Fun and Festive Christmas Tree Cupcakes are perfect for the holidays. These cupcakes are easy to make and simple to decorate.
Christmas Tree Cupcakes Recipe:
Are looking for a dessert to make this Christmas? These Chocolate Christmas Tree Cupcakes Recipe are the ones to make. It is made with a box cake mix and decorated with a simple frosting recipe.
Cupcake Christmas Tree Recipe are the perfect dessert to bring to all your holiday parties or for a bake sale. We used a chocolate cake mix, but you can easily use what you prefer.
We love baking for the holidays and I always get the kids involved. They have fun putting the candy balls and the yellow stars to complete our Christmas Tree look.
Ingredients:
For the Cupcakes:
- Chocolate Cake Box Mix – *Plus the ingredients to prepare the cake mix based on the package instructions
- Red Cupcake Liners
For the Icing:
- Solid Vegetable Shortening
- Butter, softened at room temperature
- Clear Vanilla Extract
- Confectioners’ Sugar (shifted)
- Milk
- Green Gel Food Coloring
The Decorations:
- Yellow Sugar Stars (for topping)
- Candy Balls (for the ornaments)
How to Make Christmas Tree Cupcakes:
- Preheat Oven – Prepare oven by preheating oven to 350 degrees.
- Make the Cake – Prepare the chocolate cake mix based on the cupcake instructions. Place the red cupcake liners in a muffin pan. Fill the holders 2/3 full of batter. Then allow the cupcakes to cool completely at room temperature.
- Mix the shortening and butter – In a large bowl, cream together the shortening and butter until combined and smooth.
- Add in Powdered Sugar – Then slowly add in the confectioners’ sugar (1 cup at a time). Then mix on low speed until well combined.
- Stir in Vanilla and Milk – Then stir in the vanilla extract and milk until combined.
- Add Green Food Coloring – Then add a few drops of the green food coloring. Add until the frosting is a bright green color similar to a Christmas tree.
- Fill the Piping bag – Then use a 1M piping tip and a decorator’s bag, fill it with the green frosting.
- Christmas Tree Cupcake Piping – Gently frosting each cupcake. You want to slowly build up the frosting on top of the cupcake. Using a circular motion to resemble a Tree sitting on top of the cupcake.
- Add candy to frosting – Then place a star on the top of each cupcake. Use the candy balls to decorate the cupcakes to resemble ornaments.
- Serve and Enjoy – Then the cupcakes are ready to serve and enjoy.
How to Decorate Christmas Tree Cupcakes:
Decorate the Christmas Tree Cupcakes are easy and fun to do. You can easily decorate it how you prefer or supplies you have on hand.
- Sprinkles – If you can’t find candy balls, you can use sprinkles. This will make it look like twinkle lights on the frosting.
- Cupcake Liner – We used red cupcake liner, but you can easily other colors. Plaid or green liners are always a fun change.
- Gold Star Tip – If you can’t find gold stars, use gold sprinkles. You will still get that glowing affect.
Make sure to add the decorations immediately after you frosting the cupcakes. They will not stick if the frosting has already fully set.
Cupcake Flavor Alternatives:
We used chocolate cake mix, but you can easily use any flavor of cake mix. Funfetti cake mix, vanilla, or red velvet cake mix are a good option.
Christmas Tree Cupcake Tips:
- Making Tree – When you are making the tree, add in the icing to a piping to easily make the tree. In a circular motion pipe ice on cupcake.
- Icing – To easily pipe the frosting on the cake, make sure it is at room temperature.
- Green Gel Food Coloring – We recommend using gel food coloring instead of the liquid food coloring. The liquid kind will thin out the food coloring.
- Cupcake – Use a toothpick inserted to make sure the cupcake is done. Let cool before frosting.
- Homemade Chocolate Cake – If you prefer, you can make you chocolate cake from scratch. We just made it easier, by using a box mix.
How to Store Chocolate Cupcakes:
Store the leftover cupcakes in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.
Fun and Festive Holiday Dessert:
There is something about the holiday season, that we enjoy rich and decadent desserts. We have a lot of gatherings we attend from dinners to cookie exchange to family parties.
My kids and I enjoy making fun holiday desserts to take. These Christmas Cupcakes always impress my family and friends. They look like I got them at a local bakery.
Save money and make your holiday desserts at home. They taste better and you can decorate them how you want.
Print Recipe here for Christmas Tree Cupcakes:
Christmas Tree Cupcakes
Ingredients
FOR THE CUPCAKES:
- 1 Chocolate Cake Mix
- *Plus the ingredients to prepare the cake mix based on the package instructions
- Red Cupcake Liners
FOR THE ICING:
- 1/2 cup Solid Vegetable Shortening
- 1/2 cup Butter softened at room temperature
- 1 tsp Clear Vanilla Extract
- 4 cups Confectioners’ Sugar shifted
- 2 Tbsp Milk
- Green Gel Food Coloring
FOR THE DECORATIONS:
- Yellow Sugar Stars for topping
- Candy Balls for the ornaments
Instructions
- Prepare the chocolate cake mix based on the cupcake instructions using the red cupcake liners and all the cupcakes to cool completely at room temperature.
- In a large bowl, cream together the shortening and butter until combined and smooth.
- Then slowly add in the confectioners’ sugar (1 cup at a time) on low speed until well combined.
- Then stir in the vanilla extract and milk until combined. Then add a few drops of the green food coloring until the frosting is a bright green color similar to a Christmas tree.
- Then use a 1M piping tip and a decorator’s bag, fill it with the green frosting.
- Gently frosting each cupcake. You want to slowly build up the frosting on top of the cupcake using a circular motion to resemble a Tree sitting on top of the cupcake.
- Then place a star on the top of each cupcake and use the candy balls to decorate the cupcakes to resemble ornaments.
- Then the cupcakes are ready to serve and enjoy!
Nutrition Facts
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