Reindeer Cupcakes

By msippigrl

Fun, kid-friendly cupcakes for Christmas! Don't forget, Rudolph gets a RED nose! Ho! Ho! Ho!

Ingredients

• Chocolate cupcakes, cake mix or scratch recipe
• Chocolate frosting, canned or homemade
• Round mini pretzels
• Vanilla wafers
• White, brown, and red M&M's candies
• Mini chocolate chips (or black decorator gel)
• NOTE*
• Candy eyes could also be used instead of the white M&Ms and mini chocolate chips.

Preparation

Step 1

Bake and cool your favorite cupcakes. (NOTE: Your cupcakes will need to have a level top, so use a sharp paring knife to slice off any excess cake.)

Frost cupcakes with chocolate frosting. Immediately, press two pretzels in place for the "antlers" and center a vanilla wafer below them. (See photo for illustration.) Repeat steps with the remaining cupcakes. (The "eyes" and "noses" will be attached later.)

*I used mini chocolate chips for the "pupils" and a few additional melted chocolate chips for "glue". Microwave about 2 tablespoons of chips in a small condiment bowl until melted. I used a toothpick to apply it to the back side of the M&M's and the mini chips (pupils). (You can use decorator gel instead, if desired.)

*Using a toothpick, apply "glue" to the back side of 2 white M&M's and attach to the bottom of the pretzels; press and hold into place for a few seconds to set. Apply "glue" to a brown (or red) M&M and press into the center of the vanilla wafer. Remember, only Rudolph gets a RED one! Repeat with remaining cupcakes. (The "pupils" will be attached later.)

*For the eye "pupils", use a dot of the decorator gel in the center of the white M&M's or as I did, attached mini chocolate chips with a dab of the melted chip "glue". HO-HO-HO!!