Description
Delightful Christmas Tree Cupcakes featuring rich chocolate cupcakes topped with green buttercream frosting piped to resemble festive Christmas trees, decorated with star sprinkles and Christmas pearls for a holiday treat.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Cupcakes:
- 1 box chocolate cake mix (Betty Crocker recommended)
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 3 eggs
- 1 cup water
For the Frosting:
- 2 cups butter, softened to room temperature
- 10 cups powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons vanilla extract
- 10 tablespoons heavy cream
- Pinch of salt
- Green gel food coloring
For Decorating:
- Star sprinkles
- Christmas pearls/sprinkles
Instructions
- Prepare Cupcakes: Preheat your oven to 325°F and line a cupcake pan with cupcake liners to prepare for baking. In a mixing bowl or stand mixer, combine the vegetable oil, eggs, and water with the chocolate cake mix until smooth and well combined.
- Bake Cupcakes: Using a ¼ cup measuring cup, evenly scoop the batter into each cupcake liner. Place the pan on the middle oven rack and bake for 15 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Once done, allow cupcakes to cool for 5 minutes in the pan, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely before frosting.
- Make Frosting: In a stand mixer, beat softened butter on medium-high speed until light and fluffy. Gradually add powdered sugar, one cup at a time, alternating with heavy cream one tablespoon at a time, ensuring each addition is fully incorporated. Mix in vanilla extract, a pinch of salt, and green gel food coloring until the desired shade of green is achieved.
- Decorate Cupcakes: Using a piping bag fitted with a 1M tip, pipe the green buttercream on the cooled cupcakes in swirled circular motions to form a Christmas tree shape. Immediately decorate the frosting tree with star sprinkles at the top and other Christmas-themed pearls and sprinkles while the frosting is still soft to ensure they stick well.
Notes
- Add sprinkles immediately after frosting to ensure they adhere before the frosting sets.
- For a darker green frosting, incorporate a small amount of blue and black gel food coloring into the green frosting.
- Store cupcakes in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days to maintain freshness.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cupcake
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 40g
- Sodium: 180mg
- Fat: 21g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0.3g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 65mg
