CHRISTMAS TREE CUPCAKES

These Christmas tree cupcakes brim with seasonal magic. It’s a December tradition to assemble these elegant treats that look like evergreen trees. These Christmas desserts ring in the holidays with festive joy and cheer!

PIN CHRISTMAS TREE CUPCAKES

Looking for a fun family project to do together over winter break? This is it! Christmas tree cupcakes. They’re just as festive as gingerbread houses, but much more snackable because they’re super tasty chocolate cupcakes.

As a family tradition, sing the song Oh Christmas Tree Oh Christmas Tree once the treats have been assembled and before they’ve been eaten!

If you make a double batch, you can save some to serve at a holiday party. They’ll steal the show! These hand-held desserts are also known as “O Tannenbaum cupcakes”. They’re adored by both children and adults.

At first glance, these Christmas tree cupcakes look super intricate. But I’m sharing the secret. The trees are upside down sugar cones with piped on stars of green-colored frosting for leaves, and sprinkles of powdered sugar to mimic snow. They do take some work, but are super simple to assemble.

INGREDIENTS

For these sugar cone Christmas trees, we make chocolate cupcakes for the base (the “earth” beneath the Christmas trees). Then we assemble buttercream frosting to make the combination of branches and leaves.

Here’s what you’ll need to make Christmas tree cupcakes.

Chocolate Cupcakes

• Whole milk
• Vegetable oil
• Large eggs
• Pure vanilla extract
• Granulated sugar
• All-purpose flour
• Unsweetened baking cocoa
• Baking powder
• Sea salt
• Ground cinnamon

Vanilla Buttercream Frosting

• Salted butter
• Powdered sugar
• Pure vanilla extract
• Green food coloring (like Wilton gel food coloring)
• Small sugar cones (pointed brown cones used for ice cream)*

ABOUT SUGAR CONES: Use mini sugar cones, about 2 1/2 inches tall. They’re often called waffle cones. If using full size cones, 4 1/2 inches tall, you’ll need to double the frosting recipe. Select cones without deep ridges. The type with deep ridges make piping frosting more difficult.

easy ingredient substitutions

Missing an ingredient for these Christmas tree cupcakes? Don’t put on your shoes and head to the market. Instead, head to your fridge or pantry. Check for these easy ingredient swaps.

It’s convenient and money-saving to use ingredients you already have on hand! Especially during stay-at-home times.

• Whole Milk: Sub with 2% low-fat milk. You can also use half and half that’s been lightly diluted with water. If you have heavy cream on hand, use 60% cream to 40% water. Or use dairy-free vanilla milk.
• Vegetable Oil: The best substitute is canola oil. Other swaps include a 1:1 substitution: melted butter or melted coconut oil.
• Pure Vanilla Extract: Use maple syrup, bourbon, brandy or amber rum.
• Granulated Sugar: Use light brown sugar instead.
• All-purpose Flour: The best 1:1 substitutes for this ingredient include cake flour and pastry flour.
• Unsweetened Baking Cocoa: Use Dutch process cocoa instead.
• Ground Cinnamon: If you don’t have this on hand, just leave it out!
• Salted Butter: For the buttercream frosting, use unsalted butter with a pinch of salt. Other good subs are margarine and butter-flavor shortening.
• Powdered Sugar: Make your own powdered sugar from granulated sugar. Process sugar in a blender or food processor until fine and fluffy. One cup granulated sugar yields about 2 cups powdered sugar.

recipe steps

Chocolate Cupcakes

RECIPE PREP: Adjust oven rack to the center position. Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C). Line a 12-well cupcake pan with paper liners.

• STEP 1: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the wet ingredients: milk, vegetable oil, eggs, and vanilla extract. Add granulated sugar. Whisk well to combine.
• STEP 2: Add flour, cocoa, baking powder, sea salt, and cinnamon to the bowl. Whisk just until no large lumps remain. Don’t over-mix.
• STEP 3: With a metal scoop, portion out the batter. Evenly divide it between the 12 wells of the cupcake pan. Each well should be 3/4 full.
• STEP 4: Bake 16 to 18 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the middle of 3 cupcakes comes out clean. Cool completely on a wire rack.

RECIPE TIP: Allow cupcakes to cool 1 hour before decorating. Although they will feel cool to the touch much earlier, there’s still heat in the center that will rise up to escape. If sugar cones are put on top of the cupcakes too soon, the icing will become warm, limp and droopy.

Vanilla Buttercream Frosting

RECIPE PREP: Fit a piping bag with a small star tip.

• STEP 1: In the bowl of a stand mixer with paddle attachment, beat the softened butter until light and fluffy.
• STEP 2: Drape a lint-free cloth over the mixer to protect your countertop from puffs of sugar. With the speed on low, slowly add powdered sugar to the bowl. After sugar is fully incorporated, scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add vanilla extract.
• STEP 3: Increase the speed to medium. Beat 2 minutes or until the frosting becomes light and fluffy. Add green food coloring to the frosting (I started with 3/4 teaspoon Wilton green gel food color) and mix well. Add additional coloring as needed, until the frosting reaches the desired shade of green.
• STEP 4: Transfer 3/4 of the frosting to the prepared piping bag with tip. Reserve remaining frosting for spreading.

ASSEMBLE CHRISTMAS TREE CUPCAKES

• STEP 1: Work with one sugar cone at a time. With a mini off-set spatular or butter knife, spread a very thin layer of reserved frosting over one of the sugar cones. Place the cone, pointed side up, on a chocolate cupcake.

• STEP 2: Starting at the base, pipe short bursts of frosting onto the cone. Continue piping around the whole cone and all the way up until all surfaces are covered. Dust the trees with powdered sugar. Repeat process with remaining sugar cones and cupcakes.

RECIPE FAQ

These are the most commonly asked questions when making the best Christmas Tree Cupcakes, and the most helpful answers for recipe success.

MORE CHRISTMAS CUPCAKES

If you enjoyed these Christmas tree cupcakes, you’ll love these special treats. Each cupcake recipe is easy to make and a guaranteed crowd pleaser. Print your favorites for later. Pin them to Pinterest.

• Cranberry Cupcakes
• Ginger Spice Cupcakes
• Butter Pecan Cupcakes
• Mint Chocolate Cupcakes
• Tiramisu Cupcakes

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