If you’re looking for a festive treat that’ll wow friends and family, you absolutely have to try this Santa Hat Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe. I love this because it’s easy yet charming, and the cream cheese frosting gives it that perfect tangy sweetness that balances the rich chocolate cupcake. When I first tried this, my family went crazy for how cute and tasty these cupcakes turned out, and I know you’ll feel the same way!

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Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Easy Festive Fun: It’s a straightforward recipe that makes your cupcakes look like adorable Santa hats with minimal effort.
Cream Cheese Magic: The frosting is silky and tangy — way better than plain buttercream in my opinion.
Crowd Pleaser: Perfect for holiday parties or school events where you want festive but fuss-free desserts.
Kid-Friendly Decorating: You can get the kids involved with piping and sprinkling, making it a fun family activity.

A cupcake is shown being held by a woman's hand with a light pink manicure. The cupcake has a shiny golden wrapper. At the bottom, there is a ring of white frosting shaped like small stars. On top of this, there are four thick layers of bright red frosting covered in red sugar crystals, shaped like a small mountain. At the very top, there is a single dollop of white frosting shaped like a small peak. The background has a white marbled texture. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7 - Santa Hat Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting, festive cupcake ideas, Christmas cupcake recipes, holiday dessert recipes, cute Christmas cupcakes

Ingredients You’ll Need

This recipe pairs the rich, fudgy goodness of devil’s food cupcakes with a luscious cream cheese frosting. The red food coloring and sanding sugar really bring the Santa hats to life — and the ingredients are all straightforward pantry staples you probably have on hand.

Flat lay of a stick of soft butter, two blocks of cream cheese with smooth surfaces, a small white bowl filled with fine powdered sugar, a small white bowl containing clear vanilla extract, a small white bowl of bright red sanding sugar, a small white bowl holding vibrant red food coloring, all arranged symmetrically on a clean white ceramic plate and bowls, placed on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997 - Santa Hat Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting, festive cupcake ideas, Christmas cupcake recipes, holiday dessert recipes, cute Christmas cupcakes

Devil’s Food Cake Mix: Using a box mix keeps things simple and reliably moist; you can make it from scratch if you’re feeling ambitious.
Butter: Softened butter blends into the frosting for creaminess and structure.
Cream Cheese: Always bring it to room temperature to avoid lumps and ensure smooth frosting.
Powdered Sugar: This sweetens the frosting and gives it that silky texture.
Vanilla Extract: Just a touch adds warmth and enhances all the flavors.
Red Food Coloring: Choose gel or paste colors for the most vibrant hue without thinning your frosting.
Red Sanding Sugar: Adds sparkle and texture on top of the frosting — the perfect finishing touch.

Note: You’ll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Variations

I love that this Santa Hat Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe lets you get creative. Sometimes I swap out the devil’s food box mix for a homemade chocolate cake, or add a little peppermint extract in the frosting for an extra festive twist. Feel free to try your own spins — that’s part of the fun!

Peppermint Frosting: Adding a teaspoon of peppermint extract to the cream cheese frosting turns these into minty holiday delights — a family favorite at my house.
Different Frosting Colors: Use green or white frosting to make whimsical winter hats or snowmen instead of Santa, perfect for mixing things up.
Gluten-Free Option: Swap the cake mix for a gluten-free blend; just watch baking times carefully as they might vary.
Mini Cupcakes: Make mini versions for bite-sized holiday treats that disappear fast at parties.

How to Make Santa Hat Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe

Step 1: Bake Your Cupcakes

Start by preheating your oven to 350°F and lining a muffin tin with cupcake liners. Follow the box directions for the devil’s food cake mix — I find the mix super reliable and moist every time. Once baked, let the cupcakes cool completely on a wire rack. This part is crucial because warm cupcakes will melt your frosting and make decorating a mess — trust me, I learned this the hard way!

Step 2: Make Your Cream Cheese Frosting

In a large bowl, beat softened butter and cream cheese together until you get a smooth and fluffy texture. Then slowly add powdered sugar and vanilla extract, beating until the frosting is light and creamy. Take about a third of the frosting out and put it into a smaller bowl — this will be your white “trim” for the Santa hats. Add red food coloring to the remaining frosting in the large bowl and mix well until you get a vibrant red color that will really pop.

Step 3: Pipe Your Santa Hats

Using a piping bag fitted with a large round or star tip, pipe the red frosting onto each cupcake in a conical shape, starting from the base and swirling up to a point to mimic the classic Santa hat. This part can be so fun! Don’t worry if your first tries aren’t perfect — it gets easier with practice. Next, sprinkle a little red sanding sugar over the red frosting so it sparkles. Finally, switch to a smaller star tip and pipe the white frosting along the bottom edge of each “hat,” and add a small dollop on top for the fluffy pom-pom. I love how that little detail really brings the hats to life!

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Pro Tips for Making Santa Hat Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe

Perfect Frosting Texture: Always use room temperature cream cheese and butter so your frosting whips up smooth and fluffy without lumps.
Avoid Melting Frosting: Cool your cupcakes completely before frosting to keep the cream cheese frosting from melting or sliding off.
Vibrant Red Color: Use gel food coloring since it won’t thin out your frosting and gives the brightest color.
Neat Piping Trick: Twist your piping bag as you pipe the hats to keep a steady cone shape — this helps your cupcakes look more professional.

How to Serve Santa Hat Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe

The image shows several cupcakes in shiny gold wrappers set on a white marbled surface, each cupcake having three visual layers of frosting. The bottom layer is small dollops of creamy white frosting around the cupcake's edge, smooth with a slightly swirled texture. Above this is a tall, rounded swirl of bright red frosting with a soft, smooth texture sprinkled with red sugar crystals that shimmer under the light. On top of each cupcake is a tiny dollop of white frosting sharply peaked, contrasting with the red. Red sugar crystals are also scattered on the surface around the cupcakes, adding a festive touch. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7 - Santa Hat Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting, festive cupcake ideas, Christmas cupcake recipes, holiday dessert recipes, cute Christmas cupcakes

Garnishes

I’m a fan of keeping it simple but festive here — red sanding sugar adds just enough sparkle and texture. Sometimes, I like to throw on tiny edible pearls or white sprinkles for an extra “snowy” effect. Fresh mint leaves or a light dusting of powdered sugar can also add charm if you want to get fancy.

Side Dishes

These cupcakes shine as a standalone treat, but for a holiday party I like to serve them alongside a big bowl of hot cocoa or spiced apple cider. They also pair beautifully with a plate of fresh fruit or gingerbread cookies to contrast textures and flavors.

Creative Ways to Present

Try arranging your Santa Hat Cupcakes on a tiered stand surrounded by evergreen sprigs and candy canes to create an eye-catching centerpiece. I’ve also wrapped festive cupcake liners or placed each cupcake in a little clear box tied with a bow as holiday party favors — such a hit!

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I store leftover Santa Hat Cupcakes in an airtight container in the fridge to keep the cream cheese frosting fresh. They last 3-4 days nicely, though I recommend letting them come to room temperature before serving for the best flavor and texture.

Freezing

Freezing these cupcakes is totally doable! I usually freeze them unfrosted or with just the red frosting to keep it tidy, then add the white trim after thawing. Wrap each cupcake tightly in plastic wrap, place them in a freezer-safe container, and freeze up to 2 months. When you’re ready, let them thaw overnight in the fridge.

Reheating

I don’t recommend microwaving these cupcakes because it can mess with the cream cheese frosting, but if you want them slightly warm, take them out of the fridge about 30 minutes before serving. That gentle warming keeps the frosting’s texture intact and makes the chocolate taste even better.

FAQs

Can I make the cupcakes from scratch instead of using a box mix?

Absolutely! While this Santa Hat Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe uses a devil’s food cake mix to save time, you can swap in your favorite chocolate cake recipe. Just make sure your cupcakes bake thoroughly and cool completely before frosting.
Is it okay to use regular food coloring instead of gel?

You can, but gel or paste food colorings are better for frosting since they provide more intense color without thinning the frosting consistency. If you only have liquid dye, add it sparingly and be prepared for a softer frosting.
Can children help with decorating?

Definitely! The piping and sprinkling stages are kid-friendly and a great way to get little hands involved in holiday baking. Just be patient — every Santa hat will be unique and charming in its own way!
How do I transport the cupcakes without damaging the frosting?

Use a cupcake carrier to keep them snug and prevent tipping. Alternatively, pop them into individual snug-fitting cupcake liners or boxes. Keep them cool during transport to avoid frosting melting.

Final Thoughts

I can’t recommend this Santa Hat Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe enough if you want something festive, fun, and utterly delicious. Making these has become a holiday tradition in my home because they’re simple to pull together but always impress guests and delight kids. Give them a try this season — I’m sure once you see how easily these cute little hats come together, you’ll want to make them year after year!

Santa Hat Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 4.8 from 741 reviews

Author: Lisa
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 40 minutes
Yield: 12 cupcakes 1x
Category: Dessert
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American
Diet: Vegetarian

Print Recipe

Description

Celebrate the holidays with these festive Santa Hat Cupcakes featuring moist devil’s food chocolate cupcakes topped with creamy red and white cream cheese frosting, shaped to resemble adorable Santa hats with a touch of red sanding sugar for sparkle.

Ingredients

Scale

Cupcakes

1 box Devil’s food cake mix

Frosting

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
2 (8 oz) packages cream cheese, softened
3 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Red food coloring
Red sanding sugar

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Instructions

Prepare Cupcakes: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a muffin tin with cupcake liners. Prepare the devil’s food cake batter according to the package instructions. Divide the batter evenly among the cupcake liners and bake for about 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let the cupcakes cool completely before frosting.
Make Cream Cheese Frosting: In a large mixing bowl, beat together the softened butter, cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract until the mixture is light and fluffy, indicating it is well combined and smooth.
Color Frosting: Remove about one third of the frosting into a smaller bowl to remain white. Add red food coloring to the larger portion of frosting in the big bowl. Mix thoroughly until the frosting is evenly colored a vibrant red.
Decorate Cupcakes: Using a piping bag fitted with a round or star tip, pipe the red frosting in a conical swirl on top of each cupcake to resemble a Santa hat. Lightly sprinkle the red sanding sugar over the red frosting for sparkle. Then, using a smaller star tip and the white frosting, pipe a rim along the base and a small pom-pom at the peak of the red frosting to complete the Santa hat look.