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; ¼ cup sequin-style rainbow sprinkles; 2-3 Twizzler Pull 'n' Peel Candy, peeled into strings; Star shaped sprinkles; Confectioners sugar (optional)

There’s something truly magical about festive baking, and these Christmas Tree Cupcakes with Sprinkles Recipe bring that holiday joy right to your kitchen. The bright green frosting shaped just like a Christmas tree and those twirling rainbow sprinkles? They’re as fun to make 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

I’ve made these Christmas Tree Cupcakes with Sprinkles Recipe for holiday parties and family gatherings, and they never fail to bring smiles, both while decorating and when folks take that first bite. They’re a crowd-pleaser that’s surprisingly easy!

Festive and Fun: The tree shape and colorful sprinkles make these cupcakes instantly festive and playful.
Easy to Make: No fancy tools needed — you can even use a ziplock bag if you don’t have a piping bag.
Kid-Friendly: Decorating is a blast with little helpers, and the Twizzler “tree skirts” add a sweet twist kids love.
Perfect Holiday Gift: Wrapped up in a pretty box, these cupcakes make a heartwarming homemade gift for friends or coworkers.

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

Each ingredient in this Christmas Tree Cupcakes with Sprinkles Recipe plays a part in creating that tender, moist cupcake with just the right crumb, topped with creamy, vibrant frosting. Choosing quality ingredients really makes a difference in flavor and texture.

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: It gives these cupcakes a soft, delicate texture that's perfect for a light crumb.
Baking Soda & Baking Powder: Working together for the perfect rise, ensuring fluffiness without dryness.
Salted Butter: Adds richness and a subtle salty balance to the sweetness.
Granulated Sugar: Sweetness that’s just right, helping the cupcake brown nicely.
Milk: Adds moisture and helps with the cupcake’s tender crumb.
Eggs: Bind everything together and add structure.
Vanilla Extract: A classic flavor enhancer that brightens the overall taste.
Rainbow Sprinkles: For that fun pop of color and texture on top.
Twizzler Pull 'n' Peel Candy: Peeled into strings, they create adorable edible "tree skirts" making your cupcakes extra festive.
Green Buttercream Frosting: The star of the show – ultra creamy with a vibrant green that makes your trees come alive.
Star-Shaped Sprinkles: Topping the tree with a festive sparkle, like a tree topper on your cupcakes.
Confectioners’ Sugar (optional): For an optional snowy dusting that adds a wintry touch and extra visual flair.

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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 adding a personal touch whenever I can, so I’m all for tweaking these Christmas Tree Cupcakes with Sprinkles Recipe to suit your preferences or dietary needs. It’s easy to make it your own!

Variation: I once swapped regular milk for almond milk and it gave the cupcakes a subtle nutty undertone that was delicious, plus it suited my dairy-free friends.
Color Play: Try adding a couple drops of food coloring to the batter itself for a surprise twist when you bite in — I like mint green or pale red!
Vegan Option: Use flax eggs and plant-based butter, along with dairy-free milk, to enjoy the same festive feel with vegan-friendly ingredients.

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

Step 1: Prep and Mix Dry Ingredients

Start by preheating your oven to 350°F and lining a muffin tin with cupcake liners — this makes cleanup a breeze. In a large bowl, whisk together cake flour, baking soda, and baking powder. This ensures even distribution of leavening, which is the secret behind perfectly risen cupcakes.

Step 2: Cream Butter and Sugar, then Add Wet Ingredients

Use room temperature salted butter and cream it together with the sugar until light and fluffy—this took me a few tries, but it really makes the cupcakes super tender. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then whisk in milk and vanilla extract until smooth. This creates that rich, moist base you want.

Step 3: Combine Wet and Dry and Bake

Gently fold your wet ingredients into the dry, mixing just until combined — overmixing can make cupcakes dense. Pour the batter into your cupcake liners, filling about two-thirds full for the perfect dome on top. Bake for about 22 minutes. Don't forget the toothpick test: when it comes out clean, your cupcakes are ready.

Step 4: Decorate Your Christmas Trees

Once cooled fully, scoop your green buttercream frosting into a piping bag fitted with an open star tip (or a ziplock bag with the corner snipped). Start in the center with a small dollop, then pipe a swirling cone shape working from the bottom up, pushing the tip down and lifting quickly at the top to form your tree’s point. Wrap Twizzler Pull ’n’ Peel candy strings around the base as a tree skirt, then shower with rainbow sprinkles and top with a star sprinkle. Feel free to dust with powdered sugar for a snowy effect.

Top Tip

From making these Christmas Tree Cupcakes with Sprinkles Recipe a few times, I’ve learned some handy tips to get them just right and stress-free.

Softening Butter: Leave the butter out for at least an hour before starting or gently microwave it in short bursts. Creaming cold butter won’t give you that fluffy texture.
Frosting Swirl: Use steady, even pressure when piping and turn the cupcake slowly to get a smooth tree shape.
Twizzler Tip: If the Pull ’n’ Peel strings are sticky or thick, warm them for a few seconds in your hands to make wrapping easier.
Avoid Overmixing: Mixing the batter just until combined keeps cupcakes tender, so stop as soon as you see no flour spots.

How to Serve Christmas Tree Cupcakes with Sprinkles Recipe

Christmas Tree Cupcakes - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I love topping these with a mix of star-shaped sprinkles and those sequin-style rainbow sprinkles for a beautiful sparkle. Sometimes, I’ll add a very light dusting of confectioners’ sugar for that “fresh snowfall” effect — it just completes the look perfectly.

Side Dishes

These cupcakes are sweet enough to shine on their own, but for a festive spread, I like pairing them with hot cocoa or a warm cup of spiced apple cider. You could also serve alongside some fruit slices or a cheese board to balance sweetness with savory bites.

Creative Ways to Present

For holiday parties, I’ve arranged the cupcakes on a tiered stand shaped like a Christmas tree. Another fun idea is placing each cupcake in mini decorative paper boxes or wrapping them individually in clear cellophane tied with a festive ribbon — perfect for gifts or party favors.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I store leftover cupcakes in an airtight container in the fridge to keep the frosting fresh and prevent the cake from drying out. They usually stay lovely for up to four days, though I doubt they’ll last that long!

Freezing

Freezing is a great option if you want to prepare ahead. I freeze the cupcakes without frosting, wrapped tightly in plastic wrap, and then thaw and decorate the day before my event — trust me, the frosting looks and tastes fresh when you do it this way.

Reheating

Since these are cupcakes, I recommend enjoying them at room temperature or chilled. If you want to warm the cake a bit, remove the frosting and heat for 10-15 seconds in the microwave, then re-frost, but honestly, I prefer them just as they are.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use a different frosting color?

Absolutely! While green is classic for the Christmas tree look, feel free to use red, white, or even glittery frosting to match your holiday theme.

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

No worries! You can use a plastic ziplock bag, snip off a tiny corner, and pipe with that. Or simply spread the frosting with a knife and use a spoon to create the tree layers.

Can I make these cupcakes in advance?

Yes, the cupcakes can be baked ahead and stored unfrosted in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Frost them the day you plan to serve for the freshest look and taste.

What can I use instead of Twizzler Pull ’n’ Peel candy?

If you can’t find Twizzler Pull ’n’ Peel, thin licorice strings or even green-colored candy strings work well as a tree skirt alternative.

Final Thoughts

Making these Christmas Tree Cupcakes with Sprinkles Recipe has become one of my favorite holiday traditions. They’re fun to make, delightful to look at, and taste fantastic. Whether you’re baking with kids, hosting a festive party, or gifting something homemade, these cupcakes really bring the Christmas spirit alive. Give them a go—you’ll love the sparkle they add to your celebrations!