Name: Christmas Tree Cupcake Recipe
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 22 min
Total time: 42 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 ¼ cups cake flour; 1 ½ cups granulated sugar; 2 teaspoons baking powder; ½ teaspoon baking soda; ½ teaspoon salt; 1 cup buttermilk; ¼ cup milk; 2 teaspoons vanilla extract; ½ cup vegetable oil; 4 egg whites; 2 cups unsalted butter, room temperature; 8 cups powdered sugar; 4 tablespoons milk; 1 tablespoon vanilla extract; 1 teaspoon salt; Green gel food coloring, to desired shade; Sprinkles and toppings of your choice for decoration

If you’re looking to wow your guests this holiday season, I’ve got just the thing for you: a Christmas Tree Cupcake Recipe that’s as fun to make as it is to eat! These festive cupcakes aren’t just adorable little trees—they’re moist, fluffy, and topped with rich, buttery frosting that you’ll want to savor bite after bite. Trust me, once you try this, you’ll be reaching for your piping bag every year at Christmas!

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Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Festive & Fun: You get charming Christmas tree cupcakes that are perfect for holiday parties and family gatherings.
Moist & Fluffy Cupcakes: Thanks to buttermilk and whipped egg whites, these cupcakes come out light and tender every time.
Buttery, Fluffy Frosting: The vanilla buttercream is smooth and holds its shape beautifully for detailed piping.
Easy To Customize: You can add your favorite sprinkles or swap out colors to make these cupcakes truly your own.

The image shows several cupcakes arranged on a white plate, each cupcake topped with bright green frosting piped in a spiral to form a Christmas tree shape. Small round silver, gold, and white edible beads decorate the frosting, along with a light dusting of powdered sugar. A white star-shaped cookie sits on top of each frosting tree. Around the plate, there are small shiny Christmas ornaments in green, gold, and silver colors, all placed on a white marbled surface photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7 - Christmas Tree Cupcake, Christmas Tree Cupcake Recipe, holiday cupcake ideas, festive Christmas cupcakes, Christmas baking recipes

Ingredients You’ll Need

Getting the right balance of ingredients is key for these Christmas tree cupcakes. I love using cake flour for that delicate crumb and whipping the egg whites separately to add airiness. The frosting is classic buttercream, which is easy to color and hold its shape for piping tree shapes.

Flat lay of a small mound of pale cake flour, a small white ceramic bowl filled with granulated sugar, a small white bowl holding baking powder, a small white bowl with baking soda, a small pinch of salt in a white ceramic dish, a small white ceramic bowl of creamy buttermilk, a smaller white bowl of fresh milk, a small white bowl with golden vegetable oil, four whole uncracked brown eggs arranged neatly, a small white bowl with clear vanilla extract, a white ceramic bowl of unsalted butter at room temperature, a large white bowl filled with fluffy white powdered sugar, a small white bowl holding creamy milk, a teaspoon of salt in a white ceramic dish, a small white bowl containing green gel food coloring, and a scattering of assorted colorful sprinkles all placed symmetrically 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 - Christmas Tree Cupcake, Christmas Tree Cupcake Recipe, holiday cupcake ideas, festive Christmas cupcakes, Christmas baking recipes

Cake Flour: This gives the cupcakes a tender, soft texture that’s perfect for festive treats.
Granulated Sugar: Sweetens without weighing the batter down.
Baking Powder & Baking Soda: Both work together to give the right lift and crumb.
Salt: Balances sweetness and enhances flavor.
Buttermilk: Adds moisture and a subtle tanginess to the cupcakes.
Milk: Helps thin the batter for a smooth texture.
Vanilla Extract: Essential for warm, comforting flavor.
Vegetable Oil: Keeps cupcakes moist longer than butter.
Egg Whites: Whipped to light, fluffy peaks for that perfect rise.
Unsalted Butter: At room temperature for smooth frosting.
Powdered Sugar: For a silky, sweet buttercream.
Green Gel Food Coloring: Needed for that vibrant tree color without making the frosting runny.
Sprinkles & Toppings: To decorate your cupcake trees just how you like them.

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 making this Christmas Tree Cupcake Recipe my own by changing the decorations or adding a bit of flavor to the batter. It’s super flexible, so feel free to get creative and make it yours!

Chocolate Twist: I once mixed cocoa powder into the cupcake batter for a chocolaty surprise—everyone asked for seconds!
Flavor Swaps: Try almond extract instead of vanilla for a nice nutty aroma that pairs beautifully with the green frosting.
Dietary Options: You can use dairy-free milk alternatives and vegan butter to make these friendly for different diets.
Seasonal Decor: Swap green gel food coloring for red or white, or add edible gold dust for a glamorous holiday touch.

How to Make Christmas Tree Cupcake Recipe

Step 1: Prepare Your Batter for Light, Fluffy Cupcakes

Start by preheating your oven to 350°F and lining two muffin tins with cupcake liners. In a large bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients — cake flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Then, add your wet ingredients: buttermilk, milk, vanilla, and vegetable oil. Mix until just combined. Meanwhile, whip the egg whites to medium-stiff peaks and gently fold them into the batter. This folding step is crucial to keep your cupcakes airy, so take your time to do it gently!

Step 2: Bake Perfect Cupcakes That Don’t Overfill

Use a small cookie scoop to fill each liner halfway — filling them too much will cause the cupcakes to puff up beyond the cups and look messy. Bake for 20-22 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean and the tops spring back when lightly touched. Let them cool completely; I learned the hard way that frosting warm cupcakes causes it to melt and slide off.

Step 3: Whip Up the Fluffy Green Frosting

In a mixer bowl, combine room-temperature butter with powdered sugar, milk, vanilla, and salt. Start stirring on low speed until the powdered sugar is absorbed, then increase speed to beat the frosting until it’s white, fluffy, and light, about 10-15 minutes. Add your green gel food coloring a little at a time until you get that perfect Christmas tree shade. If your frosting feels too stiff, add a splash of milk to loosen it; too runny? More powdered sugar will save it.

Step 4: Pipe and Decorate Your Christmas Tree Cupcakes

Spoon the frosting into a piping bag fitted with a fluted tip and pipe tall, layered swirls to mimic pine tree branches. Top each tree with glimmering sprinkles, edible stars, or tiny candies to resemble ornaments. This is where you can have a lot of fun—kids especially love picking out their favorite decorations!

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Pro Tips for Making Christmas Tree Cupcake Recipe

Whip Egg Whites Properly: Make sure your bowl and whisk are clean and dry to get stiff peaks that really lighten the cupcakes.
Room Temperature Ingredients: Having butter and eggs at room temp helps your batter mix smoothly and gives better rise.
Slow Color Addition: Add gel food coloring little by little to avoid weird green hues or runny frosting.
Pipe with Patience: Hold the piping bag vertically and build the tree layers slowly for neat, defined branches.

How to Serve Christmas Tree Cupcake Recipe

A close-up view of a vanilla cupcake sliced in half on a white plate with a fork nearby. The cupcake has one layer of soft beige sponge. On top is a thick swirl of bright green frosting shaped like a Christmas tree, decorated with small round sprinkles in gold, silver, and white colors and dusted lightly with powdered sugar. A small white cookie star is placed at the peak of the frosting. In the background, several more cupcakes with matching green frosting and stars are blurred out, resting on a white marbled surface. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7 - Christmas Tree Cupcake, Christmas Tree Cupcake Recipe, holiday cupcake ideas, festive Christmas cupcakes, Christmas baking recipes

Garnishes

I love adding a mix of red and white nonpareils, edible gold stars, and tiny pearl sprinkles to decorate my Christmas tree cupcakes—they add sparkle and that festive feel. You can also try crushed candy canes for a peppermint twist!

Side Dishes

These cupcakes pair wonderfully with a warm cup of hot cocoa or a festive peppermint tea. For holiday parties, I like serving them alongside gingerbread cookies or a fresh cranberry fruit salad to balance the sweetness.

Creative Ways to Present

Try arranging your cupcakes on a tiered cake stand covered with fake snow or powdered sugar dusting for a snowy effect. You could even place them inside a clear glass cloche with fairy lights woven around for a stunning centerpiece that will steal the show.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I store leftover cupcakes in an airtight container in the fridge to keep the frosting fresh. Just take them out about 30 minutes before serving so they’re not too cold, which really brings out the flavor and softness.

Freezing

You can freeze unfrosted cupcakes wrapped tightly in plastic wrap and placed in a freezer bag for up to 2 months. When you’re ready, thaw overnight in the fridge and frost fresh for best results—this way, your frosting stays perfect and not soggy.

Reheating

If your cupcakes have been refrigerated or frozen, let them come to room temperature naturally. Avoid microwaving frosting-covered cupcakes because it can melt the buttercream. Instead, enjoy them cool or slightly warmed with a cup of coffee nearby.

FAQs

Can I use regular all-purpose flour instead of cake flour?

While cake flour creates a softer texture, you can substitute all-purpose flour by replacing 2 tablespoons of each cup of flour with cornstarch to mimic cake flour. This isn’t a perfect swap, but it works well in a pinch.
How do I get my frosting to stay green and not fade?

Using gel food coloring instead of liquid is key to vibrant, vivid green frosting. Adding color gradually and letting the frosting beat well helps it fully incorporate without turning runny or pale.
Can I make these cupcakes ahead of time for a party?

Absolutely! You can bake cupcakes a day or two ahead and keep them stored properly in an airtight container. Frost them the day of your party for the freshest presentation.
What piping tip do I use to get the tree effect?

I recommend a fluted or star piping tip to create the classic tree branch texture—this lets you pipe swirls with definition, perfect for those mini Christmas trees.

Final Thoughts

Honestly, this Christmas Tree Cupcake Recipe has become a holiday staple for my family. I adore how each little cupcake looks like a festive evergreen, and the flavors never disappoint. If you want to impress with a simple, joyful treat that brings smiles around the kitchen, give this recipe a try. I’m sure these cupcakes will find a spot in your Christmas celebrations for years to come!