Name: Christmas Tree Cupcakes with Rainbow 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; 2-3 Twizzler Pull 'n' Peel Candy, peeled into strings; ¼ cup sequin-style rainbow sprinkles; star shaped sprinkles; confectioners sugar, optional

There’s something pure joy-inducing about the festive look and sweet burst of color on these Christmas Tree Cupcakes with Rainbow Sprinkles Recipe. They’re not just cupcakes; they’re a little celebration on a plate, perfect for brightening holiday gatherings—and trust me, you’re going to love making and sharing these!

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 Rainbow Sprinkles Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Christmas Tree Cupcakes with Rainbow Sprinkles Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Christmas Tree Cupcakes with Rainbow Sprinkles Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

These Christmas Tree Cupcakes with Rainbow Sprinkles Recipe are a delightful treat that combines festive charm with easy-to-follow baking steps. Baking these feels like creating edible holiday magic, and I’ve found that everyone from kids to adults can’t get enough of those colorful sprinkles and twizzler “tree skirts.” Plus, they’re a serious crowd-pleaser at any Christmas party!

Fun and Festive: The cupcakes look like tiny Christmas trees, instantly adding holiday spirit to your dessert table.
Easy to Make: With straightforward ingredients and simple steps, even bakers with modest skills can nail it.
Customization Friendly: You can swap sprinkles, frosting, or candy decorations to suit your taste or theme.
Perfect for Gifting or Parties: They’re terrific for holiday gatherings, school events, or as a sweet homemade gift.

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

The magic of this Christmas Tree Cupcakes with Rainbow Sprinkles Recipe lies in simple, classic ingredients working together. Each one helps create that tender crumb, rich flavor, and festive look you’re aiming for. Here’s the lowdown on what you’ll need and why it’s worth sourcing good quality stuff where you can.

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’s lighter and finer than regular flour, giving your cupcakes that delicate crumb you want in soft holiday treats.
Baking Soda and Baking Powder: These leavening agents help your cupcakes rise perfectly fluffy without being dense.
Salted Butter: I use salted butter for a balanced flavor, but unsalted works too if you adjust salt separately.
Granulated Sugar: Classic sweetness, it creams with butter to create a wonderful texture.
Milk: Adding moisture and tenderness, milk makes the batter silky smooth.
Eggs: They bind the batter and add richness—fresh is always better here.
Vanilla Extract: Just a touch deepens flavor with that warm, inviting note we all love.
Sequin-Style Rainbow Sprinkles: These colorful sprinkles add sparkle and fun, turning cupcakes into festive trees.
Twizzler Pull 'n' Peel Candy: Perfect flexible “string” candy for wrapping as tree skirts or decorations.
Green Buttercream Frosting: Essential for that tree look and creamy sweetness — homemade or store-bought works fine.
Star Shaped Sprinkles: A classic topper that truly makes each cupcake a Christmas tree.
Confectioners’ Sugar (Optional): Dust lightly for that magical “snow” effect when you want to take the decoration to the next level.

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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

One of my favorite things about this Christmas Tree Cupcakes with Rainbow Sprinkles Recipe is how easy it is to customize. I’ve played around with flavors and decorations over the years and found a few tweaks that really make the recipe feel special for me, and you can too!

Variation: Sometimes I swap out the green buttercream for a mint-flavored frosting to add an extra festive zing. It’s always a hit with my family!
Dietary Twist: I’ve made a version with gluten-free flour blend that works surprisingly well, perfect for friends who need it.
Color Change: For a different look, try red or white frosting and coordinate your sprinkles for Valentine’s or winter-themed cupcakes instead.

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

Step 1: Prep and Mix Dry Ingredients

Start by preheating your oven to 350°F and line your muffin tin with cupcake liners. Then, in a large bowl, whisk together the cake flour, baking soda, and baking powder. This step is crucial to make sure your leavening is evenly distributed—helps avoid any uneven rising!

Step 2: Cream Butter and Sugar, Add Wet Ingredients

I love using an electric mixer here to cream the softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy—that usually takes about 3-4 minutes. Next, add the eggs one at a time for better incorporation, whisking between each addition. Then pour in the milk and vanilla extract and beat everything until combined smoothly.

Step 3: Combine Wet and Dry, Pour Batter

Slowly add your wet mixture to the dry ingredients, mixing gently but thoroughly until you have a smooth batter with no lumps. Fill each cupcake liner about two-thirds full—that’s perfect to allow room for rising but not overflowing.

Step 4: Bake and Cool

Pop the cupcakes in the oven for about 22 minutes. To check if they’re done, insert a toothpick into the center—it should come out clean or with just a few moist crumbs. Let the cupcakes cool completely before frosting; warm cupcakes can make the frosting melt and slide off, which you definitely want to avoid.

Step 5: Frosting That Christmas Tree Shape

Scoop green buttercream into a piping bag fitted with an open star tip. Start by piping a quarter-sized swirl in the center. Then, create concentric circles moving outward, overlapping slightly to build the texture of a pine tree. Once you reach the top, gently push your tip down and pull up quickly to form that fine tree peak.

Step 6: Decorate with Twizzlers and Sprinkles

Wrap a string of Twizzler Pull 'n' Peel candy around the cupcake base like a colorful tree skirt. Then sprinkle plenty of rainbow sequins evenly across the frosting. Finish by adding a cute star-shaped sprinkle at the peak. For a snowy magic touch, lightly dust with confectioners’ sugar.

Top Tip

From my experience, a few small tweaks make all the difference in nailing this Christmas Tree Cupcakes with Rainbow Sprinkles Recipe every time—whether it’s for a big holiday party or a cozy family baking day.

Softened Butter Is Key: Make sure your butter is soft but not melted; this helps your frosting and creaming turn out just right.
Don’t Skip Cooling: Always cool cupcakes thoroughly before decorating—frosting melts on warm bases and can turn your neat trees into a slippery mess.
Use the Right Piping Tip: An open star nozzle creates those classic ridges on the frosting that really mimic pine needles.
Pull ‘n’ Peel Candy Control: When wrapping your Twizzlers, make them snug but not too tight to avoid breaking the candy strings.

How to Serve Christmas Tree Cupcakes with Rainbow Sprinkles Recipe

Christmas Tree Cupcakes - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I typically stick with star-shaped sprinkles on top—they’re simple but instantly festive. Sometimes I add tiny edible pearls or metallic sprinkles for a bit of sparkle. When I want to channel a snowy vibe, a very light dusting of confectioners’ sugar gives a real winter wonderland feel.

Side Dishes

I like to serve these cupcakes alongside warm beverages like spiced apple cider or hot chocolate—it really elevates the cozy holiday vibe. If it’s a party, pairing with mini sandwiches or a cheese board adds savory balance that guests appreciate.

Creative Ways to Present

For special occasions, I arrange the cupcakes on a tiered stand covered with fake snow or greenery. Playing with cupcake liners in festive colors adds an extra pop. One year, I even placed mini fairy lights around the display to make it glow beautifully in dim rooms—such a crowd-pleaser!

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Once baked and cooled, I store these cupcakes in an airtight container in the fridge, especially if the frosting is homemade. They stay fresh and moist for up to 3 days. I usually recommend serving them slightly chilled or at room temperature for best flavor.

Freezing

I’ve frozen unfrosted cupcakes in an airtight container or freezer bag with great success. When you're ready, thaw overnight in the fridge and frost fresh before serving. Freezing fully frosted cupcakes can make the frosting a bit watery, so I avoid that whenever possible.

Reheating

If you like your cupcakes warm, pop them in the microwave for about 10 seconds before serving. Avoid heating too long to prevent drying out. Just warm enough to soften the frosting slightly and bring out the flavors beautifully.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use regular all-purpose flour instead of cake flour?

You can, but cake flour is preferable because it creates a lighter, more tender cupcake. If you use all-purpose flour, consider removing a small amount and replacing it with cornstarch to mimic cake flour’s texture.

What frosting tip do I need for the tree shape?

An open star tip, like Wilton 1M or similar, is perfect for creating the textured swirls that look like pine needles on the Christmas tree cupcakes.

How long do these cupcakes stay fresh?

When stored properly in an airtight container in the refrigerator, they stay fresh for around 3 days. For best flavor, bring to room temperature before eating.

Can I make these cupcakes ahead of time for a party?

Absolutely! You can bake the cupcakes a day or two ahead and store them in the fridge un-frosted. Frost them the day of your event for that fresh, beautiful look.

Final Thoughts

Honestly, these Christmas Tree Cupcakes with Rainbow Sprinkles Recipe have become one of my go-to festive desserts. There’s something so satisfying about turning simple cupcakes into joyful little trees that dazzle your guests. Give this recipe a try—you’ll find the process fun, and the smiles when you serve them make every step worthwhile. Happy baking and merry decorating!