If you are looking for a bit of inspiration for your Christmas cupcakes this year, you have come to the right place! I’ve collected over 30 recipes that are perfect for the holidays. Just try to keep your drool to a minimum!
I’m excited to introduce you to world of Christmas cupcakes, where each little cake is a canvas for holiday cheer, and the only limit is your imagination (and perhaps the size of your mixing bowl).
When it comes to holiday desserts, let’s be honest, cupcakes are like the twinkling stars of the Christmas dessert table – small, bright, and full of joy.
Why do I adore cupcakes during the festive season, you ask? Oh, let me count the ways! For starters, they’re delightfully easy to whip up, making them the perfect choice for busy elves who still want to impress.
But the real magic happens when it’s time to decorate. Whether you’re a frosting novice or a piping bag pro, dressing up these little beauties is as much fun (and easy) as unwrapping presents.
The cute cupcakes below include flavors that dance around your taste buds like sugarplums – think rich gingerbread, refreshing peppermint, and creamy eggnog.
And let’s not forget about the colors! Red, green, and white swirls that could rival the most ornate Christmas tree.
You can create a cupcake tray of Santa hats, tiny Christmas wreaths, adorable elves, sparkling ornaments, and cozy stockings, all made from icing, sprinkles, and a sprinkle of holiday magic.
Feeling inspired yet? I’ve gathered over 30 Christmas cupcake ideas to jumpstart your baking adventures. And there’s something here for every baker.
Scroll down for recipes and cupcake decorating ideas that are sure to spread holiday cheer and sweeten up your celebrations. Plus they are great for edible gifting.
Don’t forget to drop a comment below to share your favorite creations. Let’s make this holiday season the most delicious one yet!
Christmas Cupcakes
Here you will find 30+ Christmas treats that are perfect for the holiday season. You're going to love these cupcake recipes!
Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer
Get the kids involved when making these cupcakes. Rudolph is made using pink velvet cupcakes, chocolate buttercream icing, a red gum ball, a candy bow and a few pretzel pieces!
Spiced Gingerbread
If you've never tried gingerbread cupcakes for Christmas or the holidays, now is your chance! You're going to love this easy and delicious dessert.
Christmas Presents
These are some "presents" I wouldn't mind seeing under my tree! These may look difficult, but you can use a silicone mold to make the edible bows.
Baby Jesus
How creative is this? A Nutter Butter baby Jesus laying atop some sweet yellow hay (aka icing and sprinkles)!
Christmas Trees
You're going to love these delicious holiday cupcakes with Christmas trees on top! These are perfect for parties or edible gifts.
He's a Mean One
Having a Whoville themed party? This Grinch cupcake recipe is going to be a hit! Plus these are easily customizable.
Silly Santas
At first glance, I would think that these Santa cupcakes were difficult to decorate for a beginner. However, John gives step-by-step instructions with photos and it is easy to follow!
Snow Globes
These adorable snow globe cupcakes can be made with any cupcake and white icing. The star is really the geletin bubble that creates the snow globe look!
Candy Trees
These perfect white cupcakes are topped with whipped vanilla buttercream and sweet little trees. The chocolate trees are made using miniature Reese's peanut butter cups and Hershey kisses.
Heavenly Angels
Aren't these lovely? You don't need to be an experienced cake decorator to make them. If you've ever worked with clay, it is very similar. Plus there are very detailed instructions!
Santa Belts
Santa's belly never looked so yummy! these cupcakes are easy to decorate and you can make his belly as big as you like.
Sparkling Cranberry
Once you've had these cupcakes, you will want to make them year-round! Cranberry mascarpone is baked in the middle of vanilla cupcakes. Then topped with white chocolate buttercream and sparkling cranberries.
Easy Poinsettias
I'm not sure how easy these would be for a beginner, but they would definitely be fun to try! They would definitely impress guests.
Sugar Plum Fairy
Filled with peach jam and spiced with cinnamon and nutmeg, this cupcake is topped with vanilla almond buttercream frosting and pretty little sweets.
Christmas Tree with Lights
There are many different versions of this Christmas tree cupcake online. I chose to add this one because it is definitely the easiest. You just create the tree shape with frosting and then use the Wilton Christmas tree lights decorating kit!
Christmas Ornaments
Chocolate cupcakes with buttercream frosting get turned into festive Christmas ornaments. These are easy to decorate, and the kids could even get involved!
Candy Land
These are almost too cute to eat—almost. I've seen Christmas tree cupcakes using an upside down ice cream cone before, but this one is definitely unique. Angie cut down the size of the cone and elevated the tree with a candy cane trunk!
White Chocolate Peppermint
White chocolate and peppermint go together like peanut butter and jelly in my book. So these peppermint cupcakes topped with white chocolate peppermint buttercream are definitely on my list to try!
Sprig of Holly
Holly with candy fruit slices and bubblegum berries. This is a super easy Chrsitmas cupcake topping for any cupcakes.
Santa Hats
These cookies are so simple but impressive! The strawberry santa hat is tasty with any flavor cupcake and icing. If you like these, you should check out my mini Santa strawberries.
Christmas Stocking Cupcakes
Who would have thought you could enjoy eating Christmas stockings? You can when you make them using edible print paper!
Chocolate Reindeers
Here is another recipe for reindeer cupcakes. This one is made with a chocolate cupcake body, peanut butter cup head, candy cane antlers and malted milk ball hooves!
Christmas Lights
Who can resist these M&M Christmas lights? Not me! For this recipe, Bree also shows you how to dress up a store bought cake mix.
Merry and Bright
'Merry and Bright' is the perfect name for these marshmallow stuffed vanilla cupcakes! Each one has a vanilla butter frosting, loads of sprinkles and a candy coated chocolate truffle on top.
Boozy Fruitcake
Use your choice of brandy, whiskey or rum to make these fruitcake cupcakes topped with marzipan. I like this miniature way of making and eating the traditional Christmas cake!
Eggnog with Buttercream
Eggnog cupcakes are a holiday favorite cupcake that is loaded with eggnog flavor. Topped with a sweet and velvety smooth eggnog frosting to throw this into an award-winning Christmas cupcake recipe!
Buddy the Elf
If you've seen the Elf, you should recognize the top of this cupcake! It looks just like the spaghetti that Buddy eats in the movie.
Christmas Truffle
Bake your devil's food cupcake around a yummy Lindor truffle and then ice it with cream cheese frosting. The tree on top? It is really easy to make using chocolate!
Candy Canes
I think it is almost impossible to get through a list of cupcakes without including an Oreo dessert. This one is an Oreo chocolate cupcake with Oreo candy cane frosting. It is topped with crushed candy canes and a whole Oreo!
Candy Curls
Use a vegetable peeler to make the cute red, green, and white candy curls that sit on top of buttercream frosting!
Marbled Red and Green
Enjoy tricolor cupcakes topped with tricolor frosting. See how easy it is to make these fun marble effect Christmas cupcakes.
If you enjoyed these Christmas cupcake ideas, please bookmark our Easter and Halloween cupcakes too. You should check out these other popular holiday recipe ideas:
Christmas Butter Cookies • Christmas Crack • Christmas Linzer Cookies • Cookie Exchange Recipes • Gingerbread Bundt Cake • Gingerbread Muffins • Grinch Cookies • Marshmallow Pretzel Treats • Mini Santa Strawberries • Oreo Balls • Peppermint Frosted Cookies • Peppermint Ice Cream • Peppermint Pudding Cookies • Popcorn • Red Velvet Thumbprint Cookies • Reindeer Chow • Reindeer Cookies • Rice Krispie Treats • Santa Cookies • Spice Cake • Thumbprint Cookie Recipes • Tree Brownies • Unique Cookie Recipes • Whoopie Pies