Christmas Tree Cupcakes

Celebrate the holiday season with these delightful Christmas Tree Cupcakes. Featuring rich chocolate cupcakes topped with festive green buttercream frosting, they resemble miniature Christmas trees adorned with edible ornaments. These treats are as enjoyable to decorate as they are to eat, making them perfect for holiday gatherings and baking activities with family and friends.​Log in or sign up to view+2Preppy Kitchen+2Little Sunny Kitchen+2Little Sunny Kitchen+1Allrecipes+1

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Festive Appearance: These cupcakes bring holiday cheer to any dessert table with their charming Christmas tree design.​
• Interactive Fun: Decorating the cupcakes offers a fun activity for both kids and adults, fostering creativity and holiday spirit.​
• Delicious Flavor: The combination of moist chocolate cake and creamy vanilla buttercream ensures a delightful taste in every bite.​

Ingredients

(Tip: You’ll find the full list of ingredients and measurements in the recipe card below.)

• For the Cupcakes:
  • Unsalted butter​Jane’s Patisserie+2Preppy Kitchen+2Food Network+2
  • Light brown soft sugar​Jane’s Patisserie
  • Self-raising flour​
  • Cocoa powder​Jane’s Patisserie
  • Medium eggs​Food Network
  • Vanilla extract​Beyond Frosting+1Log in or sign up to view+1
• For the Buttercream:
  • Unsalted butter (room temperature)​Jane’s Patisserie
  • Icing sugar​
  • Vanilla extract​
  • Green food coloring​Beyond Frosting+3Jane’s Patisserie+3Preppy Kitchen+3
• For Decoration:
  • Chocolate stars or edible star toppers​Allrecipes+5Little Sunny Kitchen+5Jane’s Patisserie+5
  • Colorful sprinkles (to mimic ornaments)​Allrecipes+2Little Sunny Kitchen+2Jane’s Patisserie+2
  • Icing sugar (for a snowy effect)​

Directions

1. Prepare the Cupcakes:
   • Preheat your oven to 180ºC (160ºC fan) and line a 12-cup muffin tin with cupcake liners.​
   • In a large bowl, beat together the unsalted butter and light brown soft sugar until light and fluffy.​
   • Add the self-raising flour, cocoa powder, eggs, and vanilla extract to the butter-sugar mixture. Beat until the batter is smooth and well combined.​
   • Divide the batter evenly among the cupcake liners, filling each about two-thirds full.​
   • Bake in the preheated oven for 20-22 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.​
   • Once baked, remove the cupcakes from the oven and let them cool completely on a wire rack.​
2. Prepare the Buttercream:
   • In a mixing bowl, beat the room-temperature unsalted butter for a few minutes to loosen it and achieve a smoother consistency.​
   • Gradually add the icing sugar and continue beating until the mixture is smooth and creamy.​
   • Mix in the vanilla extract.​
   • Add green food coloring a little at a time, mixing thoroughly until you achieve your desired shade of green.​
3. Decorate the Cupcakes:
   • Fit a piping bag with a 2D closed star piping nozzle and fill it with the green buttercream.​
   • Starting at the center of each cupcake, pipe the buttercream in a circular motion, building upwards to create a tree-like swirl.​
   • Decorate the buttercream trees with colorful sprinkles to represent ornaments.​
   • Place a chocolate star or edible star topper at the peak of each buttercream tree.​
   • Lightly dust the cupcakes with icing sugar to give a snowy appearance.​

Servings and Timing

• Servings: This recipe yields 12 cupcakes.​
• Preparation Time: Approximately 40 minutes.​Jane’s Patisserie+2Little Sunny Kitchen+2Pillsbury Baking+2
• Baking Time: 20-22 minutes.​A Table Full Of Joy+7Jane’s Patisserie+7Allrecipes+7
• Cooling and Decorating Time: About 1 hour.​

Variations

• Flavor Variations: Incorporate different flavors into the cupcake batter or buttercream, such as peppermint or orange extract, to add a festive twist.​
• Alternative Decorations: Use mini M&M’s, edible glitter, or fondant decorations to personalize your cupcake trees.​
• Different Bases: Instead of chocolate, you can opt for vanilla or spiced gingerbread cupcakes as the base.​

Storage/Reheating

• Storage: Store the decorated cupcakes in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3-4 days.​
• Freezing: Unfrosted cupcakes can be frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw them at room temperature before decorating.​
• Reheating: Cupcakes are best enjoyed at room temperature. If you prefer them warm, heat them very briefly in the microwave (about 10 seconds), but note that this may affect the buttercream texture.​

FAQs

1. How can I make the buttercream green without using artificial food coloring?

You can use natural food colorings, such as matcha powder or spinach powder, to achieve a green hue. Keep in mind that these may slightly alter the flavor of the buttercream.​

2. Can I use store-bought cake mix for the cupcakes?

Yes, you can use a store-bought chocolate cake mix to save time. Follow the package instructions for baking.​

3. What type of piping tip is best for creating the tree design?

A 2D closed star piping tip is ideal for creating the textured, tree-like swirl on these cupcakes.​Jane’s Patisserie

4. How far in advance can I make these cupcakes?

You can bake the cupcakes a day in advance and store them in an airtight container. Decorate them on the day of serving for the best presentation

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