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Christmas Tree Cupcakes Photo

Christmas Tree Cupcakes Recipe

Stacey Mebs
These cute little Christmas tree cupcakes are the perfect special treat for the holidays! They're very easy to make, but still look adorable, and the kids go crazy for them!
5 from 8 votes
Prep Time 1 hour
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Course Dessert
Servings 24 1 cupcake
Calories 440 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup Unsweetened Cocoa Powder Dutch process
  • 1 cup All-Purpose Flour
  • 1 cup Cake Flour
  • 2 cups Granulated Sugar
  • 2 teaspoons Baking Soda
  • 1 teaspoon Baking Powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon Salt
  • 2 Egg
  • 1 cup Buttermilk
  • 1 cup Warm Water
  • 1/2 cup Canola Oil
  • 1 teaspoon Pure Vanilla Extract
  • 1 cup Unsalted Butter softened
  • 4 cups Powdered Sugar
  • 4 tablespoons Heavy Cream
  • 72 Small Pretzel Stick
  • 2-2 1/2 cups Green Candy Melts
  • 1-2 cups Shredded Coconut
  • Sprinkles for "ornaments"

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line 24 muffin cups with paper liners.
  • In a large bowl, or the bowl of a stand mixer, whisk together the cocoa powder, all-purpose flour, cake flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and salt until well combined.
  • Add the eggs, buttermilk, water, oil and vanilla and mix with an electric mixer, or stand mixer, until well combined, about 2 minutes.
  • Fill the cupcake liners 2/3 full and bake for 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with just a few crumbs.
  • Remove from the pan and cool completely on a wire rack.
  • Place the candy melts in a bowl and melt them in the microwave at 50% power for 2-3 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds, until completely melted.
  • Place a ziplock bag or a piping bag in a cup to hold it and fill the bag with the melted candy.
  • Seal the ziplock and cut a small hole in the corner of the bag.
  • On a sheet of wax paper, pipe lines of candy, about 2/3 the length of a pretzel stick and press the pretzel into the candy. Then pipe lines back and forth across the pretzel to make a tree shape.
  • Top with sprinkles for ornaments.
  • Repeat for the remaining trees and then let the candy set completely before carefully removing the trees from the wax paper and placing them on the cupcakes. It takes 1-2 hours for the candy to set completely.
  • With an electric mixer, or in the bowl of a stand mixer, cream the butter until it is smooth and creamy, about 2 minutes.
  • Add the powdered sugar and heavy cream and beat for a full 3 minutes until it is light and fluffy. Add a little more sugar if it’s too runny or a little more cream if it’s too thick.
  • When the cupcakes are completely cool, decorate them by spreading a layer of frosting on top with a knife.
  • Sprinkle the frosting with shredded coconut, or dip the cupcake into the coconut to cover it, and carefully place three Christmas trees on top of each cupcake.

Nutrition

Calories: 440kcalCarbohydrates: 54gProtein: 2gFat: 20gSaturated Fat: 6gSodium: 244mgFiber: 1gSugar: 44g
Keyword Baked, Baking, Christmas, Cupcakes, Desserts, Easy Desserts, Family Meals and Snacks, Frosting, Holidays, Party Food
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