Cupcake Christmas Tree (Printable)
Tower of vanilla cupcakes with green buttercream frosting arranged as a festive holiday tree
# What You'll Need:
→ Cupcakes
01 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
03 - ½ teaspoon baking soda
04 - ¼ teaspoon salt
05 - 1 cup granulated sugar
06 - ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
07 - 2 large eggs, room temperature
08 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
09 - ¾ cup whole milk
→ Buttercream Frosting
10 - 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
11 - 4 cups powdered sugar, sifted
12 - 2–3 tablespoons whole milk
13 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
14 - Green gel food coloring
→ Decorations
15 - Multicolored round sprinkles
16 - Edible gold star topper
17 - Mini candy canes or sugar pearls (optional)
18 - Shredded coconut (optional, for snow)
# How To Make It:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line two 12-cup muffin pans with cupcake liners.
02 - Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a bowl.
03 - Beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, then vanilla.
04 - Add dry ingredients in three parts, alternating with milk, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Mix until just combined.
05 - Divide batter evenly among liners, filling about 2/3 full. Bake for 18–20 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Cool completely on wire rack.
06 - Beat butter until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar, vanilla, and milk as needed for desired consistency. Tint with green gel food coloring.
07 - Pipe buttercream in a tall swirl on each cooled cupcake using a large star tip.
08 - Arrange cupcakes on a large board or platter in tree formation: 7 cupcakes at base, then 6, 5, 4, finishing with 2 and 1 at top.
09 - Decorate with sprinkles as ornaments. Place gold star at peak. Add candy canes, pearls, or coconut as desired.
# Expert Suggestions:
01 -
- Its a showstopping centerpiece that makes everyone gasp before they even reach for dessert
- The assembly becomes a holiday activity that pulls family and friends into the kitchen together
02 -
- Completely cool cupcakes before frosting or your buttercream will melt right off the cake
- Start with less food coloring than you think you need you can always add more but you cannot take it back
03 -
- Make extra frosting because you will inevitably want to add more swirls or fix a spot while decorating
- Keep a damp paper towel nearby to wipe frosting off your fingers between placing ornaments