These Christmas Tree Cupcakes are simpler than they appear and make a festive, crowd-pleasing dessert for holiday gatherings. Using a boxed cake mix lets you bake the cupcakes quickly so you can spend more time decorating and less time in the kitchen.
If you enjoy these Christmas cupcakes, try other holiday treats like Santa Hat Brownies and Reindeer Cookies for more seasonal fun.
These cupcakes are easy to assemble and decorate. You don’t need special tools or complicated techniques — just a boxed cake mix, some frosting, and a few festive sprinkles and toppers.
Flavor Alternatives for Christmas Tree Cupcakes
If you prefer to bake from scratch, swap in your favorite cupcake and frosting recipes. Funfetti or classic vanilla buttercream work beautifully, and chocolate cake is a tasty alternative if you want a richer base.
How to Make Christmas Tree Cupcakes
Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a cupcake pan with paper liners.
Step 2: Prepare the boxed white cake mix according to package directions and stir in the rainbow sprinkles so they’re evenly distributed.
Step 3: Fill each liner halfway with batter and bake for 19–22 minutes. Remove the cupcakes from the oven and transfer them to a cooling rack to cool completely before decorating. Repeat for additional batches.
Step 4: Place green frosting into a piping bag fitted with a large star tip.
Step 5: To pipe a tree shape, start piping in the center of the cupcake and circle around once, then continue piping upward in concentric layers until you reach a pointed top that resembles a tree.
Step 6: Decorate the green frosting with green sugar sprinkles and nonpareils for the needles and lights. Top each tree with a white or silver Sixlet; you can also use a star-shaped sprinkle for the topper. For a lightly “flocked” look, dust with powdered sugar.
Step 7: Add a small amount of vanilla frosting to a piping bag fitted with a small round tip and pipe ribbon or gift details onto starburst toppers, then gently press the toppers onto the frosted cupcakes.
These cupcakes are quick to make and especially fun to decorate with kids. The batter yields light, fluffy cupcakes and the vanilla frosting adds a sweet, creamy finish. Little details like sprinkles and candy toppers turn a simple cupcake into a holiday favorite.
Take your time decorating — it can be relaxing and rewarding. If you’re short on time, keep most elements simple and add one or two show-stopping details so the spread looks festive without causing stress.
These cupcakes are a great make-ahead dessert — bake and frost them in advance so you can avoid last-minute cleanup before guests arrive. The sprinkles and nonpareils really bring the tree design to life, making each cupcake look like a tiny decorated pine.
I love how these turned out: moist, tender cupcakes with bright, festive frosting and adorable present toppers. They’re easy, pretty, and always a hit at holiday parties.
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This post was originally published in December 2015 and updated in December 2019.
Easy Christmas Tree Cupcakes
Ingredients
- 1 box white cake mix plus ingredients called for on box
- ¼ cup rainbow sprinkles
- 4 cups green frosting
- green sugar sprinkles
- nonpareils
- 18 white or silver Sixlets
- 36 red mini Starburst (for gift toppers)
- 4 tablespoons white frosting
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 350°F and line a cupcake pan with liners.
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Mix cake mix according to package directions and fold in the rainbow sprinkles.
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Fill liners halfway with batter and bake for 19–22 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
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Transfer cupcakes to a wire rack to cool completely before decorating.
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Fit a piping bag with a large star tip and fill it with green frosting.
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Pipe the frosting in concentric rounds starting at the center and building up to form a tree shape.
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Decorate with green sugar sprinkles and nonpareils to mimic needles and lights.
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Top each tree with a Sixlet or a star-shaped sprinkle.
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Use white frosting in a small round tip to pipe ribbon lines on the mini starburst gifts, then gently press them onto the cupcakes.
Nutrition
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