Reindeer Cupcakes

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These adorable reindeer cupcakes are a delicious chocolate cupcake, topped with cute decorations to make them look like reindeer. They are a super cute, and easy holiday treat.

Prep Time25

Cook Time18

Servings:

Calories: 415kcal

Equipment

Stand Mixer
Large Mixing Bowl

Ingredients

For the Chocolate Cupcakes:

15 oz box chocolate cake mix (dry mix, don't follow the recipe on the box)
2.4 oz box instant chocolate pudding mix (dry mix, don't follow the recipe on the box)
4 large eggs
3/4 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup whole milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp salt

For the Chocolate Buttercream Frosting:

1 cup unsalted butter (2 sticks, softened)
4 cups powdered sugar (sifted)
1/2 cup cocoa powder (sifted)
1/4 cup heavy cream
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 dash salt

For Decorating:

24 Fun size chocolate candy bars (like milkyway, snickers, 3 musketeers, etc.)
48 candy eyes
24 red or brown m&ms
30 mini pretzels

Instructions

For the Chocolate Cupcakes:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line two cupcake pans with paper liners.
Add all the ingredients for the cupcakes to a large mixing bowl. Stir them all together till combined.
Add about 3 TBS of batter into each cupcake spot, filling them all evenly.
Bake the cupcakes for 16 to 18 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of a cupcake comes out clean.
Bake the cupcakes for 18 to 22 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of a cupcake comes out clean.

For the Chocolate Buttercream Frosting:

In a large bowl, beat the butter until it is smooth. A stand mixer, or bowl with a hand mixer works best.
Add in the powdered sugar, and cocoa powder. Beat until they're well mixed together.
Add in the vanilla extract, heavy cream, and salt and mix until smooth.
Turn the mixer up to medium high speed, and beat until it is nice and fluffy, about 1-2 minutes. Add more powdered sugar, or more heavy cream 1 TBS at a time as needed to get the frosting the right consistency.
Scoop your frosting into a piping bag with a piping tip (I like the 1M tip) and frost the cupcakes.

For Decorating:

Pipe the frosting onto the top of the cooled cupcakes.
Add 1 candy bar to each cupcake.
Add a little frosting to the back of the candy eyes, and attach them to the candy bar.
Add a little frosting to the m side of the m&m and attach it to the candy bar.
Break mini pretzels in half, and cut off the top corner to make them look like antlers, as pictures. Place two into the frosting and cupcake on each side of the head.

Nutrition