Description
Celebrate the festive season with these delightful Christmas Tree Cupcakes. Easy to make with a classic cake mix enhanced by green food coloring and decorated with vibrant candies, these cupcakes bring a playful holiday spirit to any gathering. Perfect for parties or as a cheerful treat, they combine simple baking with creative decorating for a fun and festive dessert.
Ingredients
Scale
Cake Mix
- 1 box of cake mix (vanilla or white recommended)
- Green food coloring, to desired shade
- Water, oil, and eggs as per cake mix package instructions
Frosting and Decoration
- Frosting (store-bought or homemade, preferably white or vanilla flavor)
- Green food coloring for frosting, to tint frosting green
- Assorted colorful candies (red, yellow, and green M&Ms, sprinkles, mini candies)
Instructions
- Prepare Cake Batter: Follow the cake mix package instructions to prepare the batter, including adding water, oil, and eggs as directed.
- Add Green Coloring: Mix green food coloring into the batter until it reaches your preferred festive green shade.
- Fill Cupcake Liners: Pour the green batter evenly into cupcake liners placed in a muffin tin.
- Bake Cupcakes: Bake the cupcakes in a preheated oven as instructed on the cake mix package, usually about 20 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Cool Completely: Allow the cupcakes to cool fully on a wire rack before decorating to prevent melting or sliding of frosting.
- Color the Frosting: Tint the frosting green by adding a few drops of green food coloring and mixing thoroughly.
- Frost as Trees: Using a piping bag or knife, swirl the green frosting on each cupcake starting from the center and moving outward to create a tree-like shape with texture.
- Decorate with Candies: Place assorted colorful candies on the frosted cupcakes to mimic Christmas tree decorations, arranging them as baubles or scattering for a festive look.
Notes
- Use a white or vanilla cake mix for the best green color—chocolate or darker mixes may not show the coloring well.
- For a sturdier frosting swirl, use buttercream frosting that holds shape better than whipped frosting.
- Customize decorations with edible glitter, mini stars, or candy canes for additional holiday flair.
- These cupcakes are best served the same day for optimal freshness but can be stored in an airtight container for up to 2 days.
- Adjust the amount of green food coloring gradually to achieve the perfect shade without altering the batter consistency.
