We’re counting down to Christmas, and visions of all kinds of sweet treats are dancing in our heads: fudge that tastes like eggnog, pecan pie turned into chocolate bars, cheesecake hiding in bundt cake, peanut butter pretending to be snowballs, mini pies both fruit and pumpkin, and of course, classics like peppermint bark and cookies. This year, though, we’re most excited by something else: cupcakes!

Why? Because they’re adorable, that’s why! What better way to enjoy a dessert than to turn it into part of your Christmas decorations, and what better way to do that than to use cupcakes and frosting? Theses ideas are so fun, and simple enough that you can totally make them at home. Let us show you how to make some get some Christmas lights, Santa hats and MORE on your cupcakes, then keep reading for the recipes and instructions!

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Decorative Christmas Cupcakes

Buttercream Frosting

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes

Ingredients

Directions

  1. In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream together the butter and shortening on medium speed until light and fluffy.
  2. Reduce the speed to low and slowly incorporate the confectioners’ sugar.
  3. Add the milk and vanilla extract, and mix on medium-high speed for about 10 minutes until light and fluffy.
  4. Add the food coloring, as desired.
  5. The buttercream frosting can be refrigerated for up to 2 weeks. When it’s time to decorate, allow it to come to room temperature for 2 hours, then whip the frosting for 10 minutes before using.

Christmas Lights Cupcakes

Ingredients

Directions

  1. Make one batch of buttercream frosting.
  2. Place the frosting into a pastry bag fitted with a large round tip. Pipe a swirl onto the tops of the cupcakes.
  3. Use the black gel frosting and wrap a thin line around the white swirl, starting at the base of the white swirl and working toward the top.
  4. Place the M&M’s into the sides of the cupcakes vertically along the black line.

Hot Chocolate Cupcakes

Ingredients

Directions

  1. Make one batch of buttercream frosting.
  2. Place the frosting into a pastry bag fitted with a star tip and pipe a small swirl on the top of each cupcake.
  3. Add a candy cane to the edge of each cupcake, pressing down into the cake to secure.
  4. Top each cupcake with sprinkles and marshmallows.

Santa Hat Cupcakes

Ingredients

Directions

  1. Make one batch of buttercream frosting.
  2. Place ¼ of the frosting into a pastry bag fitted with the star tip, and set aside.
  3. Add enough red food coloring to the remaining frosting to achieve a dark “Santa-colored” red.
  4. Place the red frosting into a pastry bag fitted with the large round tip. Pipe a red swirl onto the tops of the cupcakes.
  5. Using the pastry bag fitted with the star tip, hold the tip against the bottom of the red swirl and pipe white stars along the edge to form the brim of the hat. Pipe one star at the tip of the red swirl to finish each Santa hat.

Christmas Tree Cupcakes

Ingredients

Directions

  1. Make one batch of buttercream frosting.
  2. Frost the tops of each cupcake with the white frosting. Set aside.
  3. Add enough green food color to the remaining frosting to reach your desired shade of “Christmas Tree green.”
  4. Apply a thin layer of green frosting to the outside of each sugar cone.
  5. Place the frosted sugar cones on top of each prepared cupcake.
  6. Place the remaining frosting into a pastry bag fitted with a star tip. Starting at the base of each sugar cone, pipe leaves onto each tree. Garnish with ball sprinkles and a dusting of confectioners’ sugar.

How CUTE are these cupcakes? We just LOVE how full of Christmas spirit they are, and we absolutely adore that the average baker can make them at home.

But don’t take our word for it— try them yourselves! Which ones will you try first? Are you inspired to make any other Christmas and holiday designs? Which one do you enjoy the most? Tell us what you think and how your cupcakes turn out for you!

Recipes adapted from Baked Bree, SheKnows, Midget Momma and Just a Taste.

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