Oh Deer! Mini Cupcakes.

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I thought it was time to cute up some cupcakes, so I made merry mini reindeers for you.

Chocolate covered chocolate cupcakes all dressed up for the holidays.

Oh deer! So cute.

To get started, we’re going to need a bunch of miniature cupcakes.

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Okay. Done.

Print

Yield: 48 mini cupcakes

Mini Chocolate Cupcakes

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 12 minutes

Total Time 22 minutes

Ingredients

• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 eggs
• 2/3 cup buttermilk
• 1/3 cup vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/3 cup hot water

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and line mini cupcake pans with 48 mini baking cups.
2. Sift dry ingredients together in the bowl of a stand mixer.
3. Add eggs and mix until combined.
4. Add buttermilk, oil and vanilla and mix until combined.
5. Slowly add hot water and mix until combined.
6. Fill cupcake liners with batter about 2/3 full.
7. Bake for 12-14 minutes. Cool and decorate.

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Next, we need a bunch of little antlers.

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I used my Chocolate Fudge Wafers ^[5], a toothpick and a template to make these.

Download and print the antler template ^[6] I made and place it under wax paper. Then just trace it with a toothpick dipped in the melted chocolate.

Make the lines thick so they will be sturdier. Let them dry and then gently separate the antlers from the wax paper and safely set aside until ready to decorate.

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To decorate, we’re going to dip the cupcakes in melted candy wafers.

But first, hold the chocolate antlers near their base and gently press them into the mini cupcake to create a hole. Remove the antlers and dip the cupcake. Then after dipping, immediately insert the antlers back into the holes you made and the coating will dry and hold them in place.

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Let’s look at that in steps.

1. Put antlers in position and then remove.
2. Dip mini cupcake tops in melted chocolate coating. Note: I added my Marshmallow White Candy Wafers ^[9] to make a lighter brown color, so the antlers would stand out.
3. Immediately place the antlers back in position.
4. Before the coating sets, place two sugar eyes in position and a black jelly bean for a nose and let dry.

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My DIY Sugar Eyes ^[11] are fun to use for faces because you can have your eyes look in different directions.

I think it gives them character.

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See. This one is giving me the side eye.

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To finish them, use some a toothpick dipped in some of the leftover melted chocolate and draw on a sweet little smirk.

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Or use the melted coating to attach pink confetti sprinkle cheeks and draw on eyelashes for girls.

Super cute!

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And of course, the group wouldn’t be complete without a red-nosed reindeer in the mix. I used a red sugar coated peanut for the nose, but a red M&M would be cute too.

Hope you like these little guys as much as I do.

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You can find my Bakerella for Make’n Mold Candy Wafers and DIY Sugar Eyes in stores at A.C. Moore Craft Stores ^[16] or online directly from Make’n Mold ^[9].

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