100+ Christmas cupcakes with recipes, tutorials and more!

by John Griffith
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The festive season is almost upon us and if you like baking you’re probably looking forward to preparing (and devouring) some yummy Christmas treats! Cookies are an easy and popular choice but if you want to try something a bit more original and indulging, there is hardly a better option than cupcakes. They come in an almost endless variety of tastes and colors, and you can use your imagination to decorate them in cute, fun and unique ways. To help you get started, we have collected over 100 suggestions for delicious and beautiful Christmas cupcakes. Tasty and gorgeous, they are guaranteed to bring lots of cheer and holiday flavor to your festivities!

Scroll down for inspirational ideas, nifty recipes and fun tutorials.

Christmas cupcakes are versatile and easy to make

christmas cupcakes, chocolate cupcake with dark brown wrapper, creamy white frosting decorated with red pearls and yellow stars

Would you like to create beautiful Christmas tree cupcakes? Watch the video below to find out how!

Hot chocolate is a classic Christmas treat, loved by young and old. Capture its festive flavour in cupcake form with this easy recipe!

Peppermint Hot Chocolate Christmas Cupcake

christmas cupcakes, chocolate cupcake in a red cupcake mold, with white frosting marshmallows chocolate chips and peppermint candy cane

Peppermint Hot Chocolate Christmas Cupcake

What you’ll need for a batch of 12 cupcakes:

  • a cup of all-purpose flour
  • a cup of sugar
  • one large egg
  • 1/4 cup of cooking oil
  • 1/2 cup of cocoa powder (unsweetened)
  • 1/2 cup of water (warm or room temperature)
  • 1/2 cup of buttermilk
  • 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon of baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract
  • a pinch of salt
  • baking tray
  • 12 cupcake wrappers

Instructions:

  1. First, preheat the oven at 350°F while preparing a muffin mould tray and some cupcake wrappers.
  2. Mix the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a large bowl.
  3. Add the cooking oil, buttermilk and water and mix well.
  4. Now, add the egg and vanilla extract, whisking the mixture until it becomes smooth and creamy.
  5. Pour the mix in the cupcake wrappers, filling each about 2/3 of the way.
  6. Bake for 20 minutes and set aside to cool.

What you’ll need for the frosting:

  • 13 oz of marshmallow creme
  • 2 cups of butter
  • 2 1/2 cups of powdered sugar
  • Several peppermint candy canes
  • Mini marshmallows, chocolate chips and chocolate syrup to decorate (if desired)

Instructions:

  1. Using a mixer, cream the butter until smooth. Then, carefully and gradually add the powdered sugar, without switching the mixer off. Finally, add the marshmallow creme to the mix.
  2. Put the finished mix into a pastry bag and pipe the icing on your cupcakes.
  3. Finally, crush the candy canes into tiny bits and sprinkle them on top of the icing. If you wish you can add mini marshmallows, chocolate chips, chocolate or caramel syrup, sprinkles, or anything else that you usually put in your hot chocolate.
  4. Enjoy!

If you prefer, you can add a few spoonfuls of cocoa to the icing mix for a double-chocolate delight…

christmas cupcakes, several chocolate cupcakes with creamy chocolate frosting, chocolate syrup drizzle and crushed peppermint candies

…or keep it nice and simple by substituting the icing with whipped cream and chocolate syrup

christmas cupcakes, a few chocolate cupcakes, whipped cream frosting with chocolate syrup drizzle, little marshmallows and straw decorations

Alternatively, you can drop the peppermint altogether, and indulge in a pure and smooth chocolaty taste

Our second suggestion is delicious gingerbread Christmas cupcakes with caramel creme. Yum!

christmas cupcakes, half unwrapped dark cupcake with light brown frosting, decorated with gingerbread man and a rosemary stalk, fake snow and fairy lights

Gingerbread Christmas cupcakes

What you’ll need for a batch of 36 cupcakes

  • 3 1/4 cups of all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup of brown sugar
  • 1 1/3 cups of molasses
  • 3 eggs (kept at room temperature)
  • 16 tablespoons of softened salted butter
  • 1 tablespoon of baking soda
  • 1 tablespoon of baking powder
  • 2 teaspoons of ground ginger
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons of ground cinnamon
  • 3/4 teaspoon of nutmeg
  • 3/4 teaspoon of ground cloves
  • 1 1/2 cups of hot water
  • a pinch of salt
  • baking tray(s)
  • cupcake wrappers

Instructions:

  1. First, preheat the oven at 350°F while preparing a muffin mould tray and some cupcake wrappers.
  2. Combine the flour, baking powder, ground ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and salt in a large bowl and mix well.
  3. In a separate bowl, mix the baking soda with the hot water.
  4. Use a mixer to beat the butter and sugar until fluffy. Then add the molasses, while still whisking with the mixer. Slowly and gradually, pour the baking soda and water mixture, alternating with the flour mixture. Add the eggs, one by one, still mixing, until everything is combined.
  5. Pour the finished mix into 36 cupcake wrappers and bake for 15 minutes, then leave aside to cool.

What you’ll need for the frosting:

  • 16 ounces of softened cream cheese
  • 20 tablespoons of butter
  • 1 cup of plain white granulated sugar
  • 2 cups of powdered sugar
  • 3/4 cup of heavy cream
  • 2 teaspoons of pure vanilla extract
  • Gingerbread men for decorating
  • Sprinkles and caramel syrup for decorating (if desired)

Instructions:

  1. Pour the sugar in a large saucepan and cook on a preheated stove, stirring until the sugar melts into golden-colored caramel. Remove from the stove and add four tablespoons of butter, mixing them into the molten sugar one by one. Add the heavy cream and whisk.
  2. Return the saucepan to the heat and cook until the mixture thickens (this should take about 5 minutes), stirring constantly.
  3. Remove the caramel creme from the oven and set aside to cool.
  4. Combine the cream cheese with the remaining butter using a mixer. Whisk until you get a light and soft texture. Add the powdered sugar, the vanilla, and thecooled down caramel creme, and keep mixing until everything is combined and fluffy.
  5. Put the finished mix into a pastry bag and pipe the icing on your cupcakes.
  6. Decorate each cupcake with a gingerbread man and add sprinkles or caramel syrup, if desired.
  7. Chill the cupcakes until serving time but do remember to take them out of the fridge 30 minutes before consumption.
  8. Enjoy!

Here are some photos of the process:

Make sure to pick cupcake wrappers in bright, festive colors!

christmas cupcakes, cupcake mould lined with empty green and red wrappers, two packed sticks of butter, a bowl with brown mix, white and read thread

Distribute the batter evenly

cupcake ideas, twelve red and green cupcake wrappers, inside a black cupcake mould, half-filled with brown batter

…bake, add icing and enjoy! Yum!

cupcake ideas, unwrapped and bitten dark cupcake, with light brown creamy frosting, decorated with gingerbread man and rosemary stalk

Here is a different version of the gingerbread and caramel Christmas cupcakes

And here is one with a simpler decoration

cupcake ideas, several dark cupcakes with light yellow creamy icing, decorated with gingerbread men cookies, on burlap tablecloth wooden table

Do you want to build a snowman? Well, with our next suggestion you can do so without having to leave the warmth of your home!

Make these cute snowman Christmas cupcakes in just a few easy steps

cupcake ideas, cupcake with white sparkly frosting, decorated with chocolate icing and caramel chip, made to look like a snow man, on red and white background

Snowman Christmas cupcakes recipes

What you’ll need for a batch of 24 cupcakes

  • 2 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups of sugar
  • 1 cup of milk
  • 1/2 cup of cooking oil
  • 2 large eggs (kept at room temperature)
  • 3 teaspoons of baking powder
  • 1 of pure vanilla essence
  • 1 cup of water
  • a pinch of salt
  • baking tray(s)
  • cupcake wrappers

Instructions:

  1. Preheat the oven on 350°F and prepare your cupcake mould and wrappers.
  2. Mix the flour, baking powder, sugar and salt in a bowl.
  3. In a different bowl, combine the milk, cooking oil, vanilla essence and eggs.
  4. Add the milk mixture to the flour mixture, and whisk until they are combined.
  5. Fill the cupcake wrappers halfway and then bake for 15 minutes. When done, leave the cupcakes aside to cool.

What you’ll need for the frosting:

  • 1/2 cup of softened salted butter
  • 4 cups of powdered sugar
  • 1/2 cup of shortening
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons of vanilla essence
  • 3 teaspoons of milk or water
  • a packet of white sparkling sugar sprinkles
  • chocolate decorative icing
  • caramel chips

Instructions:

  1. Mix the butter and shortening in a bowl until you get a smooth, creamy substance.
  2. Add 2 cups of powdered sugar and continue mixing.
  3. Pour the vanilla essence along with 1 teaspoon of milk (or water).
  4. Add the remaining powdered sugar and whisk until the mixture is smooth.
  5. Pour the 2 teaspoons of milk (water) and mix.
  6. Spread the finished frosting evenly on your cupcakes.
  7. Pour the white sparkling sugar sprinkles in a bowl and carefully dip each frosted cupcake, ensuring its entire surface is covered in sprinkles.
  8. Use the decorative icing to draw your snowman’s eyes and mouth
  9. Add a caramel chip for its nose.
  10. Enjoy!

Here is a step by step photo guide to help you with the process:

First, the necessary ingredients

cupcake ideas, pack of eggs near flour and milk and oil, butter next to sugar and chocolate icing, sprinkles and vanilla essence, on a light wooden table

Make sure to spread the icing as smoothly as possible

cupcake ideas, twelve light-colored cupcakes, with white creamy frosting, on black metal oven grate

Now, add the sparkling sugar sprinkles

mini cupcake recipes, several cupcakes with white frosting, decorated with sparkly white sugar sprinkles, near a glass bowl with more sprinkles, on a black metal oven grate

Time to get creative! Drawing the snowman’s face can be a fun activity to do with your kids

mini cupcake recipes, a hand holding can of spray chocolate icing to a cupcake, with white frosting and sparkly sprinkles, near bowls with sprinkles and caramel chips

The sparkling white frosting can also be used to make cute polar bear cupcakes 

mini cupcake recipes, cupcake with white sparkly sugary icing, decorated with fondant and chocolate to look like polar bear, on a dark wooden table

If you prefer to celebrate with exclusive, decadent and chic deserts, why not try these amazing champagne cupcakes?

 A delicious touch of glamour for your Christmas and New Year’s celebrations

mini cupcake recipes, several light-colored cupcakes with white frosting, decorated with gold leaf pieces and golden-colored sparkler, on a dark plate with golden pearls

These colorful snowflake cupcakes capture the festive spirit of the season…

mini cupcake recipes, four cupcakes with white red and green fondant icing, in red or green wrappers, decorated with green or white fondant snowflakes

mini cupcake recipes, close up of cupcake in green wrapper, with red fondant icing and white snowflake, near cupcake with red wrapper and white icing with green snowflake

…as do these simple and understated frosty treats!

christmas baking ideas, three chocolate cupcakes in light blue wrappers, with light blue creamy frosting, decorated with white pearls

Show your sense of humor with a funny Santa frosting…

christmas baking ideas, two cupcakes with white sparkly snow-like frosting, decorated with santa's legs made from fondant

… or keep it traditional with plain vanilla icing, decorated with a dash of red and green sprinkles.

christmas baking ideas, yellow cupcake in red wrapper, with pale yellow creamy icing, decorated with red and green sprinkles

christmas baking ideas, light colored cupcake with black wrapper, with white green and red frosting, decorated with red white and green sprinkles

christmas baking ideas, three light brown cupcakes, pale yellow creamy frosting and red wrappers, decorated with red pearls and stars and green sprinkles

Christmas cupcakes don’t get any more festive than this!

christmas baking ideas, several pale yellow cupcakes, with green frosting made to look like christmas tree, colorful sprinkles white pearls and fondant presents

holiday cupcakes, several cupcakes with dark wrappers, light blue frosting, decorated with white snowflakes sprinkles and pearls

holiday cupcakes, a few cupcakes with black wrappers and red creamy icing, decorated with white and red fondant present shapes, candles and festive red ribbon

Even the biggest Grinch won’t be able to resist taking a bite of these creamy strawberry-topped treats!

holiday cupcakes, a batch of cupcakes with acid green frosting, decorated with strawberries and cream, yellow and chocolate candies

holiday cupcakes, close up of two green cupcakes in red and green wrappers, with white frosting decorated with green drizzle and small red heart

holiday cupcakes, a batch of chocolate and vanilla cupcakes, with green and red fondant icing, decorated with yellow black and white frosting

If your kids like baking and crafting, they’ll enjoy making these simple, cute and yummy Rudolph Christmas cupcakes

holiday cupcakes, close up of several cupcakes decorated with chocolate icing, yellow cookies candies and pretzels, made to look like reindeer

christmas flavors, three cupcakes with dark wrappers, decorated with white frosting, with silver pearls, small fondant shapes and chocolate details, made to look like snowmen, on white plate

Aren’t these Mickey Mouse Santa cakes just adorable? 

christmas flavors, three cupcakes with dark red wrappers, with red and white frosting and two oreo biscuits each, made to look like mickey mouse with a santa hat

Delicate and classy, snowflake decorations always look festive

christmas flavors, chocolate cupcake with black wrapper, light blue frosting, decorated with snowflake shapes, white sprinkles and silver pearls

christmas flavors, close up of batch of vanilla cupcakes, pale yellow frosting, decorated with silver sparkly snowflake shape, pale blue and silver pearls

These beautiful Christmas cupcakes of Santa and friends are too cute to eat!

christmas flavors, six cupcakes decorated with colorful fondant icing, made to look like santa, snowman, rudolph and three elves, on pale blue background

But we’d definitely love to munch on one of those peppermint frosted chocolate cupcakes!

christmas flavors, two chocolate cupcakes on white plate with red and green sprinkles, with white and red swirly creamy icing

Try using fondant to make simple yet effective holly decorations

red cupcake in red wrapper, with white frosting, decorated with fondant holly, white plate on black background

chocolate cupcakes images, several chocolate cupcakes with chocolate frosting, decorated with fondant hollies and dusted with powdered sugar

We love these amazing Christmas tree ornament cupcakes!

five cupcakes in golden wrappers, with pink fondant icing made to look like christmas tree ornaments, white dish on dark background

nine cupcakes in white box, three with red icing made to look like a rose, three with colorful icing made to look like penguin, three with green and gold icing made to look like ornaments

three cupcakes in pale blue moulds, with dark blue and gold icing, made to look like christmas ornaments, light turquoise background

three cupcakes with pink fondant frosting, decorated with golden letters and sprinkles, and white snowflakes, on white dish and golden tray

If you are looking for clever and creative ways to display your desserts, here are some suggestions

many cupcakes with green frosting, decorated with jelly candies, put in the shape of a christmas tree with red bucket on bottom and yellow star on top

batch of cupcakes with green icing, decorated with festive fondant shapes, put in the form of a christmas wreath, decorated with big red fondant bow

A festive reinterpretation of the beloved red velvet classic

close up of red velvet cupcake with white frosting, decorated with big white snowflake shape and red pearls

Make your own Christmas wreath cupcake

chocolate cupcakes images, cupcake with smooth chocolate frosting, with added green icing, bow cut from red jelly candies, colorful bon bon decorations

close up of cupcake with white icing, made to look like an x-mas wreath with green frosting, with small fondant bow and red sprinkles

Your kids will love these cute Santa cakes!

several plain cupcakes in red and white wrappers, three cupcakes decorated with white icing, small marshmallows and red sprinkles, and made to look like santa

close up of cupcake with orange, red black and white fondant icing, in the shape of santa's head

chocolate cupcakes images, three chocolate cupcakes, decorated with santa hats, made from red icing and small white marshmallows

We always associate the taste of cranberries with Christmas and Thanksgiving

several pale yellow cupcakes, with pale pink icing, decorated with frosted cranberries, on white plate with more frosted cranberries

two pale brown cupcakes, with pale yellow icing, with leaf-shaped cookies and cranberries on top, on wooden table with more cranberries

small white dish with frosted cranberries, and a yellow cupcake with pink icing, decorated with frosted cranberries, on white wooden surface

a batch of cupcakes in brown wrappers, with white icing decorated with cranberry berries and leaves, on green dish

chocolate cupcakes images, nine chocolate cupcakes with green icing, decorated with white, green and red sprinkles, on red cupcake mould

Let Rudolph and his friends bring festive cheer to your dessert table!

chocolate cupcakes images, seven cupcakes with chocolate frosting, made to look like santa's deer, with biscuits and candies, tied with red and white string to red toy car

five cupcakes with brown, blue and red fondant icing, made to look like rudolph the reindeer, placed in a circle

six cupcakes in brown wrappers, with light yellow frosting, decorated with chocolate deer shapes, with red bows around their necks

Here are some cute and easy Christmas cupcakes which you can make with your kids

batch of cupcakes with white frosting, in white dark blue and light blue wrappers, decorated with candies to look like snowmen and cups

three cupcakes with red, white and green sparkling sugary frosting, decorated with cookies made to look like santa, snowman and rudolph

five cupcakes with buttery smooth icing, decorated with chocolates and colorful candies, made to look like christmas tree ornaments

close up of cupcake decorated like paw, with coconut shavings oreo cookie and chocolate candies, six similar cupcakes on silver tray

four cupcakes decorated with red and brown fondant, with yellow white and black details, made to look like birds

several cupcakes with white frosting, made to look like melting snowmen, with chocolate candies for caps
a batch of chocolate and vanilla cupcakes, decorated with marshmallow creme and actual marshmallows, made to look like snowmen with icing and fondant

Yet another variation of the popular peppermint and chocolate cupcake

chocolate cupcakes images, three chocolate cupcakes, with whipped cream frosting, decorated with chocolate drizzle, crushed candies and a whole peppermint candy on top

Okay, we know these are not technically cupcakes but we couldn’t resist sharing them with you! Adorable strawberry Santa hat brownies!

a batch of brownies, decorated with little santa hats, made from strawberries and cream

several chocolate brownies, with green frosting made to look like x-mas tree, decorated with white and red candies and little yellow stars, one brownie cut in half to reveal strawberry in icing

And here are some more cute suggestions

seven cupcakes on white dish, three with red frosting, three with green frosting, one with white frosting, decorated with festive fondant shapes

cupcakes of different sizes, with white and red fondant icing and pale green creamy frosting, on several differently sized white stacked plates

christmas cupcakes, six cupcakes with white or green frosting, decorated with christmas-themed fondant shapes

cupcake ideas, twelve cupcakes with white, green and red frosting, decorated with christmas fondant shapes, eight cupcakes, green and white fondant frosting with red green and yellow decorations

batch of chocolate and vanilla cupcakes, pale green and yellow icing, decorated with white, green and red fondant shapes

mini cupcake recipes, six chocolate and vanilla cupcakes, with pale blue pale pink and pale green frosting, decorated with christmas-themed shapes, near a small golden christmas tree ornament

christmas baking ideas, nine cupcakes with pale blue fondant icing, decorated with brown, sparkly red and white fondant birds and trees

If you’re looking for something less flashy but heavenly delicious, why not choose these raspberry cupcakes, dusted with a hint of snowy powdered sugar?

holiday cupcakes, six cupcakes in white wrappers, with white frosting, decorated with raspberries and dusted with powdered sugar

christmas flavors, three vanilla cupcakes with creamy white icing, each decorated with rosemary stalk and dusted with powdered sugar

cupcake in blue wrapper, with white snowflake pattern, white icing decorated with small blue stars and silver pearls

three vanilla cupcakes, frosted with white red and green, made to look like x-mas wreaths, three chocolate cupcakes, frosted with red and white, made to look like santa hats

chocolate cupcakes images, batch of chocolate cupcakes, with bright green frosting shaped like x-mas tree, decorated with colorful sprinkles, and small yellow candy stars

Fondant is really easy to use and can be moulded in amazing shapes!

cupcake with golden wrapper, decorated with a little brown fondant doll-like shape, golden buttons and holly in hair

cupcake with white and red swirly icing, decorated with snowman fondant shape, holding peppermint candy

cupcake with white wrapper, and white fondant icing, decorated with snowman shape, wearing hat and scarf

cupcake with red fondant icing shaped like flower, decorated with white and green fondant wreath with holly

batch of cupcakes with brown frosting, iced with chocolate and made to look like reindeer, middle one has red nose

three cupcakes in green festive wrappers, green or red fondant frosting, red or green fondant bows on top, pale background

How cool is this Christmas tree effect?

chocolate cupcake with white and green icing shaped like x-mas tree, cut in half to show green x-mas shape inside, on white plate with another cupcake in background

three chocolate cupcakes, with white frosting, decorated with chocolate drizzle and colorful candies made to look like christmas lights, three more wrapped cupcakes in background

batch of cupcakes with white frosting, decorated with small gingerbread houses, tied with red festive ribbons, on black dish placed on table

cupcake with dark wrapper, decorated with small santa hat made from smooth red icing and white cream frosting

Finally, a few more cupcakes with adorable Christmas characters

six cupcakes decorated with brown, white red pink and blue fondant icing, shaped like santa and reindeer, snowman and bird, christmas pudding and ornament

batch of vanilla and chocolate cupcakes, decorated with white marshmallow frosting, shaped like snowman, with pale blue scarf, orange nose and chocolate details

four cupcakes in red and green wrappers, with creamy white icing, decorated with small gingerbread men, and red and green sprinkles

 

close up of a cupcake with brown icing, made to look like rudolph, with pretzels for antlers, big red candy for nose and frosted eyes

two cupcakes with smooth chocolate icing, made to look like reindeer, with fondant antlers and ears, and red sparkly noses, on red and white checkered cloth

Enjoy!

six cupcakes on red and black checkered muffin mould, decorated with red white and orange frosting, made to look like santa, red candies for noses

close up of small plain cupcake with white icing, decorated with small and simple red, black orange and white santa fondant shape

three images showing three chocolate cupcakes with white baked icing, several chocolate cupcakes with white icing decorated with candies, a few cupcakes with pink frosting decorated with white tree shapes and red presents

If are looking for more festive ideas, check out our DIY Christmas gift guide. We have tons of cool tips and suggestions!

John Griffith
John Griffith

John Griffith is a young, passionate journalist. Writing has been John’s hobby ever since he was a boy. He has worked in some of the UK’s most successful news portals over the course of his professional career but found his forever home at Archzine.

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