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This Christmas Tree Cupcake is a true showstopper. Perfect centerpiece to your holiday table. It is easy but so beautiful, plus there’s lots of creamy frosting!
This Christmas Tree Cupcake starts with a box cake mix. Therefore, you can get to the fun part fast. The decorating. You can decorate them with your kids, or make them for a great potluck or hostess gift. They are really that cute.
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What We Love About This Christmas Tree Cakes Recipe
The holidays are crazy, so why not bake something with a cake mix and make your life just a little easier. Plus these Christmas tree cupcakes really impress you holiday guests.
- Mix in minutes: Make the cake batter per the directions and you are halfway done.
- Easy Ingredients: All found in pantry or fridge, it only takes a few ingredients.
- Family Friendly: Fun for kids to help make, but especially fun for them to eat.
- Adaptable: Can make Easy Christmas Tree Cupcakes low-carb or lower in calories if you wish.
Ingredient Notes for the Homemade Cupcakes
- Box Cake Mix: 1 yellow cake mix box to make fluffy vanilla cupcakes or truly any flavor you like. You also need the ingredients from the package directions.
- White Frosting: This is the star of the show. You need three containers or make a big batch of Buttercream Frosting.
- Sprinkles: Fun Christmas sprinkles for a festive dessert.
- Green gel food coloring: Green food coloring for the trees.
Equipment Needed for Holiday Season Cupcakes
- KitchenAid Classic Mixing Bowls
- OCTAVO 5 Speed Hand Mixer Electric
- Cooptop Silicone Spatula Set
- Wilton Perfect Results Premium Non-Stick Bakeware Standard Muffin and Cupcake Pan, 12-Cup Baking Pan
- Wilton Deluxe Cake Decorating Kit with Piping Tips and Pastry Bags, 46-Piece
How to Make Christmas Tree Cupcake
These are the basic steps for making delicious cupcake recipes. Please refer to the recipe card below for more detailed instructions.
STEP 1: PREP
Preheat your oven and line your cupcake tin with festive paper liners. Prepare your cupcake batter in a large bowl mixing at medium speed, per the instructions on the box.
STEP 2: SCOOP
Next, fill your cupcake pan 3/4 of the way full with the cake batter (using a cookie scoop makes it uniform). Bake your cupcakes and allow to cool completely (use a wire rack for best air circulation).
STEP 3: FROSTING
Meanwhile, prepare your green frosting by adding the green gel to the white frosting in a mixing bowl, mix to desired consistency. Then add to a pastry bag with a small star tip. (Room temperature frosting pipes easier).
STEP 4: DECORATE
Finally, create the shape of a tree by starting in the center of the top of each cupcake, squeeze the frosting out through the tip and move in a circular pattern working out to the edge of the cupcake and back in towards the center moving up to form a tree. Lastly, decorate the frosted cupcakes with the sprinkles.
Prep and Storage Tips for the Cute Christmas Cupcakes
HOW TO MAKE THIS RECIPE AHEAD OF TIME
You can prepare your cupcakes a day or two in advance and wrap them well with foil or plastic wrap to keep out the air. After decorating, eat within a day or so.
HOW TO STORE THIS LITTLE CHRISTMAS TREES RECIPE
Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container.
HOW TO FREEZE THIS RECIPE
Freeze the undecorated cupcakes for up to three months in an airtight container or ziplock bag. Thaw overnight in the fridge before decorating.
Frequently Asked Questions about Easy Christmas Tree Cupcakes
If you are not much of a decorator or if this seems intimidating, it is not, the decoration is super easy. Here is a video to help you learn.
Of course, butter flavor, lemon cupcakes, even moist chocolate cupcakes are wonderful in this easy recipe.
Indeed, you can make a half batch or make them all and freeze the rest. You can also double or even triple the recipe card below to make the quantity that you need for your gathering.
No, that is the fun of this recipe, you can be as creative as you like. Make retro pink trees, silver trees or whatever you like.
Expert Tips for Making This Mini Trees Recipe
- Add Stars: Try adding a cute yellow star sprinkle as a tree topper on your Christmas tree cupcakes.
- Short cut tip: Buying premade frosting makes this recipe super easy. Make sure that it is room temperature or whip it up for easier piping.
- Variation tip: Melt candy melts and pipe on garland to your trees.
- Alternate ingredient: Cut and invert a sugar cone on top of your cupcake and pipe the Christmas tree design on that.
- Dietary consideration tip: Gluten free cake mixes are wonderful to use in this festive Christmas tree cupcakes recipe.
- Pretzel Sticks: Can be used to create a tree trunk if you like. Coconut can be used to look like snow.
What to Serve with Easy Christmas Tree Cupcakes
- Instant Pot Peppermint Mocha Creamer – Wondermom Wannabe
- Pumpkin Milkshake: One of My Best Fall Recipes | It Is A Keeper
- Hot Chocolate
- Milk
Did you try this recipe?
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Easy Christmas Tree Cupcakes
Equipment
- Wilton Deluxe Cake Decorating Kit with Piping Tips and Pastry Bags, 46-Piece
Ingredients
- 1 box yellow cake mix
- ⅓ cup oil
- egg
- 48 ounces vanilla frosting, 3 containers
- Green gel food coloring
- Christmas Sprinkles
Instructions
- Bake the cupcakes according to package directions. Cool completely.
- Scoop frosting into large bowl, add several drops of green gel food coloring. Stir to combine. Continue adding food coloring 1-2 drops at a time, mixing well between each addition, until frosting reaches desired shade.
- Add frosting to piping bag, cut 1′ off from the tip, then attach star decorating tip.
- Starting in the center of each cupcake, squeeze the frosting out through the tip and move in a circular pattern working out to the edge of the cupcake and back in towards the center moving up to form a tree.
- Decorate with sprinkles.
Expert Tips
- Add Stars: Try adding a cute yellow star sprinkle as a tree topper on your Christmas tree cupcakes.
- Short cut tip: Buying premade frosting makes this recipe super easy. Make sure that it is room temperature or whip it up for easier piping.
- Variation tip: Melt candy melts and pipe on garland to your trees.
- Alternate ingredient: Cut and invert a sugar cone on top of your cupcake and pipe the Christmas tree design on that.
- Dietary consideration tip: Gluten free cake mixes are wonderful to use in this festive Christmas tree cupcakes recipe.
- Pretzel Sticks: Can be used to create a tree trunk if you like. Coconut can be used to look like snow.