These fun reindeer cupcakes are simple to make with just store-bought cake mix, chocolate dipped Nutter Butters, and a few mix-ins that’ll make it so no one knows they aren’t made from scratch!
2 (10 oz)packages ghirardelli dark chocolate melting wafers
24Nutter Butters
black sugar pearl sprinkles
red and brown M&M's
Chocolate peanut butter frosting
1cupunsalted butterroom temperature
2 ½cupspowdered sugar
½cupcocoa powder
½ cupcreamy peanut butter
1-2 tbsheavy whipping cream
1tsppure vanilla extract
Instructions
Cupcakes
For the cupcakes follow the instructrions on the packaged mix. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line two baking sheets with cupcake liners so that there will be 24 total cupcakes.
Add all the ingredients recomended on the box mix to mixing bowl and mix until combined. Fold in the semisweet chocoalte chips.
Add the cake mix to the muffin tins by adding about two tablespoons or filling them about 2/3 full.
Place the cupcakes into the preheated oven and bake for 14 to 19 minutes. The cupcakes are done when a toothpick placed inside the cupcakes comes out clean.
Reindeer Decorations
Line three baking sheets with parchment paper and set them aside to use later.
In a medium microwave safe bowl melt the black candy melts.
1 cup black candy melts
Pour the melted chocolate into a piping bag and use a Wilton number four tip.
Pipe different shapes onto one of the parchment lined baking sheet prepared earlier. These are the antlers so they can be whatever shape you want them to be. Try to keep the antler shapes to one and a half inches
In a double boiler melt the dark chocoalte wafers.
2 (10 oz) packages ghirardelli dark chocolate melting wafers
After the chocolate is melted Dip one of the nutter butter cookies into the chocoalte making sure it is evenly coated. Place the cookie onto the baking sheet after it is covered in chocolate.
24 Nutter Butters
To decorate these cute reindeer cookies, use two sugar pearls on the top of the cookie for eyes. Then add an M&M either red or brown for the nose of the reindeer. Add the antlers you piped earlier by gently removing them from the baking sheet and place them on the cookie just a little higher than the eyes.
black sugar pearl sprinkles, red and brown M&M's
Place the cookies into the fridge for about ten minutes or until the chocolate has set.
Frosting
To make the frosting add butter to a large bowl if using a hand mixer, or you can use a stand mixer. Then slowly add the powdered sugar to the butter as you continue to mix the butter and sugar together on low speed. Then add in the cocoa powder and mix again. Mix in the peanut butter unti lmixed in completely. Finally mix in the vanilla and one tablespoon of heavy cream. Mix all ingredients together on high until the frosting reaches a consistency you like.
1 cup unsalted butter, 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar, 1/2 cup cocoa powder, 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter, 1-2 tbs heavy whipping cream, 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
Frost the cupcakes (once they are cooled) using a spatula or you can use a piping bag to pipe on the frosting. Top the cookies withyour favorite holiday sprinkles and then top each one with a nutter butter reindeer.
Notes
If you don’t have a double boiler, you can simply microwave the chocolate in thirty-second increments until melted, stirring in between intervals.Using a fork to dip the cookies makes it easier to get full coverage. Make sure to tap the excess off on the side of the bowl before placing it on the tray.Store the baked cupcakes in an airtight container in the fridge for up to four days or cupcakes begin to stale.