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Create easy and delicious trees from candy melts and pretzels to top festive Christmas cupcakes this season.
If you are already dreaming about which holiday treats you will be adding to your baking checklist, check out these adorable Christmas cupcakes with melted candy wafer tree toppers. They are so fun and easy to create and will be a big hit with the holidays approaching.
You can use your favorite cupcake and frosting recipe, or feel free to use this idea. I like to make a boxed cake mix taste more like a high-end bakery by adding more butter and eggs than the box lists. I typically opt for the Duncan Hines mixes and have always had success. The result is a moist, rich-tasting cupcake.
I do love making homemade buttercream frosting as it always makes everything taste homemade and delicious including cake, cupcakes, and cookies.
Melted candy pretzels make perfect Christmas cupcake tree toppers!
These little white chocolate trees look intimidating, but they are honestly so easy to make. I am honestly not great at melted candy desserts sometimes and found these to be simple. I first spotted these trees from a video on TikTok and can report back that they are so fun!
Clipping the end of a plastic storage bag is the perfect method for piping these trees on a sheet pan. Once hardened, you can place them on top of the cupcakes.
Watch Lina make these cupcakes on Instagram!
Christmas Tree Cupcakes
yield: 24 SERVINGS
prep time: 30 MINUTES
cook time: 18 MINUTES
total time: 48 MINUTES
Rich and buttery yellow cake cupcakes with homemade buttercream frosting and DIY melted candy tree toppers.
For the cupcakes:
For the Christmas tree toppers:
For the buttercream frosting:
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 3 1/2 cups confectioners sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons heavy cream or milk
1
For the cupcakes: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a muffin pan with cupcake liners.
2
In a large mixing bowl, combine the cake mix, eggs, butter, and milk. Use a hand mixer and beat the mixture on medium speed for 1-2 minutes.
3
Pour the batter into a cupcake pan and bake for 18-20 minutes. Cupcakes are done when a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let the cupcakes cool.
4
For the tree toppers: Line a sheet pan with parchment paper. Melt the candy in a microwave-safe container according to package directions. Mix in some green food coloring.
5
Transfer the green candy melts into a storage bag and twist the top to make a piping bag. Clip one end so there is a small hole. Add a pretzel stick to the pan and pipe a Christmas tree shape with the candy onto the pretzel using it as the base for the tree. Repeat that step until all toppers are made. Let them cool and harden.
6
For the buttercream frosting: To a mixing bowl, add the butter and sugar. Use an electric mixer to cream together for about 10 seconds until combined. Add vanilla and cream, and mix again until smooth. Pipe the frosting onto the cooled cupcakes using a pastry bag or knife. Add a Christmas tree topper, and enjoy!
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Extra tips for making Christmas Tree Cupcakes:
- I am pretty sure you can use candy melts or white chocolate for the trees. I know Wilton actually makes green candy melts that would be convenient here! My grocery store had white and I used green food coloring to mix in color.
- You can add sprinkles or just leave green as is. I think adding a small star sprinkle at the top would be cute! I had little candy cane sprinkles and used those to decorate.
- Be sure to line the sheet pan with parchment paper first so that they don’t stick.
- These candy Christmas trees could also be a fun treat on their own without a cupcake.
What cute Christmas cupcakes!
Plus, they taste delicious too. I think kids would really enjoy helping make them and this could easily turn into some special holiday memories.
Have you made these before? Let us know if you have any extra tips to share!
Use crackers to make homemade Christmas toffee for an easy treat idea!
About the writer:
Lina has a Bachelor’s Degree from Northern Arizona University with 11 years of blogging and photography experience having work featured in Today.com, Martha Stewart, Country Living, Fox News, Buzzfeed, and HGTV.
