These Christmas tree cupcakes are just full of holiday cheer. These Christmas tree cupcakes are perfect for any holiday party you are having and they are easy to make! Christmas Tree Cupcakes made with homemade cupcakes and homemade buttercream decorated to look like Christmas trees are the perfect Christmas Dessert!
Christmas Tree Cupcakes
I LOVE all things about Christmas, from the shopping for gifts, to wrapping gifts, planning Christmas fun to do with the kids and everything else that you can do at Christmas time. I also love making holiday desserts that are fun and festive, however I know my limits and know that I need things to be easy that I am making.
Because easy is the name of my game, cupcakes are my go to! Cupcakes are so easy to make and then buttercream frosting is quick and easy to. It is super easy to have fun with them and decorate them to be fun and festive, just like these easy Christmas tree cupcakes and my Santa hat cupcakes!
Looking for more Christmas Tree recipes? Check these out!
- Christmas Tree Brownies
- Christmas Tree Rice Krispies
- Christmas Tree Oreos
- Christmas Tree Meringue Cookies
Tips for Making Christmas Cupcakes
One of the biggest hints I can give you when you are making these cupcakes just have a large star piping tip. The smaller the tip the harder it is to pipe it out.
Use pastry bags for the frosting. If you do not pastry bag you can pick them up at your local craft store or even at the dollar tree.
For the frosting you want to use a frosting that you can color green. If you are looking for frosting recipes that work perfect with these Christmas cupcakes check these out.
- Almond Buttercream Frosting
- marshmallow buttercream frosting
- Whipped Vanilla Frosting
- Vanilla Buttercream Frosting
Making Christmas Trees with Frosting
You are going to want to make a cupcake frosting swirl, if you have never made a cupcake frosting swirl it is super easy to do! Check out the step by step directions for How to make a cupcake Frosting Swirl.
I normally use chocolate cupcakes when I am making these easy Christmas cupcakes, however if you are wanting to change up the flavors there are lots of other cupcake flavors that you can use go for it. If you are looking for more cupcake flavors be sure to check out the other tasty cupcake recipes we have shared.
How to Color Buttercream Frosting
Coloring frosting is easy to do. All you need is a few drops of food coloring that you will add in to the buttercream frosting after you are done the first mixing.
I highly recommend using gel food coloring. The liquid food coloring I find adds to much liquid to the buttercream and makes it kind of soggy.
How to Change the Flavor of Buttercream Frosting
The great thing about this homemade buttercream recipe is that you can easily change the flavor from Vanilla buttercream to any other flavor you want to.
All you have to do is use a different flavored extract like almond extract or peppermint extract instead of the vanilla extract. This buttercream frosting can be used as the base to make many different flavors of buttercream.
You can make these Christmas Tree cupcakes totally festive by using peppermint extract instead of the vanilla extract to make Peppermint Chocolate Cupcakes!
Christmas Tree Cupcakes made with homemade cupcakes and homemade buttercream decorated to look like Christmas trees are the perfect Christmas Dessert!
Christmas tree cupcakes Ingredients
- Green food coloring
- Mini M&Ms
- Star Sprinkles
Chocolate Cupcakes Ingredients
- 3 ounces semi-sweet chocolate, chopped fine
- 1/3 cup cocoa powder
- 3/4 hot coffee
- 3/4 cup bread flour
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 6 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 2 eggs
- 2 teaspoons white vinegar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Buttercream frosting Ingredients
- 1.5 cup butter
- 1.5 cup shortening
- 3 pounds confectioners sugar
- 2 tablespoon hot water
- 3 teaspoons vanilla extract (or extract flavor of your choice)
How to Make Chocolate Cupcakes
In a medium bowl, combine the chopped chocolate and cocoa powder. Pour the hot coffee on top and whisk until smooth. Refrigerate for 15-20 minutes.
While you wait, preheat the oven to 350-degrees.
Line your cupcake pan with paper liners, or grease.
In another medium bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients and set them aside.
Remove the cooled mixture from the refrigerator and beat in the eggs. Whisk in the oil, vinegar, and vanilla until smooth.
Then stir in the dry ingredients a little at a time until smooth.
Scoop the batter into the muffin pan cups – they should be no more than 2/3’s full. Bake for about 16-19 minutes until a tester comes out clean.
Turn the cupcakes out onto a wire rack after 10 minutes, and let cool completely before frosting.
Make your buttercream frosting while the cupcakes are cooling.
How to Make Buttercream Frosting
I use my kitchenAid mixer when making this easy buttercream frosting, but if you do not have a stand mixer then you can use a hand mixer . Either one will do the job, but I prefer using the stand mixer.
In your mixer’s bowl mix butter and shortening.
Then add in the confectioners sugar and mix it little bit little until the sugar is incorporated into the butter/shortening mixture.
Continue mixing the buttercream for 10 minutes on medium speed until light and fluffy.
How to Make Christmas Tree Cupcakes
Allow the cupcakes to cool completely before starting to decorate.
Leave the frosting in the mixing bowl and add green food coloring until you get the desired green color you are wanting.
Place the large star tip in your pastry bag with the green icing. If you have never used a pastry bag to decorate cupcakes, be sure to check out how to fill a pastry bag with frosting.
Swirl the frosting onto all of the cupcakes in a Christmas tree shape. If you have never made a cupcake swirl be sure to read up on how to make a cupcake swirl with frosting easily.
Once you have piped icing on all of the cupcakes place the M&M’s all over the cupcake as if they are going to be Christmas lights.
Top of the cupcake with one sprinkle star on the top.
Looking for more Christmas Recipes? Check these out!
Christmas Tree Cupcakes
Ingredients
Christmas tree cupcakes Ingredients
- 10 drops Green food coloring
- 1/4 cup Mini M&Ms or nonperils sprinkles
- 24 Star Sprinkles
Chocolate Cupcakes Ingredients
- 3 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chopped fine
- 1/3 cup cocoa powder
- 3/4 hot coffee
- 3/4 cup bread flour
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 6 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 2 eggs
- 2 teaspoons white vinegar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Buttercream frosting Ingredients
- 1.5 cup butter
- 1.5 cup shortening
- 3 pounds confectioners sugar
- 2 tablespoon hot water
- 3 teaspoons vanilla extract
Instructions
How to Make Chocolate Cupcakes
- In a medium bowl, combine the chopped chocolate and cocoa powder. Pour the hot coffee on top and whisk until smooth. Refrigerate for 15-20 minutes.
- While you wait, preheat the oven to 350-degrees.
- Line your cupcake pan with paper liners, or grease.
- In another medium bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients and set them aside.
- Remove the cooled mixture from the refrigerator and beat in the eggs. Whisk in the oil, vinegar, and vanilla until smooth.
- Then stir in the dry ingredients a little at a time until smooth.
- Scoop the batter into the muffin pan cups – they should be no more than 2/3’s full. Bake for about 16-19 minutes until a tester comes out clean.
- Turn the cupcakes out onto a wire rack after 10 minutes, and let cool completely before frosting.
- Make your buttercream frosting while the cupcakes are cooling.
How to Make Buttercream Frosting
- I use my kitchenAid mixer when making this easy buttercream frosting, but if you do not have a stand mixer then you can use a hand mixer . Either one will do the job, but I prefer using the stand mixer.
- In your mixer’s bowl mix butter and shortening.
- Then add in the confectioners sugar and mix it little bit little until the sugar is incorporated into the butter/shortening mixture.
- Continue mixing the buttercream for 10 minutes on medium speed until light and fluffy.
How to Make Christmas Tree Cupcakes
- Leave the frosting in the mixing bowl and add green food coloring until you get the desired green color you are wanting.
- Allow the cupcakes to cool completely before starting to decorate.
- Place the large star tip in your pastry bag with the green icing. If you have never used a pastry bag to decorate cupcakes, be sure to check out how to fill a pastry bag with frosting.
- Swirl the frosting onto all of the cupcakes in a Christmas tree shape. If you have never made a cupcake swirl be sure to read up on how to make a cupcake swirl with frosting easily.
- Once you have piped icing on all of the cupcakes place the M&M's all over the cupcake as if they are going to be Christmas lights.
- Top of the cupcake with one sprinkle star on the top.
More Holiday fun to check out!
Plus don’t miss my 12 days of Christmas cookies and My 25 Favorite Christmas Cookies Recipes will love for more holiday baking and fun!
Christmas is one of my favorite holidays to celebrate! There is so much fun to be had with the kids! Be sure to check out all the other fun things you can do with the kids like these Christmas Crafts for kids!
If you need more fun for the kids then you have to check out these Christmas Treats kids will love, there is everything from snowman poop, to Reindeer Poop and more that are all kid friendly Christmas treats!
If you want to call Santa, you can! Just use Santa Claus Number and give him a ring! The kids love it when we call Santa!
Does Elf on the Shelf come to visit your house? If so make sure you check out these awesome Elf on the Shelf Ideas!
We have LOTS of elf on the shelf ideas too so make sure you check them out!
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