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4-Ingredient Christmas Tree Cupcakes

Easy Christmas Tree Cupcakes (4 Ingredients)

These Christmas Tree Cupcakes are soft vanilla cupcakes topped with festive green swirls of frosting and decorated to look just like mini Christmas trees, complete with ornaments and a gold star topper. All you need are 4 simple ingredients and a few easy steps. Perfect for holiday parties, class treats, or decorating with kids!
Print Recipe
PREP: 20 minutes
COOK: 20 minutes
Cooling Time 30 minutes
TOTAL: 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings: 12
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American

Ingredients
  

  • 1 box vanilla cake mix (plus eggs, oil, and water as listed on the box)
  • 1 tub 16 oz / 450 g vanilla frosting
  • Green gel food coloring
  • Holiday sprinkles and gold star toppers

Instructions
 

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a muffin tin with 12 cupcake liners.
  2. Prepare the vanilla cake mix according to the box instructions. Divide the batter evenly between the liners, filling each one about ¾ full.
  3. Bake for 18–22 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let the cupcakes cool completely before decorating.
  4. In a small bowl, stir green gel food coloring into the vanilla frosting until you get a nice tree-green color. Chill the frosting for 10–15 minutes if it feels too soft.
  5. Spoon the frosting into a piping bag fitted with a large star tip. Pipe tall swirls on top of each cupcake to look like a Christmas tree.
  6. While the frosting is still soft, add sprinkles and press a gold star topper onto each cupcake. Serve or refrigerate until ready to enjoy.

Notes

  • Let cupcakes cool completely before frosting or the swirls will melt.
  • If you don’t have a piping bag, you can use a zip-top bag with the corner snipped off.
  • Add decorations immediately after piping so they stick properly.
  • Green gel food coloring works best for bright color without thinning the frosting.
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