Chocolate Christmas Cupcakes with Christmas Trees

These Chocolate Christmas Cupcakes with Christmas Trees are a festive treat that's as delicious as it is adorable!

Made with a homemade cake recipe, then decorated with a fun tree shaped edible treat, these are a fun dessert to serve during the holidays for parties or family get-togethers.

Check out all the other Easy Desserts for even more fun ideas to create for your family this holiday season.

Get ready to spread some holiday cheer with this whimsical dessert that will delight both kids and adults.

This is a moist chocolate cupcake recipe with an edible Christmas tree nestled on top. It's the perfect way to add a touch of magic to your holiday baking and create a memorable dessert for your festive gatherings.

Looking for more Christmas Snacks with tree shaped inspiration? Try my Christmas Tree Brownies, or my Christmas Tree Candy Cane Brownies.

Tips for Making the Christmas Trees

This recipe uses the same concept I used with my Chocolate Covered Christmas Tree Pretzels only for this recipe I used thin breadsticks to decorate and add to the homemade chocolate cupcakes.

Follow these simple tips for making the chocolate trees:

Place on baking sheet: Place the breadsticks, pretzel sticks or even a peppermint stick on the prepared baking sheet. This will be the base of your Christmas tree.

Create the tree shape: With your melted chocolate, drizzle back and forth over each breadstick. Imagine you're drawing a tree with the chocolate, widening the drizzle towards the bottom to form the tree's shape.

Add festive decorations: Now for the fun part! Decorate your chocolate-covered tree with sprinkles, candies, or any other festive toppings you like.

Check out the recipe inspiration!

Christmas Tree Pretzels

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Main Ingredients Needed

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Sift the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together in a medium bowl.

Step 2: In a separate bowl, cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.

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Step 3: Add the eggs, milk, and vanilla extract to the butter mixture. Mix until well combined.

Step 4: Gradually add in the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients.

Step 5: Mix until the batter is well combined.

Step 6: Use a scoop to evenly portion the batter into cupcake liners.

Baking Instructions

Step 7: Bake at 350°F for 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean from the center of the cupcake.

Step 8: Combine the butter, vanilla, and sifted powdered sugar.

Step 9: Beat for 5 minutes until a firm buttercream forms. Add milk if needed to thin it out to your desired consistency.

Step 10: Frost the cooled cupcakes with the buttercream.

Step 11: Dip the frosted cupcakes in the shredded coconut.

Step 12: Add green gel food coloring to some of the melted white chocolate. Pipe in a tree shape over a pretzel stick.

Step 13: Add Christmas sprinkles to the chocolate before it sets if desired. Once set, place a tree in each cupcake.

Serving Tips

These cupcakes are best enjoyed within a few days of decorating. The coconut "snow" may start to lose its texture if stored for too long.

Storage and Reheating Instructions

Refrigerate: Store the cupcakes in an airtight container in the refrigerator. For the best flavor, let them come to room temperature before serving.

Freezer: I do not recommend freezing the chocolate Christmas trees. However, you can flash freeze the frosted cupcakes uncovered on a baking sheet, then wrap individually and store in an airtight container for 2-3 months.

Thawing Tips: Thaw overnight in the refrigerator for best results. Then create the chocolate Christmas trees.

📖 Recipe Card

Lois

Chocolate Christmas Cupcakes with Christmas Trees

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This recipe for Chocolate Christmas Cupcakes uses a homemade moist cake recipe then decorated with an edible Christmas tree nestled on top.

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Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Decorating and Cooling Time 1 hour hr

Servings: 8 cupcakes

Course: Christmas, Dessert

Cuisine: American

Calories: 388

Ingredients Method Nutrition Video Notes

Ingredients

  

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For the Cupcakes:

• 1 cup all purpose flour
• ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ½ cup milk

For the Buttercream:

• 6 tablespoons butter, softened
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon milk (if needed)

For the Decorations:

• shredded coconut
• pretzel sticks or pocky sticks for the tree trunks
• white candy melts or white chocolate chips
• green gel food coloring
• Christmas sprinkles, optional

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Method

 

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F and line a cupcake pan with paper liners.
2. In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
3. In a separate large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs, vanilla extract, and milk until well combined.
4. Gradually mix in the dry ingredients until everything is well combined.
5. Divide the batter evenly among the cupcake liners, filling each about ⅔ full.
6. Bake in the preheated oven for 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

For the Buttercream:

1. Sift the powdered sugar and add to the softened butter.
2. Beat for five minutes until a firm buttercream forms. If the buttercream is too thick, add a small amount of milk (less than a tablespoon) and mix until it softens slightly.
3. Use the buttercream to frost the cupcakes before dipping into the shredded coconut.

For the Christmas Trees:

1. Melt white chocolate chips or candy melts. Dye a portion green and leave another portion white.
2. Place candy or pretzel sticks on a parchment paper lined tray and drizzle the chocolate over them to create tree shapes. If desired, sprinkle the trees with Christmas sprinkles before the chocolate sets.
3. Chill in the refrigerator or freezer for 20 minutes.
4. Once the chocolate trees are set, gently detach them from the parchment paper and insert each tree into a chocolate cupcake.

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 388kcalCarbohydrates: 71gProtein: 5gFat: 11gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.3gCholesterol: 71mgSodium: 322mgPotassium: 146mgFiber: 2gSugar: 55gVitamin A: 358IUCalcium: 129mgIron: 2mg

Notes

For this recipe, I used thin plain breadsticks to make the trees. However, you can use pretzel sticks or even peppermint sticks. 

For more instructions on creating the adorable chocolate trees, check out my Chocolate Covered Pretzels recipe.  

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