Description
These festive Christmas Tree Cupcakes feature a rich chocolate cupcake base topped with smooth vanilla buttercream frosting colored green and decorated with chocolate stars, sprinkles, and a dusting of icing sugar to resemble a beautifully decorated Christmas tree. Perfect for holiday celebrations, they are both delicious and visually charming.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Chocolate Cupcakes
- 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
For the Vanilla Buttercream Frosting
- 200 g unsalted butter (room temperature, not margarine/stork)
- 400 g icing sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp green food colouring
For Decoration
- Chocolate stars
- Sprinkles
- Icing sugar for dusting
Instructions
- Prepare the cupcake batter: Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F). In a mixing bowl, cream together the 200g unsalted butter and 200g light brown soft sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the 4 medium eggs one at a time, then stir in 1 tsp vanilla extract. Sift together 150g self-raising flour and 50g cocoa powder, then gently fold into the wet ingredients until fully combined.
- Bake the cupcakes: Line a 12-hole cupcake tin with paper cases. Divide the batter evenly among the cases, filling each about two-thirds full. Bake in the preheated oven for approximately 18-20 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean. Remove from the oven and let cool completely on a wire rack before frosting.
- Make the vanilla buttercream frosting: In a large bowl, beat 200g unsalted butter (at room temperature) until smooth and creamy. Gradually add 400g icing sugar, beating well between additions to avoid lumps. Stir in 1 tsp vanilla extract and 1 tsp green food colouring, mixing until the color is uniform and the frosting is fluffy and spreadable.
- Frost the cupcakes: Once cupcakes have completely cooled, pipe or spread the green vanilla buttercream frosting onto each cupcake in a pointed, conical shape resembling a Christmas tree.
- Decorate the cupcakes: Decorate each frosted cupcake with chocolate stars, colorful sprinkles, and dust lightly with icing sugar to imitate snow, completing the festive Christmas tree look.
Notes
- For best results, ensure butter is at room temperature before making the frosting.
- Use gel-based green food colouring for a vibrant color without altering frosting texture.
- You can add a little peppermint extract to frosting for a minty twist.
- These cupcakes are perfect for holiday parties and can be made a day ahead; just store in an airtight container.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cupcake
- Calories: 446 kcal
- Sugar: 33 g
- Sodium: 26 mg
- Fat: 29 g
- Saturated Fat: 18 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 126 mg
