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Christmas cupcakes topped with candy melt trees are full of holiday cheer!! Everyone will love these tasty treats.
We love festive desserts that are easy to make like our Yule Log Cake, Christmas Cookies and Christmas Tree Brownies.
We Love Christmas Cupcakes!
Christmas is all about friends, family, and spending time together. We love to have the best Christmas desserts at these gatherings, and cupcakes are always a big hit!!
Why we love them!
- Easy. They look so fancy but are actually quite easy to whip up!
- Everyone can help! The kids love to help make the candy melt trees.
- Change it up. Add candy Christmas light sprinkles, crushed candy canes, or even pipe stars at the top!
Make some sweet treats like this Christmas cupcake recipe for your next big gathering this holiday season, or just for fun!!
Ingredients
- 24 pretzel sticks
- ½ bag of dark green candy melts – about 6 ounces
- nonpareils sprinkles
- white cake mix – Use other flavors of cake mix such as yellow, red velvet cupcakes, or chocolate. My example box is 15.25 oz and can make 24 cupcakes. The ingredients on the back of the box include 1 cup of water, ½ cup vegetable oil, and 3 egg whites OR 3 whole eggs.
- red, white, and green Jimmy sprinkles– to look like Christmas lights and ornaments.
- unsalted butter– Check out this post on How to Soften Butter Quickly
- powdered sugar
- vanilla extract
- salt
- half and half- or whole milk
How to make Christmas Cupcakes
- CHRISTMAS TREES. Make Christmas trees by first lining a pan with parchment paper and adding pretzel sticks.
- DRIZZLE. Melt 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 package, but before baking add ¼ cup Jimmy sprinkles to the batter. Scoop into cupcake liners.
- BAKE. Bake according to the box, and then let cool.
- VANILLA BUTTERCREAM. While cupcakes are baking, make frosting. To make the 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.
Variations
- Sprinkles. Add some sugar sprinkles to make the “snowy” frosting glitter.
- Frosting. Use Marshmallow Frosting or Cream Cheese Frosting, or even add some peppermint extract to the frosting.
- Hot cocoa cupcakes. Use chocolate cupcakes add white frosting, top with mini marshmallows, and stick a candy cane into each cupcake.
- Make snowman cupcakes by threading Jumbo marshmallows on the pretzel rod. Use cake decorating gel to add a carrot nose, eyes, and buttons. Make a few snowmen along with a few Christmas Trees.
- Make Santa hat cupcakes by piping red candy melts on the pretzel rods and adding a mini marshmallow to the top.
- Wreath. Use Keebler Fudge Stripes or Coconut Cream cookies to make a Christmas wreath cupcakes. Drizzle green frosting on the cookies and add nonpareil sprinkles.
storing info
Make easy Christmas cupcakes ahead of time. Store cooled unfrosted Christmas tree cupcakes to be used later.
- Keep in an airtight container at room temperature for 2 days.
- Freeze. Place each cupcake in a fold-top sandwich bag then into a freeze Ziploc. Freeze for 3 months.
STORE without the tree topping in an airtight container on the counter for 3-4 days.
- Frosted and topped cupcakes will last on the counter for 1 day. If the frosting completely covers the entire cupcake, it will last for 2 days.
FREEZE. Partially freeze each cupcake before placing them in a fold-top sandwich bag. This will make the frosting more solid and it won’t smash or smear. Freeze for up to 3 months. Remove from all wrappings to thaw.
- Store frosting. Make ahead of time and store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 month, or in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw, if applicable. Whip it up a bit before piping it on the cupcakes.
For More Christmas Cupcake recipes:
Christmas Cupcakes
Christmas Cupcakes topped with candy melt trees are full of holiday cheer!! Everyone will love these tasty treats.
Ingredients
Trees
- 24 pretzel sticks
- ½ bag dark green candy melts melted according to package directions
- nonpareils for sprinkling
Cupcakes
- 1 (15.25-ounce) box white cake mix made according to package directions for cupcakes
- ½ cup red, white and green Jimmy sprinkles
Frosting + Decor
- 1 cup butter softened
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- pinch of salt
- ¼ cup half and half
Instructions
- Make Christmas trees by first lining a pan with parchment paper and add pretzel sticks. Melt candy melts as directed and drizzle in a tree figure over pretzel sticks. Sprinkle with nonpareils before the melt sets. Set aside.
- Make cupcakes as directed on package, but before baking add 1/4 cup Jimmy sprinkles to the batter. Scooping into cupcake liners.
- Bake cupcakes and let cool.
- While cupcakes are baking make frosting. To make the frosting, beat the butter until light and fluffy. Add the powdered sugar, vanilla, salt and about a 1/4 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.
Video
Nutrition
Serving: 1cupcake, Calories: 338kcal, Carbohydrates: 56g, Protein: 3g, Fat: 12g, Saturated Fat: 8g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 2g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 21mg, Sodium: 461mg, Potassium: 63mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 32g, Vitamin A: 245IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 58mg, Iron: 1mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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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!