Rudolph Cupcakes

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Rudolph Cupcakes are festive and fun and so easy to make. If you are looking for an easy Christmas Cupcake recipe, then this is it!

Prep Time20

Cook Time18

Decorating Time10

Total Time48

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Servings: Cupcakes

Calories: 178kcal

Author: Wendy

¾ cup butter softened
¾ cup Cocoa Powder
½ cup chocolate pudding mix
3 tablespoons heavy cream heavy whipping cream
3 cups powdered sugar Note if you find that your frosting is too thin, you can add up to an additional cup of powdered sugar to get a firmer texture.

Line muffin tin with paper liners. Pre-heat oven to 350*F.
In a large mixing bowl, add the cake mix, eggs, oil, and water. Using an electric hand or stand mixer, beat on high for one minute, or until texture is smooth.
Fill liners 2/3 full of the batter and bake for 18-20 minutes, or until they spring back when touched. Allow the cupcakes to cool for 5-10 minutes before moving to a wire rack. Cool completely before frosting. While cupcakes are cooling, make your frosting.

Place butter in a large mixing bowl and using an electric hand or stand mixer, beat on high for 2 minutes, or until texture is light and fluffy.
Mix in the cocoa powder and chocolate pudding mix.
Slowly mix in the powdered sugar, 1 cup at a time, while alternating 1 tablespoon of the half and half. Continue to mix until creamy and stiff peaks form. If you want a darker frosting, mix in the brown food coloring, 1 drop at a time and mix until desired color is achieved.
Add frosting to the piping bag. Frost your cupcakes. Save leftover frosting if using option 2 for the reindeer faces.

If choosing option 1, arrange the sugar decorations to make the reindeer faces and serve.
If choosing option 2, put a small dot of frosting on the logo side of each M&M. Place the M&M on a vanilla wafer, forming the snout and nose.
Place each of the vanilla wafers on top of the cupcake, at the bottom edge.
Place 2 pretzels twists at the top of each cupcake, forming the antlers.
Put a small dot of frosting on each of the candy eyes and place two between the snout and the antlers on each cupcake and serve.

Be sure that your cupcakes are completely cool before you start to frost them.

When mixing your frosting it is important that your butter is at room temperature and soft. But not melted.

The chocolate pudding really gives these cupcakes a creamy texture.