Delicious and easy Christmas tree cupcakes with a festive red velvet cupcake base, creamy green buttercream frosting and colorful Christmas tree style decoration. Perfect for holiday parties, family fun, and spreading cheer!
If you love these Christmas cupcakes, you might also enjoy making my Reindeer Cookie Bars and Chocolate-Dipped Peanut Butter Christmas Cookies for the holidays!
It’s that magical time of year again when twinkling lights, cheerful carols, and the sweet aroma of baked goods fill our homes. And what better way to embrace the season than with a batch of Easy Christmas Tree Cupcakes? These festive treats are a delightful centerpiece for holiday gatherings, classroom parties, or cozy nights at home with your loved ones.
These cupcakes are not just adorable, they’re a breeze to make, even for those new to baking. With a fluffy red velvet base, creamy green buttercream frosting, and colorful ‘lights,’ these cupcakes are a guaranteed hit with family and friends.
Let’s dive into the recipe and bring extra joy to your kitchen this holiday season!
Why You’ll Love These Christmas Tree Cupcakes
These cupcakes are like a little slice of edible holiday magic. The rich and moist red velvet cupcake base is perfectly complemented by the creamy buttercream frosting. But the real fun begins in the decorating process—turning plain cupcakes into miniature Christmas trees. Trust me, kids and adults alike will love them, and you’ll feel like the star of the season.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Before you start baking, gather everything you’ll need:
For the Cupcakes:
- 2 ½ cups All-Purpose Flour
- 1 ½ cups Granulated Sugar
- 2 tsp Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
- 1 tsp Baking Soda
- ½ tsp Salt
- 1 ½ cups Vegetable Oil
- 2 Eggs
- ½ cup Buttermilk
- ½ cup Sour Cream
- 2 tsp Vanilla Extract
- 1 tsp White Vinegar
- Red Food Coloring
For the Buttercream Frosting:
- 1 cup Shortening
- 1 cup Butter (room temperature)
- 6 cups Powdered Sugar
- ¼ cup Milk
- Kelly Green Food Coloring
For Decorating:
- Black Piping Gel
- M&M’s chocolate candies (mini or regular)
- Christmas cupcake liners
- piping bags
How to Make Christmas Tree Cupcakes
Step 1: Bake the Cupcakes
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line your muffin pan with festive cupcake liners.
2. Whisk together the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, and salt in a bowl.
3. Mix the oil, eggs, buttermilk, sour cream, vanilla, and vinegar in a separate bowl.
4. Combine the wet and dry ingredients, mixing on low until just incorporated. Be careful not to overmix!
5. Add red food coloring to achieve a vibrant hue (around 2 teaspoons).
6. Fill the cupcake liners about ⅔ full and bake for 18–20 minutes. The tops should spring back when lightly touched.
7. Let the cupcakes cool completely before frosting.
Step 2: Make the Frosting
1. In a mixing bowl, beat the shortening and butter until creamy.
2. Gradually add powdered sugar, one cup at a time, until the mixture thickens.
3. Add milk to reach your desired consistency.
4. Mix in green food coloring until the frosting resembles a festive evergreen shade.
Step 3: Decorate the Cupcakes
1. Fill a piping bag fitted with a large round tip with your green frosting.
2. Pipe the frosting in three circular layers, starting small at the top and building wider as you go down to mimic a Christmas tree shape.
3. Use black piping gel to draw thin lines around the tree for the “light strings.”
4. Attach M&M’s as ornaments, pressing them gently into the frosting.
5. Optional: Add a sprinkle of edible glitter for a snow-dusted effect.
My Tips for Success
- Perfect your red velvet batter: Use precise measurements and mix only until combined for that signature soft and fluffy texture.
- Chill the frosting if needed: If your frosting is too soft to hold its shape, pop it in the fridge for 10–15 minutes before piping.
- Practice makes perfect: Use a plate to practice piping the frosting tree shape before decorating your cupcakes.
- Get creative: Swap out M&M’s for other edible decorations like star-shaped sprinkles or candy canes for a unique twist.
FAQ’s
Can I make these cupcakes ahead of time? Absolutely! Bake the cupcakes 1-2 days before and store them in an airtight container. Frost and decorate them on the day of your event for the best presentation. This recipe is flexible and forgiving, so feel free to adjust it to your schedule.
Absolutely! Bake the cupcakes 1–2 days before and store them in an airtight container. Frost and decorate them on the day of your event for the best presentation.
What if I don’t have black piping gel?
No worries! Melted chocolate or homemade gel (mix powdered sugar, water, and black food coloring) works just as well.
Do I need a piping bag?
Not necessarily! You can use a zip-top bag with the corner snipped off. Place a piping tip in the cut corner for an easy DIY piping bag.
Why These Cupcakes Are Perfect for the Holidays
These Christmas Tree Cupcakes are more than just dessert—they’re a fun activity and a festive decoration rolled into one! Whether you’re baking with your kids, impressing guests, or simply treating yourself, these cupcakes embody the joy and wonder of the holiday season.
So grab your apron, turn on some holiday tunes, and prepare to whip up a batch of these merry little treats. Your kitchen (and heart) will be filled with holiday cheer in no time!
I hope you like this recipe for easy Christmas tree cupcakes – be sure to give it a review below!
Also don’t forget to follow Hip Mama’s Place on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter!
Looking for more holiday recipes and ideas? Check out links below for more seasonal inspiration. Happy holidays and happy baking!
-
Caramel Popcorn Cupcakes Recipe
-
Easy Peppermint Fudge Recipe
-
Red Velvet Kiss Cookies
-
Churro Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting
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Easy Christmas Tree Cupcakes
- Total Time: 55 minutes
- Yield: 18 cupcakes 1x
Description
Delicious and easy Christmas tree cupcakes with a festive red velvet cupcake base, creamy green buttercream frosting and colorful Christmas tree style decoration.
Ingredients
For the cupcakes batter:
2 ½ cups All-Purpose Flour
1 ½ cup granulated Sugar
2 teaspoons Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
1 teaspoon Baking Soda
½ teaspoon Salt
1 ½ cup Vegetable Oil
2 Eggs
½ cup Buttermilk
½ cup Sour Cream
2 teaspoons Vanilla Extract
1 teaspoon White Vinegar
Red Food Coloring
For the Buttercream Frosting:
1 cup Shortening
1 cup Butter, room temperature
6 cups Powdered Sugar
¼ cup Milk
Kelly Green Food Coloring
For the Toppings:
Black Piping Gel
M&M’s chocolate candies
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line muffin pan with cupcake liners and set aside.
- In a mixing bowl, whisk together all the dry ingredients.
- Pour dry ingredients into a large mixing bowl, add in wet ingredients and mix with an electric mixer on low until all ingredients are combined.
- Add in red food coloring to your liking, I used about 2 teaspoons.
- Scoop batter into cupcake liners, filling 2/3 full.
- Bake in preheated oven for 18-20 minutes, or until the tops spring back when you touch.
- Allow cupcakes to cool completely before frosting.
- To make the frosting: In a mixing bowl, beat together, shortening and butter until it has reached a creamy smooth consistency.
- Slowly, add in a cup of powdered sugar at a time.
- Once frosting has thickened add in milk and continue to mix until you have reached the desired consistency.
- Add in green food coloring to your liking.
- To decorate the cupcakes: Grab a large round frosting tip and a piping bag. Add frosting to your bag.
- In a slow swirl movement add frosting to your cupcake. I create 3 swirls to have the look of a tree.
- Next, add a thin line of black gel around to create string of lights.
- Add, M&Ms to look like Christmas lights.
- Serve and enjoy!
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes baking time
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
A former school teacher, Jocelyn Brown created Hip Mama’s Place in 2007. Her motto for this blog is: get inspired, create and share! Jocelyn loves sharing about food and recipes, crafts, DIY projects and her random travels with her family. She also loves all things social media, but her latest obsession is Instagram.
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These cupcakes look amazing, I must make these for our annual Christmas party.
I love how festive and pretty these cupcakes look! I can’t wait to make them!
These cupcakes look so pretty! I can’t wait to try 😍
So festive and cute. I love the idea of the red cake. It’s the perfect touch for the holiday season.
These are adorable! And not too hard to make. I should make these with my teens over the holiday break. Such a fun idea and a great way to keep the kids from complaining that they are bored.
So cute, I bet both kids and adults would love these cute cakes as a desert for Christmas
These cupcakes are so adorable and are perfect for Christmas. Such a nice and easy dessert to bring to a Christmas party as well!
Oh.. now I want to try my hand at making these, though I am not good with frosting at all (so maybe will have my daughter do this when she gets home for the holidays – yay – can’t wait for her to be back)
These cupcakes are so cute! My son just volunteered last night to bring the cupcakes or cake for his Scout Troop’s Christmas party next week, and I think we will have to make these! The Scouts will love them.
WOW! I love the vibrant colour here! I love the big load of frosting so good!
These are so cute, and I like how easy they are to make. So festive and colorful, knowing my kids they would love these and eat them all…LOL
What a lovely festive idea for cupcakes. These are something that I know that my son would enjoy making with me and would be a great activity to do on Christmas eve. The cupcakes look so cute!!
These Christmas Cupcakes are adorable! I like the cocoa in the frosting.
These are the absolute cutest Christmas cupcakes! I would love to try making them for my family Christmas party this month.
Oh my goodness, how adorable are these and so simple! Making these!
I love the way these look. This is the perfect idea for my party.
These are so cute! I love all that sweet flavor, especially the frosting. I could eat frosting with a spoonful.
These are so cute! I love the flavor and the fun, festive colors. That HUGE mound of frosting on top of them is a big plus, too!
I have not made homemade cupcakes in a very long time. I should make these for our Christmas party. When I make butter cream, I don’t use shortening. I only use real butter.
Also, I’ve never seen vinegar added to cake mix. I’m interested to know why?
These look so good! I’ll have to make the cupcakes with my kids. We’ll love them!
Ooo these are so cute. In fact, too cute to eat! And, I love that they also are colorful, festive, and easy to make. I can’t wait to make some for my son’s classroom.
Maureen | http://www.littlemisscasual.com