Looking for a delightful holiday treat that’s both easy to make and incredibly festive? These Double Chocolate Chip Reindeer Muffins are your answer!
Perfect for busy moms and grandmas, this recipe brings together pantry staples for a cozy, delicious Christmas baking activity. Get ready to spread some joy with these adorable chocolate muffins!

Why You’ll Love This Double Chocolate Chip Reindeer Muffin
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Festive Fun: These adorable reindeer decorations make them perfect for holiday gatherings or a special breakfast.
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Double Chocolate Delight: Rich cocoa and plenty of chocolate chips satisfy any sweet tooth.
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Simple & Quick: With a total time of just 40 minutes, you can whip these up for a spontaneous treat.
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Family-Friendly: A guaranteed hit with kids and adults alike, making them a perfect family baking project.
For another festive chocolate dessert, visit the blog and try the red velvet cake. Its soft crumb and creamy frosting make a beautiful contrast to the fudgy texture of these playful reindeer muffins.
Ingredients You’ll Need for a Double Chocolate Chip Reindeer
Primary components: All-purpose flour, unsweetened cocoa powder, and plenty of semi-sweet chocolate chips form the rich base for these Double Chocolate Chip Reindeer Muffins.
Liquids & Seasoning: Eggs, melted butter, buttermilk, and vanilla extract provide moisture and flavor, balanced with granulated and brown sugars, baking soda, and salt.
Optional add-ins: For decorating, you’ll need pretzel twists for antlers, red M&M’s for noses, and candy eyes. Consider extra chocolate chips for even more chocolatey goodness!
Note: You’ll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post. Exact quantities appear in the printable recipe card below.

How to Make Double Chocolate Chip Reindeer Muffins
Making these festive Double Chocolate Chip Reindeer Muffins is a straightforward process involving mixing dry and wet ingredients, baking, and then the fun part: decorating! For more baking tips, visit The Kitchn.
Step 1: Get Ready to Bake Those Festive Treats
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners to prevent sticking.
Step 2: Combine Your Dry Ingredients for Double Chocolate Chip Reindeer Muffins
In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, salt, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until well combined.
Step 3: Whisk Together the Wet Ingredients
In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, melted butter, buttermilk, and vanilla extract.
Step 4: Gently Mix Wet and Dry for Perfect Muffins
Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Mix until just combined, being careful not to overmix; some lumps are perfectly fine.

Step 5: Fold in the Chocolate Chips
Gently fold in 1 cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips, distributing them evenly throughout the batter.
Step 6: Bake Your Double Chocolate Chip Reindeer Muffins
Divide the batter evenly among the 12 prepared muffin cups. Bake for 18-22 minutes, or until a wooden skewer comes out clean.
Step 7: Cool and Decorate Your Adorable Reindeer Muffins
Cool muffins in the tin for a few minutes, then transfer to a wire rack. Once completely cool, decorate with pretzel antlers, candy eyes, and a red M&M nose.

Pro Tips for Making Perfect Double Chocolate Chip Reindeer Muffins
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Don’t Overmix: Mix wet and dry ingredients just until combined to ensure tender muffins.
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Room Temperature Ingredients: Ensure eggs and buttermilk are at room temperature for a smoother batter.
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DIY Buttermilk: If you don’t have buttermilk, add lemon juice or vinegar to regular milk and let it sit.
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Cool Completely Before Decorating: Wait until muffins are fully cool to prevent melting decorations.
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Melted Chocolate for Adhesion: Use a tiny dot of melted chocolate to secure candy eyes and noses.
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Storage: Store cooled muffins in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
Final Thoughts
These Double Chocolate Chip Reindeer Muffins are more than just a sweet treat; they’re a delightful way to create holiday memories. The rich chocolate flavor combined with the charming reindeer decorations makes them an instant hit.
I hope you and your loved ones enjoy baking and sharing these festive treats as much as we do. Perhaps try adding a sprinkle of peppermint extract next time for a wintery twist!

FAQs
How do I know when my Double Chocolate Chip Reindeer Muffins are done?
Insert a wooden skewer or toothpick into the center of a muffin; if it comes out clean, they are ready.
Can I substitute milk chocolate chips for semi-sweet?
Absolutely! Feel free to use your favorite chocolate chips, or a mix of different types, for these holiday muffins.
Can I make these festive treats ahead of time?
Yes, these muffins can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, making them perfect for advance prep.
What if I don’t have candy eyes for decorating?
You can use mini chocolate chips or small dots of icing for eyes if candy eyes aren’t available for your Double Chocolate Chip Reindeer Muffins.
Double Chocolate Chip Reindeer Muffin joy for the family favorite
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 12 muffins 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
These Double Chocolate Chip Reindeer Muffins are a festive and delicious treat, perfect for holiday gatherings or a cozy family breakfast. Rich with cocoa and loaded with chocolate chips, they’re sure to bring a smile to everyone’s face, especially with their adorable reindeer decorations!
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup packed light brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (plus more for decorating)
- Pretzel twists (for antlers)
- Red M&M’s or similar candy (for noses)
- Candy eyes
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, salt, granulated sugar, and brown sugar.
- In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, melted butter, buttermilk, and vanilla extract.
- Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix until just combined. Be careful not to overmix; a few lumps are okay.
- Gently fold in 1 cup of chocolate chips.
- Divide the batter evenly among the 12 muffin cups.
- Bake for 18-22 minutes, or until a wooden skewer inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean.
- Remove the muffins from the oven and let them cool in the tin for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Once cooled, decorate your reindeer muffins! Gently press two pretzel twists into the top of each muffin for antlers. Place two candy eyes below the antlers, and secure a red M&M or similar candy for the nose with a tiny dot of melted chocolate if needed.
Notes
- For extra chocolatey goodness, you can add a handful of milk chocolate chips in addition to the semi-sweet.
- If you don’t have buttermilk, you can make your own by adding 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or white vinegar to a measuring cup and filling the rest with regular milk until it reaches 1 cup. Let it sit for 5 minutes before using.
- These muffins are best enjoyed fresh, but can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 muffin
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 35
- Sodium: 280
- Fat: 18
- Saturated Fat: 10
- Carbohydrates: 45
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 6
- Cholesterol: 60







