Description
These Christmas Tree Cupcakes are a festive delight, featuring a moist vanilla cake base topped with a rich, creamy green buttercream that mimics the look of a Christmas tree. Each bite offers a perfect balance of sweetness and a hint of vanilla, with a delightful crunch from the edible decorations.
Ingredients
Scale
- Cake:
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup whole milk
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ tsp salt
- Buttercream Frosting:
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 2–3 tbsp heavy cream
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Green food coloring
- Decorations:
- Edible glitter
- Mini candy canes
- Colored sprinkles
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a cupcake pan with paper liners.
- In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes.
- Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition, then stir in the vanilla extract.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, alternating with the milk, starting and ending with the flour mixture. Mix until just combined.
- Divide the batter evenly among the cupcake liners, filling each about 2/3 full.
- Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let cool completely.
- For the frosting, beat the softened butter until creamy, then gradually add the powdered sugar, heavy cream, and vanilla extract. Mix until smooth and fluffy. Add green food coloring until desired shade is achieved.
- Once the cupcakes are cool, frost them generously with the green buttercream using a piping bag fitted with a star tip.
- Decorate with edible glitter, mini candy canes, and colored sprinkles to resemble Christmas trees.
Notes
- Make-ahead: The cupcakes can be baked a day in advance and stored in an airtight container at room temperature.
- Storage: Frosted cupcakes should be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Substitutions: For a gluten-free version, use a gluten-free all-purpose flour blend.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: desserts
- Method: baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cupcake with frosting
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 28 grams
- Sodium: 180 milligrams
- Fat: 15 grams
- Saturated Fat: 8 grams
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 grams
- Trans Fat: 0 grams
- Carbohydrates: 45 grams
- Fiber: 1 gram
- Protein: 3 grams
- Cholesterol: 40 milligrams
Keywords: Christmas Tree Cupcake, festive dessert, holiday baking, vanilla cupcakes, buttercream frosting, edible decorations, Christmas treats, cupcake recipe, holiday party food, sweet treats, seasonal desserts, easy cupcake recipe, Christmas recipes