes, one on each side of the head.

Step by step photo collage showing how to make reindeer cupcakes!

Storage Instructions For Reindeer Cupcakes

Store the cupcakes in an airtight container at room temperature for 3 to 4 days.

Make These Cupcakes Ahead Of Time

Get ahead of your holiday baking or Christmas parties by making this recipe ahead of time! However, for the best presentation, I’d suggest frosting them and assembling their faces the day you plan to serve them!

Reindeer decorated chocolate cupcake on a white plate with holiday decorations in the background.

More Kid-Friendly Holiday Treats To Try:

Reindeer Christmas Bark – Salty, sweet holiday treats perfect for parties!
Meringue Christmas Trees (Cookies & Pops) – Preps in only 20 minutes!
Brownie Christmas Trees – Made with a candy cane tree trunk!
Easy Christmas Wreath Cookies – An easy recipe made with store-bought cookies!
Festive Christmas Oreo Balls – Give kids the edible creativity that they want!

Did You Make This Recipe?

If you’ve tried this recipe, please let leave a review in the comments below. I love hearing from you! Don’t forget to tag me – @sugarandsoulco – on Instagram and Pinterest with your photos, or join our Sugar & Soul Show-offs Community and share them there.