Reindeer Muffins

These Reindeer Muffins are soft, chocolatey, and decorated with pretzel antlers, red M&M’s for candy noses, and edible eyes for the cutest Christmas treat! They are easy to make and perfect for spreading holiday cheer at parties or breakfast.

If you’ve already tried my reindeer chocolate bark or reindeer truffles , these adorable Reindeer muffins are the perfect addition to your merry dessert lineup. They are rich, chocolatey muffins decorated to look like Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer.

With their pretzel antlers, candy noses, and edible eyes, these sweet treats turn simple chocolate muffins into adorable reindeer that are almost too cute to eat.

Why I love this recipe

• They are incredibly fun to make – Decorating each muffin with pretzel antlers, candy eyes, and red noses is such a cheerful activity the whole family can enjoy together.
• The muffins are moist and chocolatey – The mix of yogurt and buttermilk keeps them soft and tender for days.
• They fit any holiday gathering – Great for breakfast, dessert, or a festive afternoon snack.
• Kids go crazy for them – The cute reindeer faces always make these a favorite among little ones.
• They make wonderful gifts – Pack them in a Reindeer gift box and tie with a ribbon for an easy homemade treat everyone will love.

Ingredients

• Dry Ingredients: all-purpose flour, unsweetened cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, salt
• Sweeteners: granulated sugar, light brown sugar
• Wet Ingredients: eggs, vegetable oil, buttermilk, vanilla yogurt
• Add-ins: mini chocolate chips
• Decorations: edible eyeball candies, mini pretzels, red M&M’s

Step by step

1. In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs and oil until smooth. Add both sugars and mix until fully blended. Stir in the yogurt and buttermilk until the mixture is creamy and well combined.
2. In another bowl, combine the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
3. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, folding gently until everything is just mixed. Stir in the mini chocolate chips.
4. Let the batter sit for about 15 minutes while you preheat the oven to 425°F. Line a muffin pan with paper liners, leaving every other cup empty to help the muffins bake evenly.

1. Spoon the batter into the liners, filling each about three-fourths full. Sprinkle a few extra chocolate chips on top for a nice finish.
2. Bake at 425°F for 5 minutes, then lower the temperature to 350°F and bake another 12–15 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
3. Take the muffins out of the oven and let them cool for 5 minutes.

1. Break pretzels in half and press them gently into the top of each muffin for antlers. Add edible eyes and a red M&M onto the warm chocolate chips so they stick.
2. Serve and enjoy your adorable reindeer muffins!

Variations

For a fun twist, add a teaspoon of peppermint extract to the batter for a chocolate-mint flavor that’s very festive.

Serving suggestion

I love serving these Reindeer muffins warm with a cup of peppermint hot chocolate, nutella hot chocolate, or slow cooker hot chocolate if its a party. They’re perfect for breakfast on Christmas morning, packed in lunch boxes, or shared at school holiday parties. You can even wrap them individually in clear bags with a ribbon for a cute edible gift idea.

Storage

Store the muffins in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days. If you want them to last longer, you can refrigerate or keep them in the freezer (without decorations) and add the antlers, eyes, and noses right before serving. This way, they stay fresh and picture-perfect.

If you try this recipe please comment and rate it below, I love hearing from you!