Description
Celebrate the holiday season with these festive Christmas Tree Cupcakes. Moist chocolate cupcakes are topped with rich, creamy green buttercream frosting piped to resemble a Christmas tree, then decorated with star sprinkles and colorful Christmas pearls for a delightful and visually stunning holiday treat.
Ingredients
Scale
Cake Ingredients
- 1 box chocolate cake mix (Betty Crocker recommended)
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 3 eggs
- 1 cup water
Frosting Ingredients
- 2 cups butter, softened to room temperature
- 10 cups powdered sugar
- 10 tbsp heavy cream, divided
- 2 tbsp vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
- Green gel food coloring, to desired shade
Decorations
- Star sprinkles
- Christmas pearls/sprinkles
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 325°F (163°C) and line your cupcake pan with cupcake liners to prepare for baking.
- Mix Batter: In a bowl or stand mixer, combine the vegetable oil, eggs, and water. Mix well. Then gradually add the boxed chocolate cake mix and blend until smooth.
- Fill Liners: Using a ¼ cup measuring cup, scoop the batter evenly into each cupcake liner, filling about 2/3 full to allow room for rising.
- Bake Cupcakes: Place cupcakes on the same oven rack and bake for approximately 15 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, ensuring even baking.
- Cool Cupcakes: Remove cupcakes from the oven and let cool in the pan for 5 minutes. Transfer them to a wire cooling rack and allow them to cool completely before frosting.
- Prepare Frosting: In a stand mixer, beat softened butter on medium-high speed until light and fluffy. Gradually add powdered sugar 1 cup at a time, alternating with heavy cream 1 tablespoon at a time. Mix in vanilla extract and a pinch of salt. Add green gel food coloring incrementally until the desired shade of green is achieved.
- Pipe Frosting: Fit a piping bag with a 1M tip and fill with the green buttercream. Starting at the outer edge of the cupcake, pipe the frosting in a circular, swirling upward motion to create a Christmas tree shape.
- Decorate: Top each cupcake with a star sprinkle at the tip of the frosting tree. Add Christmas pearls and other festive sprinkles to decorate the ‘branches’ and complete the holiday look.
Notes
- Ensure cupcakes are completely cooled before frosting to prevent melting.
- Use gel food coloring for vibrant green without thinning the frosting.
- You can prepare cupcakes a day ahead and store them in an airtight container.
- For added flavor, consider adding 1 tsp espresso powder to the batter to enhance chocolate taste.
