Last updated on December 6th, 2024 at 07:51 pm
When the holiday season rolls around, I find myself looking for easy but cute dessert ideas. There’s something so magically delicious about creating little edible pieces of Christmas cheer. This year, my go-to has been Christmas mini cupcakes with a soft vanilla base, fluffy green buttercream frosting, and the cutest Christmas sprinkles. They’re tiny, adorable, and ridiculously easy to make.
If you’re looking for simple Christmas cupcakes that pack a festive punch without too much effort, you’ve come to the right place. Whether you’re hosting a holiday party, surprising the kids with a special treat, or just need a fun baking project, these cupcakes deliver on all fronts. And the best part is, this recipe can be easily made with ingredients you probably already have!
Jump to Recipe
Ingredients for Christmas Mini Cupcakes
Here’s what you’ll need to whip up these merry little delights:
For the Vanilla Cupcakes:
-
- 3/4 cup flour
- 3/4 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 cup butter softened
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 egg
- 1/3 cup milk
- 1 tsp vanilla
For the Green Buttercream Frosting:
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1-2 tbsp milk (optional, for texture)
- Green food coloring
Decorations:
- Piping bag with star tip
- Christmas sprinkles (stars, holly leaves, snowflakes—you name it!)
- Mini cupcake liners
How to Make Easy Mini Christmas Cupcakes
Step 1: Preheat and Prep
Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C) and lining your mini cupcake pan with liners. Christmas cupcakes liners are even better! These little guys will bake up quickly, so you’ll want everything ready to go.
Step 2: Mix the Cupcake Batter
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
In a separate larger bowl, beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
Add the egg, vanilla and milk.
Finally, add your dry ingredients, mixing just until combined. Overmixing can make your cupcakes dense, so keep it gentle!
Step 3: Fill and Bake
Spoon the batter into the mini liners. You’ll need about 1 tablespoon of batter per mini cupcake. Bake for 12–14 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let them cool completely on a wire rack before frosting.
Step 4: Whip Up the Green Buttercream
For the frosting, beat the butter until creamy, then gradually add the powdered sugar. Add the vanilla and enough milk to achieve a smooth, but thick consistency. Finally, mix in green food coloring until you get that perfect Christmas tree hue.
Step 5: Decorate Like a Pro
Transfer the frosting to a piping bag fitted with a star tip (I like the Wilton 1M tip). Pipe swirls of green buttercream onto each cupcake, then sprinkle on your favorite holiday sprinkles. Voilà! Your Christmas cupcake decorating ideas just came to life.
Pro Tips
- Don’t Overfill: Mini cupcakes rise quickly, so resist the urge to fill the liners too full. About 2/3 full is the sweet spot, which should be about a tablespoon of batter. I actually use a 1 tablespoon measuring spoon to dish out my batter to make sure all the mini cupcakes get about the same amount.
- Use the “Good” Food Coloring: For this kind of Christmas baking adventure, I would recommend a dark green food coloring. You can usually find them in craft stores. I got mine at Michael’s. The “regular” green food coloring that you can get in the grocery store won’t give you a deep green hue and you’ll end up using a ton of it to maybe get the color you want.
- Make Your Frosting on the Thick Side: Because we want our frosting to stand up tall on these cupcakes like Christmas trees, we need a thicker frosting. If your keep your frosting a little thicker by not adding much milk to water it down (you might not need any milk!), it will be a bit harder to squeeze out of the piping bag, but your pretty cupcake frosting designs will keep their shape much better.
- Use a Wilton 1M Frosting Tip: You can usually find these in craft stores in the cake decorating section (while you’re there, pick up some of that food coloring from above!). This is my all time favorite frosting tip. It works really well for buttercream swirls that will kind of look like Christmas trees when you’re done.
- Get Creative: While I love classic green buttercream, you can try other Christmas cupcake decorating ideas—red frosting, candy canes, or even mini gingerbread toppers!
FAQs
Can I make these cupcakes ahead of time?
Absolutely! The cupcakes can be baked a day in advance. Just store them in an airtight container at room temperature. You can also make the frosting ahead and refrigerate it in an airtight container. Bring it to room temperature and re-whip before piping it on your mini Christmas cupcakes.
What’s the best way to store decorated cupcakes?
Decorated cupcakes are best enjoyed fresh but can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Let them come to room temperature before serving.
Can I freeze these cupcakes?
Yes! Bake and cool the cupcakes completely, then freeze them (without frosting) in a single layer on a baking sheet. Once frozen, transfer them to a freezer-safe bag or container. Thaw at room temperature and decorate when ready. You can also freeze cupcakes with frosting, but sometimes the frosting has a bit of a freezer-like taste when it thaws. Personally, I don’t mind it, and when I have a ton of cupcakes, I pop them in the freezer frosting and all.
What if I don’t have a piping bag?
No worries! You can use a zip-top bag with the corner snipped off. I would really recommend using a Wilton 1M piping tip or something similar, though, if you want the Christmas tree decoration effect.
Can I double the recipe?
Absolutely! This recipe doubles beautifully, making it perfect for holiday parties or gift-giving.
Making Christmas mini cupcakes is such a joy—there’s something so satisfying about seeing those little cakes transform into festive treats. They’re small, sweet, and sure to make everyone smile. Plus, with the easy Christmas cupcakes decoration ideas here, even beginner bakers can feel like pros.
So, go ahead and spread some holiday cheer, one bite-sized cupcake at a time. Whether you’re leaving them out for Santa, sharing them at a potluck, or just treating yourself after a long day of holiday shopping, these simple Christmas cupcakes are bound to be a hit. Happy baking, and Merry Christmas!
Mini Christmas Cupcakes
Equipment
- 1 piping bag
- 1 star tip for frosting
- 1 electric mixer
- 3 mixing bowls
Ingredients
Cupcake Base
- 3/4 cup flour
- 3/4 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 egg
- 1/3 cup milk
- 1 tsp vanilla
Green Buttercream Frosting and Decorations
- 1/2 cup butter softened
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1-2 Tbsp milk optional, adjust for texture
- green food coloring
- Christmas sprinkles optional
Instructions
Make Mini Cupcake Base
- Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C) and lining your mini cupcake pan with liners.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
- In a separate larger bowl, beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add the egg, vanilla and milk.
- Finally, add your dry ingredients, mixing just until combined. Overmixing can make your cupcakes dense, so keep it gentle!
- Spoon the batter into the mini liners. You’ll need about 1 tablespoon of batter per mini cupcake.
- Bake for 12–14 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let them cool completely on a wire rack before frosting.
Make Frosting and Decorate
- For the frosting, beat the butter until creamy, then gradually add the powdered sugar. Add the vanilla and enough milk to achieve a smooth, but thick consistency.
- Finally, mix in green food coloring until you get that perfect Christmas tree hue.
- Transfer the frosting to a piping bag fitted with a star tip (I like the Wilton 1M tip).
- Pipe swirls of green buttercream onto each cupcake, then sprinkle on your favorite holiday sprinkles.
