These festive mini cupcakes are the perfect dessert for all your holiday parties, dinners, and gifts.
Mini Cupcakes for Christmas
Mini Christmas cupcakes are the sweetest way to add a little holiday cheer to your celebrations. Topped with adorable Christmas tree and Santa hat decorations, these tiny treats are almost too darling to eat.
They’re perfect for parties, classroom treats, or cozy family gatherings during the season. With their festive designs and bite-sized size, they bring instant joy to any holiday moment.
Dive into the enchanting world of holiday baking with our delightful mini Christmas tree cupcake recipe. Create your very own edible winter wonderland with these easy-to-follow steps and watch the joy unfold on your loved ones’ faces.
Ingredients
For the cupcakes:
- 1 ½ c unsalted butter, softened
- 1 ½ c sugar
- 4 eggs
- ⅓ c oil
- 3 t vanilla
- 1 ¼ c milk
- 2 ½ c flour
- 2 ½ t baking powder
- ½ t salt
For the frosting:
- 1 c unsalted butter, softened
- 1 t vanilla
- 1 t salt
- 4 c powdered sugar
- 2-4 T milk
- ½ c flaked coconut
- ½ c red candy melts
- ½ c green candy melts
- 1 ½ c pretzel rods
- ¼ c mini dehydrated marshmallows
- Star sprinkles, to decorate
- Gold sanding sugar, to decorate
Directions for Cupcakes
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line your mini muffin pan(s) with liners, set aside.
- For the cupcakes – In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the sugar and softened butter. Cream together until smooth, about 3 minutes on medium speed.
- Add in the eggs, oil and vanilla. Mix thoroughly.
- Add in the milk and mix. The mixture will appear curdled, but that is normal.
- Add in the remaining dry ingredients: flour, baking powder and salt. Mix well on medium speed for about 2 minutes. Scrape down the sides and mix again until thoroughly combined.
- Measure out a tablespoon of batter to fill each cupcake liner.
Bake in the preheated oven for about 12 minutes or until the edges are just slightly browned and the centers are set. Allow to cool completely before decorating.
Directions for Frosting
- While the cupcakes bake, continue with the frosting and decoration.
- For the frosting – in the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the softened butter, vanilla, salt and about half of the powdered sugar.
- Mix on low speed until combined.
- Add in the remaining powdered sugar and 2 tablespoons worth of the milk.
- Mix on low speed until combined. Increase the speed to medium/high for about a minute to fluff up the frosting. It should appear smooth and creamy. If needed, add the remaining milk only if the mixture appears dry and crumbly – mix well again.
- Transfer the frosting to a piping bag fitted with a large round tip. Set aside until ready to assemble.
- For the decoration – line your workspace with parchment. Lay out about 4 dozen pretzel rods on the parchment, leaving about 2 inches between each.
- In a microwave safe bowl, heat the green candy melts in 30 second increments and stir well between each interval until the mixture is all melted and smooth. Transfer to a pastry bag. Repeat with the red candy melts.
- Lay out your sprinkles and marshmallows to have them handy. Cut a small hole in the end of the green piping bag. For half of the pretzels, pipe a triangular shape over ¾ of the pretzel rod, leaving the bottom of the pretzel exposed. The wide part of the triangle should be at the bottom with the point at the top of the pretzel rod. Immediately place a single gold star and a few gold sanding sugar crystals. Repeat with the remaining tree pretzels.
- For the remaining half of the pretzels, pipe out the Santa hat. Starting at about ¼ of the way up the pretzel rod, pipe a similar triangle as before, only this time angle the top to droop over the side as the tip of Santa’s hat would hang to one side. Immediately place a single mini marshmallow at the tip of the hat and then line the bottom edge of the hat with a line of mini marshmallows as well. Repeat with the remaining Santa hat pretzels.
- Allow the candy melts to set in order to resolidify before assembly.
- To assemble: Only decorate the cupcakes once they have cooled and all the parts have been made. Place the coconut flakes in a bowl. Pipe a large mound of frosting on top of each cupcake. Immediately invert and dip the frosting part of the cupcake into the bowl of the coconut. Press into place. Repeat with the remaining cupcakes.
Carefully remove the completed Christmas trees and Santa hat pretzels from the parchment. Insert the exposed bottom part of the pretzel into the frosting on each cupcake. Enjoy!
Christmas Mini Cupcakes
Once your mini Christmas cupcakes are decorated, they’re ready to spread smiles wherever they go. These little treats make the season feel extra special without requiring a lot of extra effort.
From parties to simple surprises, they fit right into holiday traditions. Be sure to check back for more festive recipes, crafts, and creative Christmas ideas!
How to Use Mini Christmas Cupcakes
Arrange the cupcakes on a festive platter and use them as a centerpiece for a holiday party or dessert table.
Serve them during a Christmas movie night for a sweet treat everyone will love.
Package a few cupcakes in small boxes or clear bags to give as homemade holiday gifts.
Add them to a classroom or playdate celebration for an easy and cheerful snack.
Pair the cupcakes with hot cocoa or milk for a cozy afternoon treat.
Don’t forget to snap a photo of the Christmas tree and Santa hat designs before they disappear!
My Favorite Christmas Treat Recipes
Here are a few of my favorite Christmas cookie and treat recipes. I would love for you to click over and check them out, too. Creating desserts that are yummy and super cute is 100% my jam.
- Grinch Cheescake Ball Truffles
- Reindeer Cupcakes Recipe
- Soft Cookies with Icing and Sprinkles
- Christmas Puppy Chow Mix with Free Printable
Sharing is Caring!
Too busy to make this right away?! Pin it for later! Pin this project to your favorite craft board on Pinterest and it’ll be waiting for you when you’re ready.
I would really love to hear what you think about this adorable Elf on the Shelf idea! If you try it out, I would sure like to see it! Share on Instagram, Facebook, or leave a comment/photo on the project pin on Pinterest! #LauraKellyDesigns
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XOXO,
Laura
