How to Make Adorable Reindeer Cupcakes
(Via Ashley A. Foxen of Reality Bites Cupcakes)
Looking for an especially jolly treat to bake for Santa this year? Bake these reindeer cupcakes to delight your holiday guests and family!
One of my favorite stories to hear around the holidays is “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas.” That story always added to my excitement as a child, and as an adult, I still find myself getting even more into the holiday spirit with every time it’s read. The best part: “Now Dasher! Now Dancer! Now Prancer and Vixen! On Comet, on Cupid, on Donner, on Blitzen!” So, when it comes to baking holiday cupcakes, my favorites to make are my reindeer cupcakes! Here’s how you can make your own at home!
MATERIALS
Any flavor cupcakes you like (I chose vanilla)
Chocolate frosting
Mini pretzels
Nilla Wafers
Red and brown M&Ms (For as many reindeer noses – regular or Rudolph’s – you would like to make!)
Candy eyeballs (You can substitute white M&Ms for the eyes by adding a small chocolate frosting dot for the pupil)
DIRECTIONS
First, frost your cupcakes with the chocolate frosting. Be sure to be generous with the amount of frosting you put on, so your toppings will stick. I always prefer to make my own frosting, but in a pinch store-bought will do! I do not recommend using buttercream frosting for these cupcakes, as you will need the frosting to be on the stickier side.
Next, place one Nilla Wafer at the bottom center of the cupcake. Then, using a small dot of frosting as your “glue,” place one brown or red M&M in the center of the wafer to complete the reindeer nose.
Take two mini pretzels, and place them – angled out at the top of your cupcake. Make sure you push them far enough into the frosting so that they stay!
Last but not least, add the eyes. Place your candy eyeballs or white M&Ms right above the Nilla Wafer nose. If you decide to use white M&Ms and add the chocolate frosting dot as the pupil, I recommend doing it after you’ve placed them on the cupcake. It will help you avoid smudging!
While it would be fitting to make nine reindeer cupcakes, eight with brown noses, and 1 with a red nose for Rudolph, I couldn’t resist making all of mine Rudolph. As a holiday movie enthusiast, and a child that grew up in a house where we quite literally decked the halls, I have seen almost every holiday movie you can imagine. Of course, my favorite happens to be “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” (the one from the '60s), so you can only imagine my delight while making these cupcakes.
The holidays are my busiest time of the year for baking, but they are also my favorite because I can surprise and delight my family and friends with these special reindeer cupcakes.
More from Martha Stewart:
20 Classic Comfort Food Recipes from Martha Stewart
36 Dinners You Can Make in Just 15 Minutes!
42 Slow-Cooker Recipes Worth the Wait
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