Description
These Christmas Tree Cupcakes are a festive and fun treat for the holiday season. Chocolate cupcakes topped with green frosting and decorated like Christmas trees will delight both kids and adults alike.
Ingredients
Scale
Cupcakes:
- 1 box chocolate cake mix (plus ingredients listed on the box – usually eggs, oil, and water)
Frosting:
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 2–3 tablespoons milk or heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- green gel food coloring
Decorations:
- Mini sugar pearls or sprinkles
- Gold star sprinkles or candy stars
- Optional: ice cream cones for tree shapes
Instructions
- Preheat oven and prepare cupcakes: Preheat oven according to the cake mix instructions and line a muffin tin with 24 cupcake liners. Prepare the chocolate cake mix as directed on the box. Divide the batter evenly among the cupcake liners, filling each about 2/3 full. Bake as directed (usually 18–22 minutes), or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let cool completely.
- Make the frosting: Beat the softened butter until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar, mixing on low until combined. Add vanilla and 2 tablespoons of milk or cream, beating on high until fluffy. Add more milk if needed to reach desired consistency. Tint the frosting with green food coloring and mix well.
- Decorate the cupcakes: For ‘tree swirl’ cupcakes, use a piping bag fitted with a large star tip and pipe tall swirls of green frosting on each cooled cupcake. Decorate with sugar pearls as ornaments and top each tree with a star sprinkle or candy. For 3D cone trees, place an upside-down sugar cone on each cupcake and frost it with green icing using a star tip or small spatula. Decorate like a Christmas tree with sprinkles and stars.
Notes
- You can use homemade chocolate cupcakes if preferred.
- To make the trees more stable, chill the frosted cones briefly before serving.
- Great for kids’ holiday parties or edible table centerpieces.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cupcake
- Calories: 270
- Sugar: 28g
- Sodium: 220mg
- Fat: 13g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 35mg
