We love to make today’s Christmas Cupcakes for class parties, Christmas dessert tables, cookie decorating nights, and holiday baking with kids. They are festive holiday cupcakes filled with red, white, and green sprinkles, topped with fluffy vanilla frosting, and finished with cute candy melt Christmas trees.
Not only are they so yummy and festive, but they’re easy too. They start with a boxed cake mix, which keeps them simple, but the decorations make them feel extra special (and totally doable!) The pretzel stick trees are such a fun little touch, and they make each cupcake look like it came from a bakery.
For more festive favorites, check out our Snowman Cake, Brownie Christmas Trees, and Christmas Sugar Cookies.
Why You’ll Love It + Why it works:
- Our Favorite Shortcut: Cute Christmas cupcakes that start with an easy boxed cake mix.
- Pretty Enough to Share: Perfect for class parties, holiday baking, dessert tables, and Christmas gatherings.
- Candy Melts Set Firm: They create sturdy little Christmas trees that are easy to place on the cupcakes.
- Whipping the Frosting Makes it Fluffy: Beating the butter and frosting ingredients for several minutes gives it a light, smooth texture for piping.
Christmas Cupcakes Ingredients
- Pretzel sticks (24): Creates the trunk for each candy melt Christmas tree.
- Dark green candy melts (½ bag, 12 ounces): Melts into the tree shape and set firm for decorating.
- Nonpareils, for sprinkling: Adds festive color and texture to the candy trees.
- White cake mix, made according to package directions for cupcakes (1 box, 15.25 ounces): Creates the cupcake base and keeps the recipe quick and easy. See our Vanilla Cupcakes Recipe.
- Jimmy sprinkles, red, white, and green (½ cup): Adds Christmas color throughout the cupcake batter.
- Butter, softened (1 cup): Creates a rich, creamy base for the frosting.
- Powdered sugar (3 cups): Sweetens and thickens the frosting.
- Vanilla (1 teaspoon): Adds classic sweet flavor to the frosting.
- Salt (pinch): Balances the sweetness in the frosting.
- Half and half (¼ cup): Thins the frosting to a smooth, pipeable consistency.
How to Make Christmas Cupcakes
CHRISTMAS TREES. Line a pan with parchment paper and add 24-26 pretzel sticks.
Melt 6-8 ounces of candy melts as directed on the package and drizzle in a tree figure over pretzel sticks. Sprinkle with nonpareils before the melt sets. Set aside.
CUPCAKES. Make cupcakes as directed on the package and stir in ¼ cup Jimmy sprinkles to the batter. Scoop into cupcake liners.
Bake in the oven according to the box, and then let cool.
VANILLA BUTTERCREAM. While cupcakes are baking, make frosting. In a large bowl or stand mixer beat 1 cup butter until light and fluffy. Add 3 cups powdered sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla, a pinch of salt, and about a ¼ cup half and half.
Add additional half and half as needed to make a smooth frosting. Increase the speed to high and beat 3-5 minutes, until light and fluffy. Pipe onto the cooled cupcakes and top with Christmas trees.
Kristyn’s Recipe Tips
- Let the candy trees set completely before adding them to the cupcakes so they do not bend or break.
- Add the sprinkles to the cake batter right before baking and stir gently so the colors do not bleed too much.
- Cool the cupcakes completely before frosting so the frosting stays fluffy.
- When we run out of time and don’t make the pretzel Christmas trees, we often use Christmas cupcake toppers or even Candied Cranberries.
Christmas Cupcakes Recipe
Ingredients
Trees
- 24 pretzel sticks
- ½ (12-ounce) bag dark green candy melts
- nonpareils, for sprinkling
Cupcakes
- 1 (15.25-ounce) box white cake mix, made according to package directions for cupcakes
- ½ cup Jimmy sprinkles, red, white, and green
Frosting and Decor
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- pinch of salt
- ¼ cup half and half
Instructions
Christmas Trees
- Line a pan with parchment paper and add pretzel sticks. Melt 6-8 ounces of candy melts as directed and drizzle in a tree figure over pretzel sticks. Sprinkle with nonpareils before the melt sets. Set aside.
Cupcakes
- Make cupcakes as directed on the package, but before baking add ¼ cup Jimmy sprinkles to the batter. Scoop into cupcake liners.
- Bake cupcakes and let cool.
Frosting
- Beat the butter until light and fluffy. Add the powdered sugar, vanilla, salt, and about a ¼ cup half and half. Add additional half and half as needed to make a smooth frosting. Increase the speed to high and beat 3-5 minutes, until light and fluffy.
- Pipe onto the cooled cupcakes and top with Christmas trees.
Notes
- Let the candy trees set completely before adding them to the cupcakes so they do not bend or break.
- Add the sprinkles to the cake batter right before baking and stir gently so the colors do not bleed too much.
- Cool the cupcakes completely before frosting so the frosting stays fluffy.
- Beat the frosting for 3 to 5 minutes to make it light and smooth for piping.
- Make-ahead tip: make the candy trees and bake the cupcakes a day ahead, then frost and decorate before serving.
Nutrition
Recipe FAQ
Pretzel trees. Make 1-2 days ahead and carefully store in an airtight container.
Cupcakes. Make 1-2 days ahead and store in an airtight container, or up to 3 months in the freezer.
Frosting. Make 2-3 days ahead of time and store in an airtight container in the fridge, or freeze it for 2-3 months. Stir it before using.
Cover and store the assembled cupcakes at room temperature for 3-5 days. If you don’t have a tall enough lid, remove the trees and store them separately.
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This recipe was first shared October, 2022.
I’m excited to make these Christmas cupcakes again for the holidays! They’re so cute and adorable, my fam loves them!
Thank you! I’m so glad the cupcakes are loved by your family!
These were such a fun activity for my older kids and they were so delicious too! Thanks!
These cupcakes are easy and delicious! They totally put me in a festive mood!
Just made these for a holiday boat party tomorrow. They really are so cute.
These cupcakes are so cute and festive! They’re perfect for any Christmas party!
These cupcakes are SO easy and cute!! I love to make the tree cupcake toppers with the kids.
These Christmas cupcakes are SO festive and fun. The decoration is so cute, but actually not hard to make! The kids love them!
These are so fun and so festive! Love how easy it is to make the Christmas tree toppers!
I love the candy melt 3-D Christmas Trees on these cupcakes! Can’t wait to try these for my son’s class Christmas party!