These Minnie Mouse Reindeer Cupcakes are the perfect festive treat for the holidays. The cupcakes are moist, tender, and topped with a creamy vanilla frosting that is irresistible.
If you love these Mickey Mouse cupcakes, then you will enjoy these Minnie Mouse Cupcakes as well. These cupcakes are made with a jazzed-up cake mix and a homemade frosting that is to die for!
Jump to:
Minnie Mouse Cupcakes
We use chocolate cake mix for this recipe. And, since chocolate is full of nutrients such as antioxidants, we can convince ourselves these cupcakes are good for us too! To add some festive flair, we added sprinkles and Minnie Mouse Ears to the top of the cupcakes.
Why I Love This Recipe
These Reindeer Cupcakes will be your new favorite holiday treat. They’re moist and tender in the best way possible, with an unbeatable vanilla frosting that you just can’t stop eating!
- Fun to make
- Always a hit at parties
- Fills the house with a delicious aroma
If you love Disney sweet treats, then you may also enjoy these Mickey Mouse Christmas Hot Cocoa Bombs.
Ingredients
While the list of ingredients for these sweet treats may seem long, I promise they are worth all the effort that it requires to make them. After one quick trip to the grocery store, you will be ready to make this delicious recipe.
- Chocolate Cake Mix – Betty Crock Super Moist is my favorite brand to use.
- Fondant – I like to purchase premade fondant to save time. You will need red and green fondant in this recipe.
- Reindeer Antlers – I purchased the Wilton Reindeer Antlers to save time on this recipe.
- Whole Milk – I recommend using whole milk for this recipe. You can also use lower-fat options, however your white frosting may not have the same flavor.
Substitutions
- Fondant: instead of purchasing fondant, you can make your own using your favorite homemade recipe
Variations / Options / Add-Ins
- Minnie Ears: If you don’t want to use fondant to make your own Minnie ears, you can purchase cupcake toppers online instead.
- Cupcake: Instead of using chocolate cake mix, you can use vanilla or white cake mix.
- Frosting: If you don’t want to use vanilla frosting, try using cream cheese or peanut butter frosting instead.
Equipment Needed / Helpful Tools
You will need some kitchen tools to help you make this festive cupcake recipe. Gather these tools and get ready to enjoy this sweet treat.
- round fondant cutter – you can use a small cookie cutter or biscuit cutter for this.
- cookie sheet with a silicone mat – If you don’t have a silicone mat you can use parchment paper instead.
- bow mold – you can purchase this online or at your local craft store.
- cupcake pan – I used a 12-count cupcake pan, but if you have a 6-count pan, you can also use it.
- large piping bag– If you don’t have a piping bag, you could also use a large storage bag with the corner cut off the top. You will also need a large star tip.
How to Make Minnie Mouse Reindeer Cupcakes
Making these cupcakes do take quite a bit of effort but these festive cupcakes are well worth it. Just follow the directions below and you will have sweet cupcakes in no time at all.
Step 1: Prepare a cutting board to make the fondant
Sprinkle some cornstarch onto the cutting board.
Step 2: Knead the green fondant
Remove the green fondant from the package and knead it onto the cutting board to make the fondant soft and workable.
Step 3: Roll out the green fondant
Sprinkle some more cornstarch onto the cutting board and roll the fondant into ¼ inch thick.
Step 4: Cut out circles of the fondant
Using the round fondant cutter, cut out 24 round circles. Place them onto the cookie sheet.
Step 5: Knead the red fondant
Work the red fondant to where it becomes soft.
Step 6: Shape the fondant into a bow
Pinch off about 1 tablespoon of the red fondant and mold it into the medium size bow. Remove and place onto the cookie sheet. Make 12 bows.
Step 7: Dry the fondant overnight
Once all fondant pieces have been cut and molded, place the cookie sheet onto the counter to air dry overnight.
Step 8: Preheat the oven
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line a cupcake pan with liners.
Step 9: Mix together the cake mix and wet ingredients
Using a large bowl, beat together the cake mix, milk, butter, and eggs until combined and smooth.
Step 10: Fill the cupcake liners with the cupcake batter
Fill the cupcake liners ¾ way full.
Step 11: Bake cupcakes
Bake in the oven for 21 minutes.
Step 12: Allow them to cool completely
Allow cooling completely.
Step 13: Cream together the ingredients for the buttercream frosting
Using a standing mixer, beat together the butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, and heavy whipping cream until combined, smooth and stiff.
Step 14: Add the frosting to a piping bag
Scoop the frosting into the piping bag.
Step 15: Pipe the edges of the cupcakes
Using the frosting, pipe two rings of frosting around the edge
Step 16: Mix together the sprinkles
In a medium bowl, combine the different colored sprinkles.
Step 17: Dip the cupcakes into the sprinkles
Dip the frosting into the sprinkle mixture.
Step 18: Finish frosting the cupcake
Using the piping bag, pipe a dollop of frosting into the middle.
Step 19: Make the Minnie Mouse Ears
Place two green circles in the middle of the frosting.
Step 20: Add the Antlers
Place two antlers in front of the ears.
Step 21: Add the red bow to the top of the cupcake
Carefully pick up the red fondant bow, and place it in front of the antlers. Enjoy!
Serving Suggestions
Serve these reindeer cupcakes on your holiday dessert table along with your other favorite Christmas desserts like this Christmas Poke Cake or these Christmas Cake Mix Cookies.
Pro Tips
Here are a few tips to make sure that your cupcakes turn out perfectly every time that you make them.
- Make sure to knead the fondant until it is soft before rolling it out.
- Always air dry the fondant overnight so that they don’t break when you pick them up.
- Don’t forget to add sprinkles to make your cupcakes festive!
- If you don’t want to mix your own sprinkles, you can purchase a festive color blend at your grocery store or big box store.
- Make sure that your vanilla frosting ingredients are all at room temperature so that you get a nice and creamy frosting.
- It’s important that you completely cool cupcakes before you start frosting them.
- If you are using scratch cupcakes instead of a box mix, follow the directions for your homemade recipe to make the cupcakes.
- Cupcakes are done when a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
FAQs
Do you have questions about this recipe? Here are the answers to the most commonly asked questions for this recipe.
Store the cupcakes in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Yes, you can. However, I recommend that you freeze the cupcakes unfrosted, and then thaw them on the counter at room temperature before you frost them.
Yes, if you want to save time, you can use store-bought frosting, however, you will need two cans of frosting.
More Cupcake Recipes
If you like cupcakes, give these recipes a try:
Ready to get cooking? Print off the recipe card below or toggle on Cook Mode to keep your screen from going dark while you follow along on your phone or tablet.
📋 Recipe
Minnie Mouse Reindeer Cupcakes
Equipment
- 1 2 inch round fondant cutter
- Rolling Pin
- 1 cookie sheet with silicone mat
- 1 wilton bow fondant mold
- 1 large piping bag with a star tip
- 1 package of wilton royal icing reindeer antlers
- 2 large bowls
- ` Cupcake pan
- 12 Cupcake Liners
- eletcric mixer
Ingredients
- 15.25 ounces chocolate cake mix
- 1 ¼ cups whole milk
- ½ cup unsalted sweet cream butter softened
- 3 large eggs
Vanilla Frosting
- 1 cup unsalted sweet cream butter softened
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1 package Wilton Red Fondant
- 1 package Wilton Green Fondant
- ¼ cup red, green, and gold sprinkles
Instructions
- Sprinkle some cornstarch onto the cutting board.
- Remove the green fondant from the package and knead onto the cutting board to make the fondant soft and workable.
- Sprinkle some more cornstarch onto the cutting board.
- Roll the fondant into ¼ inch thick.
- Using the round fondant cutter, cut out 24 round circles.
- Place them onto the cookie sheet.
- Work the red fondant to where it becomes soft.
- Pinch off about 1 tablespoon of the red fondant and mold it into the medium size bow. Make 12 bows.
- Remove and place onto the cookie sheet.
- Once all fondant pieces have been cut and molded, place the cookie sheet onto the counter to air dry overnight.
Cupcake Directions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line a cupcake pan with liners.
- Using a large bowl, beat together the cake mix, milk, butter and eggs until combined and smooth.
- Fill the cupcake liners ¾ way full.
- Bake in the oven for 21 minutes.
- Allow to cool completely.
Frosting directions
- Using a standing mixer, beat together the butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, and heavy whipping cream until combined, smooth and stiff.
- Scoop the frosting into the piping bag.
- Using the frosting, pipe two rings of frosting around the edge.
- In a medium bowl, combine the different colored sprinkles.
- Dip the frosting into the sprinkle mixture.
- Using the piping bag, pipe a dollop of frosting into the middle.
- Place two green circles in the middle of the frosting.
- Place two antlers in front of the ears.
- Carefully pick up the red fondant bow, and place it in front of the antlers.
- Enjoy!
Video
Notes
- Make sure to knead the fondant until it is soft before rolling it out.
- Always air dry the fondant overnight so that they don’t break when you pick them up.
- Don’t forget to add sprinkles to make your cupcakes festive!
- If you don’t want to mix your own sprinkles, you can purchase a festive color blend at your grocery store or big box store.
- Make sure that your vanilla frosting ingredients are all at room temperature so that you get a nice and creamy frosting.
- It’s important that you completely cool cupcakes before you start frosting them.
- If you are using scratch cupcakes instead of a box mix, follow the directions for your homemade recipe to make the cupcakes.
- Cupcakes are done when a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.