Name: Christmas Tree Cupcakes with Sprinkles Recipe
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 22 min
Total time: 47 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 cups cake flour; ¼ tsp baking soda; ½ tsp baking powder; ½ cup salted butter, softened; 1 cup granulated sugar; ½ cup milk; 3 large eggs; ¼ tablespoon vanilla extract; 16 oz. green buttercream frosting; 2-3 Twizzler Pull 'n' Peel Candy, peeled into strings; ¼ cup sequin-style rainbow sprinkles; star shaped sprinkles; confectioners sugar, optional

Nothing quite says festive like a batch of sweet, green swirled treats, and that’s exactly what you get with this Christmas Tree Cupcakes with Sprinkles Recipe. The colorful sprinkles and playful Twizzler strings make these cupcakes as joyful to look at as they are to eat.

The image shows a single cupcake placed on a white marbled surface. The cupcake has a golden-yellow base with a slightly textured surface, and it sits inside a green and white checkered paper liner that is partially peeled down. On top of the cupcake, there is a smooth, thick red ring layer of icing close to the base of the frosting. Above that, a tall swirl of bright green frosting is piped in thick strands, forming a rounded peak. The green frosting is decorated with small, round, colorful confetti sprinkles in red, orange, green, and blue colors scattered evenly across it. Some powdered sugar is lightly dusted on the frosting and cupcake, adding a soft white touch. The background is minimal and softly blurred with a few more scattered colorful confetti sprinkles. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make Christmas Tree Cupcakes with Sprinkles Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Christmas Tree Cupcakes with Sprinkles Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Christmas Tree Cupcakes with Sprinkles Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

These Christmas Tree Cupcakes with Sprinkles Recipe have become my go-to holiday dessert because they bring a smile to everyone’s face—and honestly, they're ridiculously fun to make. Every year, my family looks forward to decorating them and the festive mood is instant.

Festive Design: They look adorable with their green frosting swirls crowned by bright sprinkles and candy “tree skirts.”
Simple Ingredients: You probably already have most of what you need in your pantry, so they’re easy to whip up last minute.
User-Friendly Decorating: No fancy piping skills required to get impressive Christmas tree shapes.
Perfect for Gatherings: Everyone from kids to adults loves these little festive bites.

A single vanilla cupcake with a visible bite taken out of the front, showing a soft, crumbly light beige inside layer. The cupcake is topped with a thick layer of bright green frosting, piped in swirled lines all over the top. Scattered on the green frosting are small, flat, round colorful sprinkles in red, orange, yellow, blue, and green, plus a single small star-shaped yellow sprinkle at the peak. A thin ring of red frosting is visible around the cupcake's edge just below the green frosting. The cupcake sits on a white plate set on a white marbled surface. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

The list of ingredients works perfectly to create a fluffy cupcake with just the right sweetness and that classic vanilla flavor that pairs so well with a vibrant green buttercream.

Flat lay of a small mound of fine white cake flour, a small white bowl filled with pale yellow softened butter, a small white bowl of granulated white sugar, three whole uncracked brown eggs, a small white bowl of creamy white milk, a tiny white bowl with clear vanilla extract, a small pile of translucent green buttercream frosting, a small white bowl containing colorful sequin-style rainbow sprinkles, a few twisted strands of bright red Twizzler Pull 'n' Peel candy, and a few golden star-shaped sprinkles scattered neatly, all arranged in perfect symmetry on simple white ceramic dishes, 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

Cake flour: Gives cupcakes a tender crumb with less gluten than all-purpose flour.
Baking soda and baking powder: These leavening agents ensure your cupcakes rise beautifully and stay light.
Salted butter: Adds richness and balances sweetness; softened for smooth mixing.
Granulated sugar: Sweetens the batter evenly and helps create a tender texture.
Milk: Moisturizes the batter and helps develop flavor.
Eggs: Bind everything together and add moisture, giving that classic cupcake structure.
Vanilla extract: Deepens the flavor with warm vanilla notes.
Sprinkles: Sequin-style rainbow sprinkles add fun pops of color that make your cupcakes festive.
Twizzler Pull 'n' Peel Candy: Perfect for creating the cute “tree skirts” that wrap around the cupcakes.
Green buttercream frosting: This is the star of your decoration — creamy, smooth, and perfect for piping.
Star-shaped sprinkles: To top each cupcake with a charming finishing touch.
Confectioners sugar (optional): Dust lightly for a snowy effect if you like that winter wonderland vibe.

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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.

Make It Your Way

I love how this Christmas Tree Cupcakes with Sprinkles Recipe can be easily personalized with your favorite frosting colors or candies. It’s a blank canvas for your holiday creativity, and you can switch things up to match your family’s favorite flavors or dietary needs.

Variation: I once swapped the green buttercream for a peppermint-flavored white frosting tinted green, which added a refreshing twist that everyone adored.
Dietary modification: For gluten-free options, try using a gluten-free cake mix and it still works beautifully.
Decorating challenge: If you’re short on time, you can simply spread the frosting with a knife and sprinkle generously — still super festive!

Step-by-Step: How I Make Christmas Tree Cupcakes with Sprinkles Recipe

Step 1: Prep like a pro

Start by preheating your oven to 350°F and lining a muffin tin with cupcake liners. I always spend a few extra seconds here; it really helps ensure the cupcakes don’t stick and cleanup is a breeze.

Step 2: Mix dry ingredients for fluffiness

In a large bowl, whisk the cake flour, baking soda, and baking powder together. Sifting isn’t strictly necessary since cake flour is usually fine, but I like to aerate the flour so the texture stays extra light.

Step 3: Cream butter and sugar until fluffy

Use a mixer to cream the softened butter and sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy. This usually takes about 3-4 minutes. It’s an important step — better creaming means a tenderer cupcake.

Step 4: Add eggs, milk, and vanilla

Whisk in the eggs one at a time, then add the milk and vanilla extract. Mix well, but don’t overdo it — you want a smooth batter without overmixing, which could toughen your cupcakes.

Step 5: Combine wet and dry ingredients and bake

Slowly fold the dry ingredients into the wet until just combined and smooth. Pour your batter evenly into the liners, filling each about two-thirds full. Pop them in the oven for about 22 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Step 6: Cool completely before decorating

This is the big one: if you frost while the cupcakes are still warm, your icing will melt and lose shape. I usually transfer mine to a wire rack and let them chill out for at least 30 minutes.

Step 7: Pipe frosting like a Christmas tree

Scoop green buttercream into a piping bag fitted with an open star tip. Starting at the outer edge, create swirling layers overlapping one another moving inward, pushing down slightly before quickly pulling up to form the pointed tree tip.

Step 8: Add candy skirts and festive sprinkles

Wrap a string of Twizzler Pull 'n' Peel around the base like a tree skirt, add your favorite star-shaped sprinkle at the top, then toss on rainbow sequin sprinkles for celebratory color. Dust gently with confectioners sugar for snowy magic, if you like.

Top Tip

From my years of baking these festive cupcakes, a couple of little tricks go a long way in getting that perfect tree look and a flawless cupcake texture.

Butter Temperature: Make sure your butter is softened but not melted before creaming—it traps air better and gives lighter cupcakes.
Don’t Overmix: Once you combine wet and dry ingredients, mix just until smooth to keep your cupcakes tender.
Piping Patience: Take your time swirling the frosting to get the layered tree effect; rushing makes it less neat.
Keep Cupcakes Cool: Always cool cupcakes completely before decorating so frosting holds its shape and doesn’t melt.

How to Serve Christmas Tree Cupcakes with Sprinkles Recipe

Christmas Tree Cupcakes - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

For garnishes, I stick to star-shaped sprinkles on each tree top—it’s a simple detail that instantly ups the festive factor. The Twizzler skirts add a fun candy texture and hold sprinkles perfectly.

Side Dishes

These cupcakes shine on their own but pair wonderfully with a cup of spiced hot cocoa or warm eggnog, making for a cozy holiday treat combo.

Creative Ways to Present

For holiday parties, I love arranging these cupcakes as a mini “forest” on a platter with a dusting of powdered sugar and a scattering of mini candy canes. It’s always a conversation starter and looks stunning on a dessert table.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I keep leftover cupcakes stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. The frosting stays fresh and soft, and the cakes don’t dry out if you don’t neglect them too long.

Freezing

I’ve frozen unfrosted cupcakes by wrapping them individually in plastic wrap then placing them in a freezer bag—thaw completely and then frost. This helps keep them moist and fresh-tasting even weeks later.

Reheating

If you want to warm leftover cupcakes, I gently microwave them without frosting for about 10 seconds—frosted cupcakes are best served chilled or at room temperature to keep that perfect shape.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use a boxed cake mix instead of homemade batter?

Absolutely! A vanilla boxed cake mix works perfectly for this Christmas Tree Cupcakes with Sprinkles Recipe and cuts down prep time significantly.

What if I don’t have a piping bag or star tip?

No worries — you can use a sturdy ziplock bag with a small corner snipped off to pipe the frosting. It’s a great DIY alternative and still makes pretty trees.

Can I prepare these cupcakes a day in advance?

Yes! Bake and cool cupcakes fully, then store them in an airtight container overnight. Frosting is best applied just before serving for freshness but can be done a few hours ahead.

Why is my frosting not holding its shape?

The most common cause is decorating cupcakes while they’re still warm—the frosting melts and loses form. Always cool completely before frosting for the best results.

Final Thoughts

This Christmas Tree Cupcakes with Sprinkles Recipe holds a special little place in my holiday traditions—it’s a sweet project that turns baking into an interactive party. I hope you enjoy making and sharing these as much as I do. Have fun, get a little messy, and watch those smiles light up just like Christmas lights!