The Best Fluffy Pancakes recipe you will fall in love with. Full of tips and tricks to help you make the best pancakes.
If there is one dessert that truly captures the heart of holiday baking, it’s these Festive Christmas Tree Cupcakes with Chocolate and Buttercream. They combine everything we love about Christmas treats — rich chocolate flavor, creamy buttercream frosting, whimsical decorations, and the unmistakable look of miniature Christmas trees. They’re adorable, fun to create, and absolutely delicious.
These cupcakes are the kind of holiday dessert that turn a simple gathering into a magical Christmas moment. They’re perfect for classroom parties, family baking days, cookie exchanges, festive dessert tables, or as gifts for neighbors and friends. The best part? They look like they take a ton of effort, but they’re very beginner-friendly.
The chocolate cupcake base is moist, fudgy, and perfectly sweet. On top sits a swirl of green vanilla buttercream piped high to resemble a Christmas tree. Add edible stars, gold pearls, red candy ornaments, or even white sprinkles for a snowy tree effect — every cupcake becomes a tiny edible decoration.
These cupcakes pair beautifully with hot cocoa, peppermint coffee, or a holiday tea. They also make lovely additions to holiday photo setups, festive brunches, and Christmas morning celebrations. Whether you’re hosting or gifting, this recipe adds charm, flavor, and festive fun to any occasion.
Why This Recipe Works So Well
1. Rich and Moist Chocolate Cupcakes
This recipe uses cocoa powder plus a touch of milk and oil to create the most tender chocolate cupcake without dryness.
2. A Smooth, Stable Buttercream
Perfect for piping tall trees that hold their shape for hours — even on a warm holiday table.
3. Easy Decorating
No special tools beyond a piping bag and a large star tip.
4. Kid-Friendly
Children love helping decorate the “trees.”
5. Show-Stopping Presentation
These cupcakes instantly brighten any holiday display.
Ingredients
Chocolate Cupcakes
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ cup milk
- ¼ cup vegetable oil
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ cup hot water or hot coffee (for extra depth)
Christmas Tree Buttercream
- 1 cup unsalted butter (softened)
- 3 ½ cups powdered sugar
- 2–3 tbsp heavy cream or milk
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- Green gel food coloring
- Holiday sprinkles
- Edible star toppers (optional but recommended)
Instructions
Chocolate Cupcakes
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 12-cup muffin pan with festive liners.
- In a mixing bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- Add milk, oil, eggs, and vanilla. Mix until smooth.
- Carefully add hot water or coffee and mix again. Batter will be thin — this is good!
- Fill cupcake liners about ⅔ full.
- Bake for 18–20 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Cool cupcakes completely on a wire rack before frosting.
Christmas Tree Buttercream
- Beat softened butter for 3 minutes until creamy.
- Add powdered sugar gradually, mixing on low.
- Add cream and vanilla. Beat until fluffy.
- Tint with green gel coloring until you reach your perfect Christmas tree shade.
- Fit a piping bag with a large star tip and fill with buttercream.
- Swirl tall tree-shaped peaks on each cupcake.
- Decorate with sprinkles, pearls, and star toppers.
Expert Tips for Picture-Perfect Christmas Tree Cupcakes
1. Use Gel Coloring
It keeps the buttercream thick, rich, and vibrant.
2. Chill the Cupcakes Before Piping
Cold cupcakes help the buttercream hold its structure.
3. Pipe Slowly and Steadily
Move upward while keeping a firm swirl pattern for the signature tree shape.
4. Add Sprinkles Immediately
Buttercream crusts quickly — sprinkle right away for proper sticking.
5. Use the Right Tip
A large open star or closed star tip creates the tree texture.
Festive Christmas Tree Cupcakes with Chocolate and Buttercream
Moist chocolate cupcakes topped with tall green buttercream swirls decorated like Christmas trees.
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a cupcake pan with liners.
- Whisk flour, sugar, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- Add milk, oil, eggs, and vanilla, mixing until smooth.
- Add hot water or coffee and mix again. Batter will be thin.
- Fill cupcake liners 2/3 full and bake 18–20 minutes.
- Beat butter for 3 minutes, then add powdered sugar gradually.
- Add cream and vanilla; beat until fluffy, then tint green.
- Pipe tall buttercream swirls resembling Christmas trees.
- Decorate with sprinkles and star toppers.
Notes
For stable buttercream, add 1 extra tablespoon powdered sugar if needed.
Delicious Decorating Ideas
Classic Christmas Trees
Red and green pearls + gold star.
Snowy Winter Trees
White sanding sugar + silver snowflake sprinkles.
Candy Cane Trees
Crushed peppermint + white chocolate drizzle.
Gold Luxe Trees
Gold pearls + edible glitter spray.
Multicolor Holiday Lights
Rainbow mini sprinkles dotting the “branches.”
Variations
Chocolate Mint Christmas Trees
Add ½ tsp peppermint extract to the buttercream.
Gingerbread Chocolate Cupcakes
Add ½ tsp cinnamon + ¼ tsp ginger to the cupcake batter.
Double Chocolate Trees
Use chocolate buttercream tinted green.
White Chocolate Trees
Swap the frosting base for melted white chocolate buttercream.
Serving Suggestions
Serve these with:
- Hot cocoa
- Peppermint lattes
- Christmas brunch boards
- Holiday cookie platters
- Gingerbread houses
They also look amazing arranged on a round cake stand with fairy lights.
Storage Instructions
Room Temperature:
Store in airtight container up to 2 days.
Refrigerator:
Up to 5 days (bring to room temperature before serving).
Freezer:
Freeze unfrosted cupcakes up to 2 months.
Buttercream can be frozen separately.
Fun Fact
Christmas tree cupcakes became wildly popular after bakers realized piping tall green frosting swirls on cupcakes was much easier than making fondant trees — and more delicious too.
