Name: Christmas Tree Cupcakes with Chocolate and Vanilla Frosting Recipe
Prep time: 40 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 1 h
Cuisine: Western
Ingredients: 200 g unsalted butter; 200 g light brown soft sugar; 150 g self-raising flour; 50 g cocoa powder; 4 medium eggs; 1 tsp vanilla extract; 200 g unsalted butter (room temperature, not margarine/stork); 400 g icing sugar; 1 tsp vanilla extract; 1 tsp green food colouring; Chocolate stars; Sprinkles; Icing sugar for dusting

If you’re looking for a festive treat that’s as delightful to bake as it is to eat, you’ve got to try this Christmas Tree Cupcakes with Chocolate and Vanilla Frosting Recipe. It’s one of those recipes that instantly fills your kitchen with cozy holiday vibes – trust me, every time I make these, my family goes crazy for them! Plus, the chocolatey cupcake base combined with the creamy vanilla buttercream frosting shaped like cute Christmas trees is nothing short of magical. Stay with me, and I’ll walk you through all my tips and tricks so you nail these beauties every single time.

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Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Perfect for Holiday Baking: These cupcakes bring that festive Christmas spirit with every bite and look stunning on any holiday table.
Simple Yet Impressive: Doesn’t require any fancy equipment, but the results are so cute and professional-looking.
Tried-and-True Flavor Combo: Chocolate and vanilla buttercream is a classic I never get tired of, and it’s a crowd-pleaser every time.
Kid-Friendly and Fun: Decorating these little trees is a blast for the kids (and adults too!).

A chocolate cupcake in a dark brown wrapper sits on a white marbled surface, topped with three thick, wavy layers of bright green frosting shaped like a Christmas tree. The frosting is decorated with small, round candy balls in red, blue, green, white, and purple colors, spaced evenly around the layers. A dusting of powdered sugar mimics snow on the green frosting. At the very top is a large, smooth white star-shaped candy standing upright. Around the cupcake are scattered small colorful candy balls and festive garden greenery with red berries. In the background, several similar cupcakes are blurred out. Small colorful lights add a glowing effect near the base of the cupcake. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7 - Christmas Tree Cupcakes with Chocolate and Vanilla Frosting, festive cupcake ideas, holiday baking treats, Christmas cupcakes recipe, easy holiday desserts

Ingredients You’ll Need

These ingredients come together to create a rich chocolate cupcake and a smooth, creamy vanilla buttercream that holds its shape perfectly for decorating. Make sure your butter is at room temperature for the best frosting texture – it really makes a difference!

Flat lay of a small mound of light brown soft sugar, a small pile of self-raising flour, a small heap of dark brown cocoa powder, four whole uncracked medium brown eggs, two sticks of unsalted butter, a small white ceramic bowl of clear vanilla extract, a small white ceramic bowl of pure white icing sugar, a small white ceramic bowl of vibrant green liquid food coloring, and a scattering of assorted small chocolate stars and colorful sprinkles arranged neatly, all 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 - Christmas Tree Cupcakes with Chocolate and Vanilla Frosting, festive cupcake ideas, holiday baking treats, Christmas cupcakes recipe, easy holiday desserts

Unsalted Butter: Using unsalted gives you control over the saltiness, especially important in baked goods; room temp butter helps with fluffier frosting.
Light Brown Soft Sugar: Adds subtle molasses notes that give the cupcakes a deeper flavor than plain white sugar.
Self-Raising Flour: Simplifies the recipe by including the rising agents.
Cocoa Powder: For rich chocolate flavor; make sure it’s unsweetened and good quality.
Medium Eggs: They bring structure and moisture to the cupcakes.
Vanilla Extract: Key for enhancing both the cupcake and frosting flavors.
Icing Sugar: For that ultra-smooth frosting sweetness.
Green Food Colouring: To turn your vanilla frosting into Christmas tree green – gel colors work best!
Chocolate Stars & Sprinkles: For decorating, adding a festive sparkle and crunch.
Icing Sugar Dusting: Optional – adds a snowy effect to your trees.

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 recipe my own by swapping out flavors or adjusting for dietary needs – feel free to make it your own! You’ll find that small tweaks can make these cupcakes perfect for your family or guests.

Chocolate Lovers: I once added dark chocolate chunks into the batter for an extra rich surprise in every bite – so good!
Vegan Version: You can swap butter for vegan margarine and eggs for flax eggs; just expect a slightly different texture, but still lovely.
Festive Flavors: Mix peppermint extract into the frosting or cupcake batter for a refreshing holiday twist.
Nutty Upgrade: I sometimes add a handful of finely chopped toasted nuts or sprinkle crushed pistachios on top for crunch.

How to Make Christmas Tree Cupcakes with Chocolate and Vanilla Frosting Recipe

Step 1: Prep Your Batter with Love

Start by creaming together the unsalted butter and light brown soft sugar until it’s light and fluffy – it usually takes about 3-4 minutes with an electric mixer. This step is key because it traps air and makes your cupcakes super tender. Then, beat in the eggs one at a time, making sure each is fully incorporated before adding the next. Stir in the vanilla extract for that warm, homemade aroma. Finally, gently fold in your self-raising flour and cocoa powder mixture, being careful not to overmix – a few lumps are totally okay here!

Step 2: Bake to Perfection

Divide the batter evenly into a cupcake tin lined with cases – I like to fill each about two-thirds full for a nice dome shape. Bake in a preheated oven at 180°C (350°F) for about 18-20 minutes. You’ll know they’re done when a toothpick inserted comes out clean or with just a few moist crumbs. Let them cool completely on a wire rack before frosting – seriously, this is crucial, or your buttercream will melt and the decoration won’t hold up.

Step 3: Whip Up That Vibrant Vanilla Buttercream

While the cupcakes cool, make your frosting. Beat the softened butter until creamy, then gradually add in the icing sugar, vanilla extract, and green food coloring. I prefer gel food coloring because it’s super concentrated and won’t thin out the frosting. Keep beating until the buttercream is light and fluffy – you want it stiff enough to hold shape when you pipe it but still soft enough to spread easily.

Step 4: Decorate Your Festive Trees

Fill a piping bag fitted with a star nozzle or any cone-shaped tip and pipe a swirling spiral of frosting on each cupcake, starting wide at the base and tapering upward to create your tree shape. Then, add chocolate stars at the top as the “star” and sprinkle colorful decorations to mimic ornaments. If you want that snowy effect, lightly dust with icing sugar just before serving. This decorating step is honestly where I have the most fun – if your first cupcake isn’t perfect, keep going! It gets easier with practice.

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Pro Tips for Making Christmas Tree Cupcakes with Chocolate and Vanilla Frosting Recipe

Room Temperature Butter: I learned the hard way that cold butter ruins buttercream texture; always soften it completely before whipping.
Don’t Overmix Your Batter: Too much mixing can make cupcakes dense – stop folding once flour disappears for a tender crumb.
Piping Practice Helps: I recommend practicing your tree swirl on parchment paper before decorating cupcakes—makes all the difference.
Cool Completely Before Frosting: Frosting warm cupcakes causes it to melt and slide off—cooling is non-negotiable!

How to Serve Christmas Tree Cupcakes with Chocolate and Vanilla Frosting Recipe

A white cupcake liner holds a dark brown cupcake topped with a swirl of bright green frosting shaped like a Christmas tree. The green frosting is decorated with colorful round candy pieces in red, purple, orange, blue, and white, resembling ornaments. A pale yellow star-shaped candy sits on the top of the frosting tree. Some white powder dusts the frosting and cupcake surface lightly. The cupcake is placed on a white marbled round plate, with a silver fork resting near the cupcake liner's edge. Small colorful candy balls and small string lights add festive colors around the plate. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7 - Christmas Tree Cupcakes with Chocolate and Vanilla Frosting, festive cupcake ideas, holiday baking treats, Christmas cupcakes recipe, easy holiday desserts

Garnishes

For garnish, I usually grab chocolate stars to top the trees—that sparkle really makes these stand out. Then, I sprinkle rainbow nonpareils or festive colored sprinkles for that extra holiday flair. A light dusting of icing sugar just before serving adds a charming snowy effect that’s hard to resist.

Side Dishes

These cupcakes are sweet and rich, so I like pairing them with a warm cup of mulled cider or a peppermint hot chocolate to keep the Christmas spirit going. If you’re serving a holiday brunch, they also go great alongside savory dishes like mini quiches or sausage rolls.

Creative Ways to Present

I’ve found that displaying these Christmas tree cupcakes on a tiered cake stand shaped like a Christmas tree really wows guests. Wrapping the cupcake liners in festive foil or gold paper gives them a polished look. For a party, try grouping cupcakes together to form a giant tree centerpiece—it’s a conversation starter and oh-so Instagrammable.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I store leftover cupcakes in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two days. If it’s warmer in your kitchen, refrigerate them—but bring to room temperature before serving for best flavor and softness.

Freezing

I’ve successfully frozen both the cupcakes and the frosting separately. For best results, freeze unfrosted cupcakes in a single layer, then thaw completely before frosting. You can freeze decorated cupcakes too, but cover loosely with plastic wrap and place in a freezer bag to protect decorations.

Reheating

To freshen up leftover cupcakes, I let them thaw fully at room temp, then warm in the microwave for just 10-15 seconds. Don’t overdo it—you want warmth without drying out the cupcake or melting the frosting.

FAQs

Can I use regular flour instead of self-raising flour for the Christmas Tree Cupcakes with Chocolate and Vanilla Frosting Recipe?

Yes, you can! Just add 1 ½ teaspoons of baking powder and ¼ teaspoon of salt per cup of plain flour to mimic self-raising flour. This helps ensure your cupcakes rise properly.
How do I make my vanilla frosting bright green without altering the flavor in the Christmas Tree Cupcakes with Chocolate and Vanilla Frosting Recipe?

I recommend using gel or paste green food coloring—they’re concentrated, so you can add just enough for color without affecting taste or consistency of the frosting.
What’s the best way to pipe the frosting to make the Christmas tree shape?

Use a star piping tip and start from the outer edge of the cupcake, swirling upwards toward the center and finishing with a point on top. Practicing on parchment paper helps build confidence and control.
Can I make these cupcakes ahead of time?

Absolutely! You can bake the cupcakes a day or two in advance, store them in an airtight container, and frost on the day you plan to serve for the freshest taste and best texture.

Final Thoughts

There’s something truly special about baking these Christmas Tree Cupcakes with Chocolate and Vanilla Frosting Recipe during the holidays—it’s not just about the taste, but the joy of making something festive and fun with your loved ones. I love how they bring smiles to the table and how easy they are to customize for any holiday occasion. So next time you want a show-stopping, delicious sweet treat, I highly recommend giving this recipe a go—because nothing says Christmas quite like a cupcake decorated like a twinkling tree!