Christmas cupcakes are the sweetest way to spread holiday cheer! These moist vanilla cupcakes are topped with rich buttercream and decorated five festive ways—think melting snowmen, poinsettias, Santa hats, trees, and wreaths. Whether you’re hosting a party or baking with kids, these cupcakes are a total showstopper. Plus, they taste just as amazing as they look. Fluffy, buttery, and perfectly sweet, they’re the ultimate dessert for your Christmas table. With easy-to-follow instructions and creative decorating ideas, you’ll want to make these every December… or all year long.

Table of Contents

🎁 Why You’ll Love This Recipe

❄️ Five Decoration Styles: Fun and festive options for every skill level
🍰 Moist & Fluffy: Vanilla cupcake base that never fails
🎨 Creative & Customizable: Mix and match colors, tips, and toppers
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Great for Groups: Perfect family baking or classroom activity
🎄 Holiday-Ready: Show-stopping centerpiece for dessert tables

🧁 Ingredients

For the Cupcakes

1 ⅔ cups all-purpose flour (200g)
1 cup granulated sugar (200g)
1 tsp baking powder (heaping)
¼ tsp baking soda (heaping)
¼ tsp kosher salt
¾ cup unsalted butter, room temp (190g)
3 egg whites, room temp
½ cup sour cream (120g)
½ cup whole milk (118mL)
1 tbsp vanilla extract (15mL)

For the Buttercream

1 lb unsalted butter (450g)
2 lbs confectioners’ sugar (900g)
1 tbsp heavy cream (15mL)
1 tsp whole milk (5mL)
1 tsp vanilla extract (5mL)
1 pinch salt
Food coloring: red, green, orange, brown
Marshmallows, sugar pearls, candy melts for decorating

👩‍🍳 Instructions

Step 1: Bake the Cupcakes

Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a cupcake pan with papers.
In a large bowl, sift together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
In a separate bowl, whisk egg whites, sour cream, milk, melted butter, and vanilla.
Mix wet into dry ingredients until just combined (don’t overmix).
Fill cupcake liners ⅔ full and bake for 15–20 minutes, or until golden and springy.
Cool completely before frosting.

Step 2: Make the Buttercream

Beat room temp butter in a stand mixer until creamy.
Gradually add sifted confectioners’ sugar in batches.
Mix in cream, milk, salt, and vanilla until smooth and fluffy.
Divide frosting into separate bowls for coloring. Tint red, green, orange, and brown as needed.

Step 3: Decorate!

🎄 Wreath

Pipe white base. Use a leaf tip for green leaves and a petal tip for red ribbon.
Add gold/silver sugar pearls to decorate.

🌺 Poinsettia

Pipe green base leaves. Add two layers of red leaves on top.
Dot yellow centers using a small round tip.

⛄ Melting Snowman

Pipe white frosting base. Add a marshmallow head.
Use orange-tinted buttercream for nose. Pipe black eyes, arms, and buttons.

🌲 Christmas Tree

Pipe a white base with brown “tree trunk.”
Pipe green stars upward into tree shape.
Decorate with sugar pearls and a gold star.

🎅 Santa Hat

Pipe red swirl cone for the hat.
Add white trim with a star tip.
Dust with sanding sugar for sparkle.

📋 Recipe Details

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Servings: 18 cupcakes
Category: Dessert, Baking
Cuisine: American

🧾 Nutrition Facts (Per Cupcake, Approx.)

Calories: 300
Fat: 23g
Carbs: 46g
Sugar: 34g
Protein: 3g
Sodium: 210mg
Cholesterol: 80mg

💡 Tips & Variations

Make-Ahead: Bake cupcakes a day in advance and store unfrosted in an airtight container.
Yogurt Swap: Use plain whole milk yogurt instead of sour cream.
Flavor Twist: Add peppermint extract or crushed candy canes to the batter.
Buttercream Options: Try Swiss or Italian meringue buttercream for a less sweet version.
Kid-Friendly: Skip the piping tips and use plastic holiday toppers or sprinkles instead!

❓ FAQs

Can I freeze these cupcakes?
Yes! Freeze unfrosted cupcakes for up to 2 months. Thaw and decorate before serving.

What if I don’t have piping tips?
Cut the tip off a piping bag or use a ziplock bag. Shape doesn’t have to be perfect—have fun with it!

Can I use box cake mix?
Absolutely. Use your favorite vanilla box mix, then follow the same decorating steps.

Christmas Cupcakes

Moist vanilla cupcakes topped with colorful buttercream and five festive holiday designs. Perfect for parties or holiday baking fun!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 20

Cook Time 20

Total Time 40

Servings: 18

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Calories: 300

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients

**Cupcakes:**
– 1 ⅔ cups all-purpose flour
– 1 cup granulated sugar
– 1 tsp baking powder
– ¼ tsp baking soda
– ¼ tsp kosher salt
– ¾ cup unsalted butter room temp
– 3 egg whites
– ½ cup sour cream
– ½ cup whole milk
– 1 tbsp vanilla extract
**Buttercream:**
– 1 lb unsalted butter
– 2 lbs confectioners’ sugar
– 1 tbsp heavy cream
– 1 tsp milk
– 1 tsp vanilla extract
– 1 pinch salt
– Food coloring red, green, orange, brown
– Decorations: marshmallows sugar pearls, candy melts

Equipment

Cupcake pan
– Piping bags & tips
Stand or hand mixer

Method

Preheat oven to 350°F. Line cupcake pan with papers.
Sift dry ingredients in a bowl.
Whisk wet ingredients in another bowl.
Combine wet and dry until just mixed.
Fill cupcake liners ⅔ full.
Bake 15–20 min until golden. Cool fully.
**Buttercream:**
Cream butter until smooth.
Add sugar in batches.
Mix in milk, cream, vanilla, and salt.
Color and separate into piping bags.
**Decorate:**
– Wreath, Poinsettia, Christmas Tree, Melting Snowman, Santa Hat.

Notes

– Store frosted cupcakes in the fridge up to 3 days.
– Freeze unfrosted cupcakes for up to 2 months.
– Use sprinkles or toppers for simpler decorating.

🎉 Conclusion

These Christmas cupcakes are as festive as they are delicious. With a soft vanilla base and rich buttercream, they’re perfect for holiday parties, cookie swaps, or fun family baking. Choose one design or try all five—the decorating ideas are as joyful as the season itself.