Looking for a fun and festive activity to do with your little elves this holiday season? These easy Christmas cupcakes for kids are the perfect way to get everyone in the holiday spirit!
Made with a simple cake mix base, homemade frosting and easy-to-decorate to look like "edible trees."
Looking for more holiday baking inspiration? Check out the full collection of easy desserts, from cookies, candies and more for all your holiday celebrations!
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These cupcakes are perfect for holiday gatherings like church parties or school celebrations, where you need a crowd-pleasing treat that's simple to transport and serve.
Plus, they're a fun and festive dessert option for kids while the grownups indulge in something a little more sophisticated.
Looking for Christmas Snacks for the holidays? Try my Christmas Tree Brownies, or my Reindeer Cupcake Cake.
Table of Contents
Easy Decorated Christmas Cupcakes
For this recipe, I used a chocolate cake mix, but you can use vanilla, red velvet or even a spice cake mix!
Elevate your cake mix cupcakes with a few simple tricks! Adding an extra egg, swapping water for milk, and incorporating ½ to 1 cup of sour cream will make them taste just like homemade.
Transform your cake mix cupcakes with the simple addition of homemade frosting. It's amazing how this one change can make them taste like they're from scratch.
We'll tint the frosting green to match our Christmas tree theme. Be careful with the food dye! It darkens over time, so don't add too much!
🛒Helpful Kitchen Tools
M&M'S Milk Chocolate Candy, Family Size, 18 oz Resealable Bulk Candy Bag
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Main Ingredients Needed
Below is a quick preview of the ingredients you’ll need. For exact amounts, check the recipe card below. You can also use the "Shopping List button" to create a printable shopping list, or the "Get Ingredients button" in the recipe card to order groceries online.
Substitutions and Variations
- If you're feeling ambitious, you can bake your cupcakes from scratch using your favorite chocolate cupcake recipe like I do with my Christmas Cupcakes Recipe.
- Not a fan of chocolate? Use a vanilla cake mix.
- You can also use a tub of cream cheese frosting and dye it green in place of the homemade frosting recipe.
- If you can't find the star sprinkles, try a yellow M&M or a small yellow gumdrop can be used as the star.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Prepare the cupcakes according to the box instructions then prepare the frosting by beating the melted butter for 1 minute.
Step 2: Add half the powdered sugar to the butter and mix to combine.
Step 3: Mix in the other half of the powdered sugar.
Step 4: Add the vanilla, 1 tablespoon of milk, and 3 drops of green food coloring to the frosting. Mix until the color is evenly distributed.
Kitchen Tool Spotlight
Frosting cupcakes just got easier with disposable pastry bags! These handy bags make it simple to create beautiful swirls and designs, even for beginners.
Step 5: Fill a piping bag fitted with a 1M piping tip with the green frosting.
Step 6: Pipe a swirl of frosting onto the cupcake to create the "tree".
Step 7: Decorate the tree with the mini M&M's and place a star sprinkle on top.
Before you Begin!
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Recipe FAQ's
To view the answers, simply click on the down arrow (⬇) next to each question. If you have any other questions not answered here, please leave a comment!
If the recipe calls for water, add milk instead! Milk adds fat and richness, resulting in a more moist and flavorful cupcake. You can also try adding an extra egg to the batter or a package of pudding mix to help give you moist cupcakes.
For best results with your cupcakes, a light spritz of cooking spray may be helpful when using delicate batters, dark-colored liners, or if you want the liners to peel off easily. This can help prevent sticking and ensure your cupcakes come out perfectly.
Storing and Thawing Instructions
Refrigerate: Since the frosting contains dairy products, it's best to store the cupcakes in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Freezer: While you can freeze frosted cupcakes, freezing them unfrosted is often easier and yields better results. Arrange the unfrosted cupcakes on a baking sheet and freeze them for about an hour. Then place in either an airtight container or Ziplock plastic bags. They will remain fresh for 2-3 months.
Thaw and Decorate: Allow the cupcakes to defrost in the refrigerator overnight then decorate the next morning according to the recipe card.
More Recipes You'll Love!
- Check out my other recipe for Italian Christmas Tree Cookies. Or you might enjoy this recipe for Chocolate Mint Cupcakes.
📖 Recipe Card
Easy Christmas Cupcakes for Kids
Video
Ingredients
- 1 cake mix, prepared according to box instructions
- 1 cup melted salted butter, room temperature
- 4 ½ cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 - 3 tablespoons milk
- 3 drops green food coloring
- 1 (1.08 ounce) package mini M&M's
- 18 star sprinkles
Method
- Prepare and bake the cupcakes according to the directions on the box. Allow them to cool before decorating.
- In a medium mixing bowl, add the room temperature melted butter. Mix on medium speed with a hand mixer for 1 minute.
- Add half of the sugar to the bowl and mix until combined. Then add the remaining sugar and mix again.
- Add the vanilla extract, 3 drops of green food dye, and 1 tablespoon of milk. Mix until the color is incorporated and the mixture is smooth. If needed, add another tablespoon of milk until the desired consistency is reached.
- Fill a piping bag fitted with a piping tip with the frosting and pipe it onto the cupcakes.
- Place mini M&M's all over the frosting to create the lights. Use red and green for a themed tree or all of the colors for a multicolored tree. Place an edible star at the top of the tree.
Nutrition
Notes
- Feel free to use a tub of cream cheese frosting and green food coloring instead of making your own.
- And if you can't find star sprinkles, get creative with a yellow M&M or gumdrop for the star!
- Food dye darkens over a couple of hours, so don’t add too much when blending it in with the frosting.
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