These Chocolate Christmas Tree Cupcakes are the cutest and most festive cupcakes ever! Made with chocolate cake mix and homemade vanilla buttercream frosting, these delicious Christmas Tree Cupcakes are almost too pretty to eat.
I am so excited to share these festive and fun Christmas tree cupcakes with you all today.
Christmas is my favorite holiday to plan for and decorate and these adorable little cupcakes are my number one must-have Christmas treat for home or holiday parties.
Made with pre-made chocolate cake mix, homemade vanilla buttercream dusted with coconut, and delicious green Christmas tree toppers made from melted white chocolate, everyone will love these delicious holiday cupcakes.
The best, and perhaps most surprising part of all? They’re incredibly easy to make. No fancy piping tips or techniques are required to make these awesome Christmas cupcakes.
Let’s get started!
Ingredients
- Chocolate cake mix (Devil’s Food or Chocolate Fudge)
- Eggs
- Canola oil
- Brewed coffee
- Butter
- Confectioner’s sugar (Powdered sugar)
- Vanilla extract
- Coconut shaving
- Pocky Sticks
- White chocolate
- Green food coloring
- Sprinkles
Pocky Sticks are chocolate-covered biscuit sticks. They were one of my favorite treats in the ’90s (when I was young) and are still popular today throughout Japan and other Asian countries. You will find them sold at Asian supermarkets, World Market (Cost Plus), and some Walmart and Target stores (among others). Your best bet, however, is to order them online.
How to Make Christmas Tree Cupcakes
1. Prepare the chocolate cupcakes
Since your cupcakes will need time to cool completely, I recommend starting with this step.
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Preheat your oven to 350°F and line a muffin pan with 12 cupcake liners.
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In a large bowl mix together the cake mix, eggs, oil, and coffee until smooth and well combined.
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Fill each cupcake liner approximately 2/3 the way full only. Careful not to fill higher than 2/3 full otherwise you may not have enough batter to make 12 cupcakes.
2. Bake the chocolate cupcakes
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Bake for 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Remember that all ovens cook a little differently, so start checking for doneness around 15 minutes.
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Transfer cupcakes to a cooling rack and allow them to cool completely.
3. Make the Christmas tree toppers
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Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Layout the Pocky Sticks, leaving several inches between each stick to drizzle chocolate (see images).
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Place the white chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave for 30 seconds. Stir well and continue to microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring between each interval and checking to see that chocolate has completely melted.
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Add the food coloring and mix well until combined.
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Transfer the chocolate to a piping bag (this will be much easier to maneuver) or ziplock bag with a small hole snipped in one corner. Pipe the chocolate over the sticks in the shape of a tree.
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Before the chocolate solidifies, add sugar sprinkles, if desired.
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Let cool at least for 20 minutes to harden up. You may speed things up by placing them in the fridge.
4. Make the vanilla buttercream frosting
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Beat the butter in a large bowl on medium speed until creamy (approximately 2 minutes).
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Add the confectioner’s sugar (powdered sugar) and vanilla extract.
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Beat on low speed for 30 seconds. After 30 seconds, increase speed to medium-high and beat for an additional 2 minutes.
5. Assemble the Christmas tree cupcakes
- When the cupcakes have cooled completely, frost and sprinkle with coconut shavings.
- Gently push one Christmas tree topper into the top of each cupcake.
You can easily prepare the chocolate cupcakes the day before, however, I do recommend preparing the frosting and tree toppers the day that you plan to serve them.
Enjoy!
More Christmas Desserts,
Gingerbread Caramel Corn Recipe
Cranberry Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies
Easy Sugar Cookie Recipe (How to Make Sugar Cookies)
Ugly Sweater Sugar Cookie Bar Cutouts
If you make this Christmas Cupcake Recipe with Vanilla Buttercream Frosting, please leave me a comment and let me know! I always love to hear your thoughts.
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Chocolate Christmas Tree Cupcakes with Buttercream Frosting
Ingredients
For the Chocolate Cupcakes
- 15 oz box chocolate cake mix - (Devil's Food or Chocolate Fudge)
- 3 large eggs
- ½ cup canola oil
- 1 cup coffee - room temperature
For the Vanilla Buttercream
- 1 cup unsalted butter - room temperature
- 1½ cups confectioner's sugar
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 oz coconut shavings
For the Christmas Tree Toppers
- 12 Pocky Sticks
- 4 oz white chocolate
- green food coloring
- sugar sprinkles
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a muffin pan with 12 cupcake liners.
- In a large mixing bowl or stand mixer, combine the cake mix, eggs, oil, and coffee. Mix until smooth and well combined.
- Fill each cupcake liner approximately 2/3 the way full only (careful not to exceed 2/3).
- Bake for 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Transfer to a cooling rack and allow cupcakes to cool completely.
- For the vanilla frosting, beat the butter in a large bowl on medium speed until creamy (approximately 2 minutes). Add the confectioner's sugar (powdered sugar) and vanilla extract. Beat on low speed for 30 seconds. After 30 seconds, increase speed to medium-high and beat for 2 minutes.
- When the cupcakes have cooled completely, frost and sprinkle with coconut shavings.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Layout the Pocky sticks, leaving space between each to drizzle chocolate.
- Place the white chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave for 30 seconds. Stir well and continue to microwave in 30-second intervals. Check that chocolate has completely melted.
- Add the food coloring and mix well until combined.
- Transfer the chocolate to a piping bag or ziplock bag with a small hole snipped in one corner. Pipe the chocolate over the sticks in the shape of a tree. Add sugar sprinkles, if desired.
- Let cool at least for 20 minutes to harden up. You may speed things up by placing them in the fridge.
- Gently push the bottoms of the trees into the tops of the cupcakes.
Jessica's Notes
- Feel free to make this recipe with homemade cake mix or vanilla/white cake mix, if preferred.
- Always wait until your cupcakes have cooled completely before frosting as warm cupcakes will melt the frosting.
- Optional- top each Christmas tree with a small star.
- Pocky Sticks are available on Amazon.
Nutritional Information
(Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and specific brands of ingredients used.)
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